202 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



back to the steep, and consequently looking forwards and 

 below yon, the terrible depth is all the time before your 

 eyes : in mounting this is not the case ; and though, if 

 you are so unwise as to think about it, you know there 

 is a precipice at your back, it is however unseen. Care- 

 fully and steadily then down you go, your feet forwards, 

 your body sloping back, and your trusty^ pole grasped 

 with both hands, and firmly planted behind you.* Every 

 coming step must be decided on beforehand. " There," 

 you say, " the right foot can be placed, and on that point 

 the left : yonder grows a solitary latschen ; if I reach it 

 I may then hold on and let myself down to the bit of 

 rock below, and once there the rest will be somewhat 

 easier." Now, your companion, who is below you — and 

 two can always get on better in the mountains than one 

 — drives the point of his pole into a crevice, and holds it 

 horizontally for you to step upon ; or you plant yours 

 upright, and keeping it so, he holds by it while letting 

 himself down over a slope of rock, whose surface is so 

 smooth and steep that not even a cat could pass there ; 

 and when he is down he returns you the same good office, 

 as, lying on your back with your feet in his hands, you 

 slide slowly downward till you have found a footing. 



Joseph was at a distance, among the thick branches 

 of some latschen, and by their help he got on famously. 

 We crept silently to a sharp rocky ridge, and looked 

 over. 



" They are still there ! " whispered Joseph ; " now 

 which is the best way of getting near them ? That buck 

 is worth having." 



After reconnoitring the ground, it was arranged that 



* In going up lull you always have it before you. If the ascent is so 

 steep as to oblige you to take a zigzag course, you plant it beside you 

 about on a level with your hips, the upper part pointing outwards ; 



