KREUTH. 113 



The chamois he now pointed out to me I had seen some 

 minutes before ; but as it was a great way off, and quite 

 motionless, I had not recognized it. Indeed one is con- 

 stantly deceived ; for at a distance a chamois is but a 

 small black spot, and stones and bushes often assume the 

 appearance of the game ; it is only when you examine 

 them through your glass, that you see what they really 



are. 



" But how are we to get at them V 3 observed my com- 

 panion, looking round and examining the relative posi- 

 tion of the chamois and ourselves. It really was no easy 

 matter. They were some two or three thousand yards 

 from where we stood, and between us and them was a 

 very deep and precipitous ravine ; not rugged however, 

 but covered with a few trees and a scanty herbage. 



" We must go back again," said he, " get down the 

 gully, and up the other side over the lahne. It is trou- 

 blesome work, but there is no other way of getting at 

 them. We must then stalk through the trees, and get 

 as near them as possible." So looking well at the place 

 where they stood and at the surrounding objects, we went 

 down the gully, along some projecting rocks, and up the 

 other side. Solacher constantly kept one point in his 

 eye, in order not to lose the direction of the spot we 

 were making for. At last he stopped to look about him, 

 and to determine with exactitude where the game might 

 be. Our plan was, to get round and above it ; we had 

 therefore to be cautious not to describe too small a circle 

 in our approach. Max now advanced stealthily, while I 

 remained behind ; and " craning " over a bit of rock he 

 espied them to the left. 



" There they are !" he whispered ; " they have winded 

 us and are moving. Quick ! A little more forward, — 

 don't you see them ? There, by the stump of a tree V 



i 



