56 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



you dare not ; and how to get the rifle back again one 

 does not know either. When it swings down and knocks 

 against the rock, it almost makes one lose all balance. 

 The rifle is sadly in the way in such difficult places. 

 Without it—" 



" Oh, without it," said Berger, interrupting me, " one 

 could go any and everywhere. Without it I could climb 

 through the world. The rifle makes an immense differ- 

 ence. But, as I was saying, at last I got up and reached 

 the chamois. The coming down was the worst part. 

 However, I took another way than in going up. I pulled 

 off my shoes, for you can then feel your ground better, 

 and take hold of every little projection with your toes." 



' ' But that must have hurt you terribly ?" 



"No; I was then accustomed to go barefoot, and 

 would formerly much rather have climbed so than with 

 thick nailed shoes on. Once before I came down yonder 

 wall from over the ridge : it was ugly work, I can tell 

 you. We drove the game that day, and I had to go 

 over the top and roll down stones to make the chamois 

 cross to the other side." 



We had now wound upwards for about an hour, when 

 we left the path and turned off to our right among some 

 latschen and huge blocks of stone. We had not gone 

 many yards when Berger dropped to the earth, as 

 though a shot had passed through his heart. He raised 

 his finger to indicate silence, his eyes were opened wide 

 with expectation, and his lips drawn apart as if utter- 

 ing a " Hush !" though not a breath passed over them. 

 We cowered behind the stones, and he whispered, 

 " There are chamois !" We crept on a little further ; 

 the end of my pole shod with iron touched a stone 

 and made the metal slightly ring. Berger turned round 

 with a reproving look, and made me a sign to exchange 



