18 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



When he came up, " Well, Meier/' inquired the fores- 

 ter, " what chance is there, think you, of doing something 

 on the mountains ? All looks very bad, I fear. Do you 

 think you might get a shot or two ?" 



Meier's countenance wore no encouraging look, and 

 he only repeated what I had already heard, of the scarcity 

 of the chamois, and of the depredations the poachers 

 were constantly committing. " All about here, as you 

 know," the forester added, " were chamois and red-deer 

 in abundance, and now it is a chance if a single head of 

 game is seen in a day's stalking. However," turning to 

 Meier, "the Peissenberg would be the likeliest place 

 — there perhaps might be a chance." 



" It is the only place where there are any now," Meier 

 said. " Chamois are there, but the mountain is large, 

 and there being so few perhaps we might not see them. 

 And then too a single gun only ! with two persons it were 

 easier. However we can try. I will place you," he said, 

 turning to me, " where the chamois are most likely 

 to pass, and then I will go through the wood and 

 drive them out. But I cannot promise you will get a 

 shot." 



" Never mind," I answered, " let us try ; if we see 

 nothing it cannot be helped." 



So it was arranged that on the day after the morrow 

 we should try our luck on the Peissenberg. I was just 

 going away when the forester said, " There is a good stag 

 on the Ring Berg ; Meier has heard him for some days 

 past, if you would like to try for him." 



A stag in the rutting season ! I pricked my ears at the 

 announcement. " A good stag?" I asked. 

 " Oh yes, a very good one." 

 " Of how many, think you ?" 

 "Of twelve certainly. Meier saw him yesterday, 



