CH. XXXIV. DANGEROUS SITUATION. 233 



at the flock of birds as they were just going out of 

 our sight, but, as we saw him rise upwards again 

 empty handed, he must have missed his aim. 



By this time it was near mid -day, and the 

 clouds were gathering on the mountain -top, and 

 gradually approaching us. We had taken little 

 note of the weather during our pursuit of the birds, 

 but it was now forced on our attention by a keen 

 blast of wind which suddenly swept along the 

 shoulder of the mountain, here and there lifting up 

 the dry snow in clouds. "We must make our way 

 homewards at once," said I. " 'Deed, ay ! it will 

 no be a canny night," was the shepherd's answer. 

 Just as we were leaving the bare stones a brace of 

 ptarmigan rose, one of which I knocked down : 

 the bird fell on a part of the snow which sloped 

 downwards towards a nearly perpendicular cliff of 

 great height : the slope of the snow was not very 

 great, so I ran to secure the bird, which was flutter- 

 ing towards the precipice : the shepherd was some 

 little distance behind me, lighting his everlasting 

 pipe ; but when he saw me in pursuit of the ptar- 

 migan he shouted at me to stop: not exactly 

 understanding him, I still ran after the bird, 

 when suddenly I found the snow giving way with 

 me, and sliding " en masse " towards the precipice. 

 There was no time to hesitate, so, springing back 



