104 BIG GAME SHOOTING 



whence the sound really came, they dart hither and thither, 

 unable to make up their minds whither to flee. The next 

 minute the bands separate into several groups, each under 

 the leadership of a doe, who select different routes, each 

 of which, however, will in the end probably bring them to 

 the guns, though some sooner than others. The plan of the 

 drive depends greatly upon the lay of the ground. In many 

 cases the line of beaters, from twenty to fifty in number, is drawn 

 from the bottom to the top of the mountain, and then at a 

 given signal the whole line works along its flank. The crest 

 of the ridge is flagged off and so is the bottom, if it is at all 

 likely that the chamois will attempt to break through in that 

 direction. The fourth side is occupied by the guns, and if 

 there are not enough to stop the gaps and passes, short lengths 

 of flags are strung between them, or keepers are posted who, 

 when chamois approach, show themselves and cause the game 

 to turn back into the drive, and try for some other place of 

 escape till they finally come to one of the guns. In other drives 

 the two side lines of flags are curved inwards till the extremities 

 almost meet, and that is usually the best post ; for chamois 

 on getting to the ' lappen ' turn one way or another, dashing 

 along the flag-line till they reach an opening. In other places, 

 again, where the mountains are very steep, and a large area 

 has only three or four possible outlets by which the game can 

 get away, flags are almost unnecessary, for the beasts must 

 come by the passes, or ' chimneys,' or ledges, which of course 

 should all be well known to the keepers, who make the con- 

 figuration of the ground their special study. But only too often 

 the amazing climbing powers of the chamois will at the last 

 moment upset all the well-matured plans, and the hard- 

 pressed animals effect their escape by some hitherto unknown 

 ledge, or by a series of leaps down perpendicular heights that 

 make the onlooker hold his breath with astonishment. Speak- 

 ing of the wonderful climbing feats, space may be given to 

 one or two actual measurements. Tschuddi's eminently trust- 

 worthy figures are the following : a chasm on the Monte Rosa 



