CHAMOIS HUNTING 



IN' 



THE MOUNTAINS OF BAVABIA 



AND THE TYROL. 



INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 



About twelve years ago I went out for the first time in 

 my life to shoot deer. It was winter, and every atten- 

 dant circumstance had the delightful excitement of no- 

 velty. As the woods whither we were going were some 

 distance off, the whole party assembled betimes to a 

 substantial breakfast. Then came the departure in the 

 light sledges, each of us packing himself up in furs, and 

 his feet and legs in coverings of sheepskin, to bid de- 

 fiance to the sharp dry air, that was piercing enough to 

 penetrate through every covering. Once off, the merry 

 jingle of the bells on the horses' heads, the flying snow- 

 flakes as the light-limbed Hungarian horses dashed on 

 over the smooth frozen surface — the benumbed passers 

 through the streets shuffling along still half asleep, 

 stopping however as we swept by — the partly hidden 

 faces peeping from the windows, as the mingled melody 

 of the many bells told what was coming — all afforded 

 me amusement and gave me intense pleasure. There 



B 



