TWO CHAMOIS HUNTS 85 



say; that is, to sweep the country with the 

 glass in search of game. We soon found an 

 old buck standing on an eminence. But how 

 were we to reach him ? 



Brugger was of the opinion we had better 

 make a bee-line for him. This sounded very 

 simple and pleasing, but it seemed to me a bit 

 risky, for there was a bit of a wind and the 

 ground was in a rotten condition for climbing. 

 However, we started off. Goodness knows, it 

 was a wretched climb ; thick bushes and Alpine 

 roses blocked our way, and the ascent was very 

 steep into the bargain. It was weary work. 



When we had got so far that I began to 

 think that in two or three minutes I might 

 safelv fire, there was a double call and stones 

 came clattering down. The explanation was 

 simple enough : the old gentleman had noticed 

 something and was off. I was not only out of 

 breath but out of temper. The whole drudgery 

 for nothing, and not another buck anywhere in 

 the neighbourhood. But Brugger consoled me 

 by declaring that he knew where the buck had 

 disappeared to. 



