UP THE MIESING. 71 



loosened, and dashed by close to his shin. But he 

 moved his foot, and it passed without striking him. We 

 had proceeded some distance, and the question now was, 

 " Where is the chamois V The rocky ridge was close 

 to our right hand, but every feature looked different 

 when seen from below to what it had done before. 



" He must be on the other side, just over that rock." 



" No, he is certainly lower down," I answered. "Look! 

 we are still comparatively near the summit of the moun- 

 tain ; and if you remember, from thence it seemed some 

 distance to where he was at rest ; from yonder ridge how- 

 ever we should certainly catch sight of him." Having 

 clambered thither, Berger suddenly exclaimed, " Hist ! 

 there he is ! It is far, but still within range : take your 

 time !" The report of my rifle thundered among the 

 rocks, and again and again it reverberated, till at last, 

 like thunder heard afar still faintly rolling, it gradually 

 died away. 



" You have missed him \" 



" I don't think so. I had him capitally, and the rifle 

 went off just as I could wish ; I was as steady too as 

 possible." 



"It may be; but you see, he is moving away," said 

 Berger gloomily. 



" I see he is going : but he moves quite differently now. 

 Look, he staggers ; his step is uncertain, is it not ?" 



" He is off nevertheless." 



" Well, I '11 go to the spot where he was standing, and 

 then we shall soon see whether I have missed or not." 



There w r e found hair strewn about, and a pool of fresh 

 blood. At the sight of it Berger' s face cleared up, and 

 with light hearts we followed the slot of the wounded 

 animal. The snow was dyed red where he had passed, 

 and the herbage was wet and crimsoned on both sides of 

 his path. 



