ON THE MOUNTAIN. 207 



when you go over the whole occurrence once more, as 

 you will be sure often to do ; but the truth is that the 

 physical exertion, the excitement, and the necessary cau- 

 tion, prevent your dwelling long on anything save the 

 present moment : that is all -engrossing. 



Once on the ridge, it was necessary to be very careful 

 lest the chamois should see our forms against the sky ; 

 but with snow on the ledge, and that ledge sloping out- 

 wards, I found it rather unpleasant walking, for close 

 beside it the crags went down precipitously full a thou- 

 sand feet or more. 



But the chamois must have seen us, and are moving ; 

 they are making for the gap to which Berger predicted 

 they would go. We rush forwards, to try to head them, 

 but it is too far. They pass, and are among the preci- 

 pices of the other side before we can get there. 



Thus we had spent the better part of our day in try- 

 ing to approach them, and were unable to fire a shot. 

 Going downwards now was a quick affair. The loose 

 stones give way beneath your weight, and slide forwards, 

 carrying you with them twenty feet or more perhaps at 

 a time ; and in this manner, leaning back on your pole, 

 with your heels dug into the rubble, you are soon at the 

 bottom. We were only thirty minutes thus sliding down. 

 We went home by the Gems Wand. We saw two 

 fine bucks below us in a green valley, but far as they 

 were they scented our approach. 



When in the evening we gave the forester an account 

 of our doings, on telling him about this latter herd 

 which we had tried to get near, he said we might perhaps 

 have been more successful if we had stuck a stick up 

 among the stones, and placed on it a hat or handker- 

 chief.* u Many a time," said he, " have I done so when 



* In Catlin's work on America there is a print of an Indian who has 



