120 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



In about two hours we arrived at the hut. It stood'' 

 on a pleasant pasturage, and facing it rose the moun- 

 tains partly covered with forest, while on one side a 

 high rock jutted abruptly up into the sky. Behind was 

 a gentle wooded slope ; thither we now went, and looked 

 toward the mountain opposite us. We examined every 

 part with the naked eye and with our glasses, but not a 

 creature was to be seen. We watched for more than an 

 hour ; and then turning toward the rock that rose above 

 the valley, presently saw a chamois grazing, now visible 

 and now disappearing among the herbage. Shortly after 

 we discovered another nearer the summit ; when, as it 

 was getting cold and dusk, we turned toward our hut. 



" We won't disturb them," said Maxl, " for today we 

 could do nothing, and they will be there tomorrow for 

 certain : we shall then be able to get at them better, and 

 may make sure of a shot." 



The hut where we intended to take up our lodging . 

 for the night was, thus late in the season (October 15), 

 of course deserted. The cows had gone down into the 

 valley, and with them the blithe dairymaids. But 

 when they leave their summer abode the door is not 

 locked ; a latch only keeps it from being blown open 

 by the wind; so that the hunter, should he be over- 

 taken by night or by a storm, can enter there and find 

 a comfortable shelter. We went up the steps, lifted the . 

 latch, and entered. Nothing could be neater than the 

 room : it was as clean and nicely arranged as if prepared 

 for a visitor. On one side was a raised hearth of stone, 

 about two feet and a half from the ground : it was large, 

 and necessarily so, for there in summer-time, in a huge 

 copper vessel suspended over the fire by a sort of crane 

 fixed in the Avail, the preparations for cheese-making 

 are carried on. The wall above the hearth was neatly 



