UP THE MIESING. 55 



bring down the wood in winter, as well as for the cattle 

 which in the summer months are driven up to the high 

 pasturages. Beside us, on our left, a clear stream was 

 falling over the blocks of stone that had tumbled into its 

 channel, and beyond it rose a wall of rock, well-nigh 

 perpendicular, eight hundred feet or more. This was 

 the Gems Wand, a famous place in other days ere the 

 new laws had been put in force, and where, on ledges so 

 narrow that it seemed a bird only might cling there for 

 some moments, the chamois were always to be seen, stand- 

 ing at gaze or stepping carelessly along. But now the 

 rock was indeed desolate. Over the face of this high 

 wall of stone were scattered the friendly latschen, with 

 here and there a pine that had been able to twist its root 

 into some gaping crevice. It was as nearly perpendicu- 

 lar as might be, and, except that the strata of rock 

 formed projecting ridges, there was hardly a footing to be 

 obtained. However, if there are latschen one may climb 

 almost anywhere. We stopped occasionally to look 

 across with our glasses and scan its rocky face, in order 

 to see if perchance a solitary buck were loitering there 

 alone. But not a thing, animate or inanimate, was stir- 

 ring. As I looked up at the precipice I observed to 

 Berger, " To get along there would be no easy matter — 

 eh ? What think you, could you manage it?" 



" I went along there some time ago, when out with 

 Mr. * * * m jj e wounded a chamois, and it climbed 

 upwards along the wall. It was difficult work, for 

 there was nothing to hold on by ; and what grass I found 

 was not firm, and gave way in my grasp. Once I was 

 rather uncomfortable, for while hanging to the rock 

 with both arms raised my rifle swung forward over my 

 arm." 



" Ay, that is a horrid situation ; let go your hold 



