TO FARTENKIRCHEN. 235 



spot. Yet as the gondola lay moored against the steps, 

 and the waters of the Adriatic gurgled under the prow, 

 I still stared in wonderment, and even then asked myself, 

 Can it really be ? And at last wheu I stood on the pave- 

 ment, and passed between the columns at the landing- 

 place, I looked up and told myself gladly, I had lived to 

 see the winged Lion of St. Mark. 



But now to the Forester, for in his hand lies my fate. 

 His house stood just out of the village, and so crowded 

 was the street that to reach it was a matter of time. 

 The booths and the gaudy throng of peasants formed a 

 merry scene ; but the prettiest spot was the cattle-market, 

 where picturesque groups had collected; — here, some 

 young girls with kids ; there, two old men bargaining for 

 a calf that a chubby boy was fondling ; and, best of all, 

 childhood was everywhere to be seen, — a pleasant sight 

 always, and in any picture. 



The kind forester gave me a few words to one of the 

 under-keepers, whose district was a short distance off; 

 and though here, as everywhere else, the game had of 

 late been destroyed by wholesale, he still had hopes that 

 I might get a shot. 



" However I cannot promise you," he added ; u for all 

 around there are poachers, and from the villages the pea- 

 santry go out and shoot everything they see. I think 

 the best place for you to try will be the Oester Berg : it 

 was a capital mountain formerly, and, though it has 

 been well-nigh cleared, it still is the most likely one for 

 a successful stalk. There is a hut about half-way up 

 where you can sleep : that is to say, you will find straw 

 to lie on and milk to drink. Bread you had better take 

 with you." 



In the afternoon, putting a few things into my ruck- 

 sack, and leaving the rest with the landlord at Parten- 



