318 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



the bed of dry leaves, with my face toward the open 

 door, watched the mist and rain so long that at last I 

 fell asleep. After the rain it grew somewhat clearer, 

 and in going along we could see down into a green 

 valley. 



" Once upon a time five good stags were there," 

 said Neuner, pointing to the glen. 



" It was hereabout that Bauer shot his stag, was it 

 not?" asked the other. 



" Yes, just there, near yonder steep bank." 



"And who shot the others?" I asked. 



" Oh, poachers no doubt," said Neuner, " for they 

 soon disappeared. Perhaps they were scared away 

 and shot somewhere else; however we saw none of 

 them." 



" And did you never meet any of the men when you 

 have been out on the mountain ?" 



" No ; and had I caught one and brought him to 

 the police, it is a hundred to one that he would have 

 been punished." 



" There was a keeper at Schlier See Bromberger 

 was his name he once met a whole band of poachers, 

 and among them was a notorious rascal ; he therefore 

 thought it better not to lose so good an opportunity, 

 but to make sure of him, and, picking him out from 

 the rest, sent a bullet through his body." 



" That was in the old times perhaps. It was by 

 far the best way. The poachers expected nothing 

 else : they risked their lives, and we risked ours ; 

 they knew beforehand that should we happen to meet 



