MEETING WITH POACHERS. 215 



But Berger still protested against the experiment, con- 

 tending that it was perfectly useless to try. So we went 

 on, keeping away to our right — to the right of the spot 

 too where I had seen the poacher. The whole time my 

 thoughts were occupied with the man, and I was still 

 longing to make him prisoner. We had mounted a long 

 rough path among the latschen, and could now overlook 

 the scene. Further on to the right the mountain ridge 

 made a sweep, and there the rocks were torn, jagged, 

 and everywhere steep precipices. It was a wild, frightful 

 place. Far below was a chasm, but nowhere ought else 

 but loose and rolling stones. Around us was quite a 

 wood of latschen, and above was the continuation of that 

 ridge where I had first seen the man. As we moved along 

 I suddenly stopped, and touched Berger, who was before 

 me, with my pole, that he might do the same. He looked 

 round, but my finger on my lips caused him to keep si- 

 lence. I listened for some time, but the stillness was 

 unbroken by any sound. " 



" What was it V 3 whispered Berger. 



" Did you not hear something ?" 



"No." 



' ( Well, but / did. Just above us a pebble rolled down ; 

 it was as if it had been displaced by some one's foot- 

 steps." However all was now still, and we proceeded 

 onwards. 



We had reached the ridge of the mountain, and Ber- 

 ger sat down to look over into the space below and try 

 if chamois were to be seen. I chose a place a little be- 

 hind him and somewhat higher. By chance I turned 

 my head to the right, and there to my astonishment I 

 saw, not thirty yards off, the same figure that I had ob- 

 served before with my glass. I ducked my head in a 

 second, and pressing down Berger's shoulders behind a 



