THE RISS. 



153 



the narrow pathway cut in the side made the ascent easy- 

 enough ; and as we looked upwards, or cast a glance al- 

 most straight down on the boisterous torrent, the value 

 of that little path was felt at once : similar ones were to 

 be found crossing and diverging from each other on all 

 sides, leading to the ledge of rocks or to some sheltered 

 nook, which could not otherwise have been approached 

 noiselessly. 



Above us occasionally rose masses of bare rock, and 

 at their base was often such a green plot of herbage as 

 the chamois love to resort to at evening. Once we came 

 to a gully in the mountain- side, whence rose a confused 

 hum of waters, and a better place for a chamois could 

 hardly be found. Xavier told me he usually met one 

 there, yet now we scanned every part in vain. 



We were nearing a turn in the path; Xavier was a step 

 or two in front. I heard something move on one side of 

 me, and a little in advance of where we stood. In order 

 that the slightest sound might not be heard, I stretched 

 out my pole to touch Xavier on the shoulder, that he 

 might stop, or at least move carefully ; but he rounded 

 the corner without being aware that I had heard some- 

 thing. Hardly had he done so when he started back, 

 and bending down, pointed to the spot whence I had 

 heard the gentle rustling, while I quickly moved forwards 

 to get a shot. A two-year-old buck was standing on the 

 edge of the steep, but before I could level my rifle he 

 was dashing downward among the bushes, to pass over 

 to the opposite side. At once I saw three together ; for 

 a moment one stood at gazo, and at the same instant I 

 fired. 



" You have hit him \" cried Xavier : " he dropped at 

 once : now then, let us go and fetch him." So climbing 

 down the ravine across which I fired (called Speien Kas 



