252 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



his full height, that he fired. The ball hit him in the 

 centre of his chest. It was rather strange, but when 

 struck the poacher pulled open his shirt as if surprised, 

 looked at the shot-wound, and then falling forwards on 

 his face, dropped down dead." 



From a sort of table-land below and in front of us, 

 where a group of figures was distinctly visible, rose the 

 sound of women's voices ; and all space was filled with 

 their carollings. A very flood of tones came rolling to 

 us in great waves of sound ; for the distance, and may- 

 be the soft air, blended them in harmony, and made 

 those loud and sudden gushes of song most musical. 

 We stopped and examined them with our glasses. 



" Hang them \" said Neuner, while getting out his 

 telescope, " they are on the mountain shouting and sing- 

 ing all day long !" 



"Who are they?" I asked. 



' ' People digging gentian-roots ; they are always seek- 

 ing them, and disturbing the game ; it never has any 

 peace. There are two women and a man," continued 

 he, examining them with his glass ; " they are not from 

 Partenkirchen, but come from a village yonder." 



Though far away we could hear them distinctly when 

 they spoke, and their hearty laugh came ringing in our 

 ear, and sounded gladdening among those lonely rocks. 



We were ascending the last rise of the mountain, 

 when Bursch (the dog) came running to us in evident 

 fear. 



" Himmel, Donner Wetter ! " cried Neuner, seizing 

 his rifle with the quickness of thought ; instinctively I 

 seized mine, while springing round to meet the danger, 

 and cocked it in a second ; for I thought a poacher had 

 stolen upon us and was close at hand. But it was no 

 such enemy that Bursch had run from : a large vulture 



