THE KROTENKOPF AND THE KRAMER. 359 



rather, as it was of stone, a house containing a single 

 room, which had been constructed some years ago for 

 the present King, should he ever seek shelter or ac- 

 commodation on the mountain. 



" A blanket is there, too !" said Bauer triumphantly ; 

 " and a stove is in the room ; only think, a stove ! The 

 place is snug enough, but it is a long time since I was 

 up there." 



After crossing the meadows we came at once into 

 a gulley, where the torrent came tumbling along over 

 its rugged bed. The din of waters drowned every 

 other sound, so that we did not hear the approach of 

 Neuner, who suddenly stood before us, on his way 

 down from the mountain. We stopped a moment, to 

 interchange some questions, and to pat old Bursch's 

 head, and then we went on up the steep and narrow 

 path*. As we ascended higher, the wild beauty of 

 the spot became more and more visible. In some 

 places there were perpendicular buttresses of rock, of 

 five or six hundred feet in height, with here and there 

 projecting spots, covered with grass, or a pine-tree that 

 had managed to force its roots into some chance fissure. 



* One of those mishaps which occasionally occur in the mountains 

 happened to this good dog, just before my departure from Parten- 

 kirchen. Neuner missed him on the mountain, but as he whistled for 

 him in vain, thought he had followed the slot of a roe, and would 

 come back after a time. He however never saw him again, and sup- 

 poses he fell over the rocks in the ardour of pursuit. For two days 

 Neuner searched the whole mountain for his dog, in case he should 

 have got into some place whence he could not climb out again, and 

 where he might be still alive. He called him by name, as he knew 

 that, if alive, he could answer by a bark or howl. In spite of all his 

 endeavours he could find no traces of him. 



