396 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



did so the keeper fired at one, sending a charge of 

 coarse shot into his back and wounding him badly. 



The keepers, on the other hand, well know that 

 should they fall into the power of their enemies, the 

 retribution will be terrible. An instance of this sort 

 was told me by a friend who knew well all the parties 

 concerned. I give the story in his own words. 



" Meier, the forester stationed at Gmund*, was one 

 day out on his usual rounds, when suddenly he heard 

 the crack of a rifle. He went towards the place, and 

 there it was on the Gschwendter Berg he saw a 

 poacher standing over a stag which he had just shot. 

 Meier dashed at him; they struggled long together, 

 but at last he overpowered the fellow, and binding his 

 hands together, took him as prisoner to Miesbach, to 

 the house of the head-forester. Here he got a light 

 cart and horse, with a lad for driver, and making the 

 poacher seat himself beside the boy, Meier walked 

 along near the cart, with his rifle over his shoulder. 

 As the man's hands were tied firmly together, he 

 thought there was no danger of his attempting to 

 escape. 



" You know the road from Agathenried to Miesbach, 

 and how hilly and rough it is? Well, just as they 

 reached the steep hill, the poacher gave the lad who 

 was seated next him a shove, and sent him out of the 

 cart ; then taking hold of the reins, which he could 

 very well do although he was handcuffed, made the 



* Grmund lies at the northern extremity of Tegernsee, on the 

 border of the lake. 



