188 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



only when they were a considerable distance in advance 

 did we rise up from behind a low bush where we had been 

 lying, and go after them again. Once, on coming to a 

 ridge, we lost sight of them. Before us was a vast hollow, 

 broken here and there, and partly filled with high lat- 

 schen. We sat down, and peered around for them in 

 vain. Yet they had passed there, for we distinctly made 

 out their trail upon the ground. Presently an unusual 

 sound rose on the air, and came floating up from the dark 

 hollow — it was their voices ; and we now saw them going 

 up the other side, where they all sat down, while one 

 took out a glass and examined the slopes above which we 

 were sitting. 



" He is looking at us," said I to Solacher. 



" No, he could not distinguish us where we are ; be- 

 sides the others are talking and laughing," he continued, 

 still looking through his glass, " and if he had perceived 

 us they would all be looking this way." 



When they moved we rose and followed, till at last 

 they stopped at a hut built on a clearing of the moun- 

 tain : just below them lay a tree, blown down by the 

 wind ; behind this we took up our position, so near that 

 we could almost hear what they said. 



" I see !" said Maxl, " they intend stopping there to- 

 night, to be ready betimes tomorrow morning. Ha, ha \" 

 he exclaimed, "the door is locked and they can't find 

 the key." The men were evidently hunting for some- 

 thing in all directions. Some climbed up and searched 

 beneath the eaves, while another felt in holes and corners 

 where the missing object was likely to be. At last it was 

 found, and they all disappeared within the hut. 



The right of chase in that neighbourhood, Max told 

 me, belonged to the parish within which the men dwelt ; 

 there was however little doubt they would not be very 



