A STROLL WITHOUT MY RIFLE. 



quite at the foot ; but were you to try to reach it, you 

 might walk a whole day before getting there. The 

 lake is shut in on every side with black forests of 

 pine; the water itself is deep blue, and above the 

 dark woods the peaks of the mountain-range appear 

 of a dazzling whiteness. The intelligent, healthy young 

 savage who rowed us on the lake, said there were 

 seven islands in it , they all belonged to his father, 

 who had bought them, lake and all, for 100 florins 

 (8). They caught carp there of 38 Ibs. weight, which 

 our little boatman then carried to Partenkirchen for 

 sale, and got for them 15 kreutzers (5<) a pound. In 

 winter, he told us, when the lake was frozen, and no 

 snow had fallen, you would think it still was open, 

 so clear and transparent was the icy surface. Then 

 they go across with waggons and horses, to fetch the 

 wood from the opposite mountains ; but when much 

 snow is on the ground they see no living creature 

 till Spring returns, for to get out of their hut is 

 impossible. 



These mountain-lakes are sometimes moved by 

 strange fits ; and, without apparent cause, the dark 

 water will suddenly grow agitated, and heave and 

 swell as though some great catastrophe were taking 

 place below in its mysterious caverns. When the 

 earthquake of Lisbon occurred, the Walchen See was 

 dreadfully disturbed, though the sky above was clear, 

 and the day serene and calm. 



I inquired of the peasant here " The Lord of the 

 Isles" about his way of life, and learned that not 



