320 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



the men rose and came along a path leading to the 

 ridge where the two were sitting. The whole band 

 presently emerged from the hollow, and stood exposed 

 on the summit of the mountain, with Hofer a little in 

 front. Bromberger could not resist the temptation, 

 and determined to have a shot at him; so laying a 

 handkerchief folded together on the rock to serve as 

 a rest for his rifle, he prepared to fire. 'It is a 

 long distance/ he said, turning to his companion, 

 who, with the glass to his eye, was waiting to ob- 

 serve the effect of the shot ; ' so I '11 aim rather high, 

 and somewhat to the right, to allow for the wind com- 

 ing up from below. If I take him just between the 

 shoulder and throat, you will see I shall hit in the 

 very centre of his chest ! ' And a second after the rifle 

 cracked, and down rolled the poacher, with the ball 

 crashing through his shoulder. As you may imagine, 

 the consternation of the others was indescribable. 

 Bromberger and young D * * * waited just long 

 enough to see the men carry off their wounded com- 

 rade, and then creeping into the latschen, stole away 

 down the mountain, leaving the poachers at a loss to 

 tell whence the shot had come." 



" You said just now he had a narrow escape once 

 already : what was it?" 



" Yes," I continued, " and it was riot long before. 

 The forester at Schlier See caught him in a hut where 

 he passed the night, and had him tried for poaching ; 

 but he got off, as usual, without being punished." 



" How was it he got him? Was Hofer alone?" 



