106 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



" Most likely it is not empty," said he ; " and if cha- 

 mois are there, they will come out near yonder trees, 

 pass within shot of you, and then bear away in a curve 

 for the higher ground.* Here you have chance enough, 

 and if anything comes, you will have a fair shot, though 

 perchance a long one. However, any you may get here 

 will be easy after that of yesterday." 



I took up my position beside the withered trunk of a 

 tree, anxiously listening for any sound. At last there 

 was a rustling, and Berger emerged from the wood : he 

 had seen nothing. It was too late in the day to think 

 of trying elsewhere ; we therefore at once set off home- 

 wards. When we had proceeded some way down the 

 mountain, a bounding was heard among the underwood, 

 as of an animal in flight. We listened : there were two. 

 Berger ran forward, and saw a couple of chamois making 

 for the rocky pastures on the other side of the Miesing, 

 just below its summit, and where no one could follow. 



" There the wall of rock is perpendicular," Berger 

 observed : " that is their usual retreat when pursued. It 

 would be useless to follow them, for they pass along the 

 narrow ledges, and wait in places where there is no ap- 

 proaching them." 



* It may often seem unaccountable to one not a sportsman, how the 

 movements of the game can be predicted with such certainty. It de- 

 pends of course very much on the nature of the ground, as well as on 

 the habits of the animal in question. Sometimes however, as in certain 

 steep gullies, there is but one single path by which man or beast can get 

 out of them : and if the hunter can reach that spot unobserved, he is sure 

 of a shot eventually ; for as soon as the chamois are disturbed, by the 

 rolling of a stone or any other means taken to make them move, on they 

 come to the well-known path. Perhaps they may observe their danger : 

 if they do, they will stand still and gaze before attempting the pass ; 

 and then, well aware that it is the sole place of egress, they will rush 

 headlong forwards, braving in their extremity every danger. Chamois 

 perceive in an instant the perils of their position when retreat is thus 

 cut off, and their consternation is great and evident. 



