10 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



more northern provinces ; they are not exposed to a 

 burning sun during the harvest season, nor to the wet 

 and cold attendant on field labour. They are up on the 

 mountain pasturages in summer, and in autumn and 

 winter are comfortably housed in their snug cottages in 

 the valley. Their corn they buy, and from their herds 

 on the mountain they derive milk and butter and cheese 

 in abundance ; and thus may be said to live literally on 

 the very fat of the land. 



But how distinct the blue peaks become ! We shall 

 soon be at their base, nor will it be very long, we hope, 

 before we are mounting their sides, and stepping carefully 

 along yonder ridge that cuts the sky so sharply ! For 

 that is the Plau Berg, and some chamois are still there, 

 and it is the place where we hope, with the forester's per- 

 mission, to get a few days' stalking. How clear the air 

 is ! The outline of every distant object is seen with won- 

 derful distinctness : there is not a cloud in the sky, and 

 the sun lights up the woodland slopes, and makes their 

 sober brown and gold look quite gay and festal on this 

 lovely autumnal morning. 



And there is Tegernsee, its broad expanse of water as 

 waveless as the air, and as clear and lucid too. A single 

 boat is moving lazily across from a cottage on the oppo- 

 site shore, and you wonder how so young a girl as she 

 who is rowing can get such a cumbrous craft to move 

 along even thus quickly. The broad brim of her green 

 hat shades the upper part of her face ; but that only 

 makes the brightness of her black eyes the more appa- 

 rent, and round her head are twined the braids of her long 

 thick hair, just as it is worn by the women of the Tyrol. 

 The silken kerchief crossed over her full bosom is tucked 

 in her boddice ; and if the mieder* does seem too tight, 



* Mieder is the stiff boddice of silk or velvet worn by the women. It 



