220 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



" Yes, he went along the ridge to drive the game for 

 the others, who were among the rocks; they were the 

 same we tracked across the meadows this morning ; I 

 was sure they were bound for the mountain." 



It was really very extraordinary that the whole affair 

 turned out as it did. The poacher must have passed 

 the spot on the ridge where we sat down, but a minute 

 before our arrival. Had we by chance spoken in coming 

 up he would have heard us, and would very likely have 

 let fly at one or the other. If too we had got there one 

 half minute sooner, we must have met face to face. It 

 is to this moment a matter of surprise to me that the 

 man did not hear our steps ; for we were close to each 

 other, and neither Berger nor myself took any pains to 

 step lightly. But not suspecting danger, and walking 

 slowly on in a sort of reverie, his ear must have been 

 less alive than ordinarily to a passing sound. Though 

 the path he had taken along the mountain- top was much 

 shorter than ours, he had proceeded very leisurely, which 

 accounted for our reaching the same point at almost the 

 very same moment of time. 



" We won't return the usual way," said Berger ; " let 

 us go round by the fields, where we shall be sure to meet 

 no one." 



"Why?" I asked. 



" Only look what a state we are in ! how your clothes 

 are torn, and mine too ! If any person were to meet us, 

 they would be sure to suspect something had happened, 

 by our coming from the mountain thus early. We have 

 no pole either, — a stick of some sort we must have ; wait 

 a moment and I '11 cut one for each of us. There," he 

 continued, after trimming a couple he had procured from 

 a fence, " there, that J s better than nothing in our hands : 

 I would not be seen in this plight for anything j it is bad 



