176 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



dence of his Highness Prince Leiningen, but now belong- 

 ing to an acquaintance of mine. I therefore bade Xavier 

 promise he would not fail to look after the chamois on 

 the morrow, and, taking a glass of ale and a mouthful 

 of bread, once more slung rucksack and rifle over my 

 back and set off. 



There was no time to lose ; the evening was drawing 

 in apace, and I had several miles before me. It was 

 quite dark before I entered the warm room of Rietsclr's 

 house. Although I had that day been on foot for near 

 seventeen hours, I cannot say I was desperately tired, — 

 such is the invigorating effect of the mountain air. 



