408 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



tains never desert you in time of need : they have a 

 feeling of honour, which I never met with in a like 

 degree elsewhere. I went, and that was enough ; they 

 would be sure not to stay behind." 



" It is the only time you were giddy : I suppose it 

 is the ugliest place you ever were in, is it not ?" 



" Why yes, I cannot remember having been in any 

 more dangerous. But what was so disagreeable in this 

 case, was having to return by the same path ; that 

 makes the matter a thousand times worse. In going 

 the first time, if you do feel uncomfortable, you have 

 the consolation of knowing that you are leaving the 

 danger behind you, and that every step brings you 

 nearer the accomplishment of your undertaking. Be- 

 sides, the first time the difficulties are all new ; you 

 are not aware how great they are, till you are in the 

 very midst of them and they are half over ; and, be- 

 fore you have time to get ill at ease, they are nearly 

 passed : but in coming back again the same way, you 

 have a foreknowledge of the danger to be incurred ; 

 you remember what you felt when in the difficult 

 situation the first time, and have an unwiUingness, 

 a thorough disinclination, to endure the same once 

 more. Ah 1 is so fresh in your mind, that you hang 

 back when called on to do it over again. And as 

 you proceed, in approaching some ugly place, your 

 thoughts are occupied with it all the while ; instead 

 of being calm, you are excited, and fancy makes the 

 difficulty greater even than it is. If fear once gets 

 hold of you under such circumstances, you are almost 



