THE OESTER BERG. 307 



selves to the ball of the eye, causing but the softest 

 outline. 



The younger of the three, a lad of about sixteen, 

 was sitting at the table playing at some nondescript 

 game of cards with two women who had been on 

 the mountains collecting gentian-roots*, and who had 

 come in to claim shelter for the night. The pale 

 flickering lamp gave a poor light, it is true, but the 

 youth's hearty laugh every now and then, at his own 

 good luck or scientific play, made the place cheerful. 

 It was a singular group; he on one side, his arms 

 and neck bare, and wild as a young colt, watching 

 with an arch expression for his adversary to fling 

 down her card, and one girl looking over the other's 

 shoulder into her hand, and giving her friend sage 

 counsel. 



A pan of milk had been put before me on my ar- 

 rival, part of which I had drunk. The herdsman now 

 asked me what I would have for supper, so giving him 

 the eggs I begged he would make me a schmarren. 

 He soon brought it in a large earthen pan, hot and 

 brown, and just savouring of the apple which had been 

 sliced into it. The young forester who had come with 

 Neuner shared it with me, alternately taking a spoon- 

 ful of schmarren out of my pan, and a spoonful of fresh 

 milk from another beside him. I preferred a draught 

 of water, a pitcher full of which " the boy," as he was 



* These are collected in great quantities, and sold for the purpose 

 of distillation. The spirit obtained from them is in high repute : I 

 think it detestable. 



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