256 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



being seen above the sky-line. We crept forward on 

 our stomachs, with hats off, gently advancing our heads, 

 till at last our eyes could just peep over the ridge. There 

 he was below us, and a splendid fellow too. 



" He is quite black," I whispered to Neuner ; " that's 

 a good buck indeed ! But how can we get near him ?" 



This was a question of painful interest. To be tor- 

 tured by the sight of such a capital chamois, within my 

 grasp as it were, and yet not be able to approach him, 

 was most distressing ; for in a moment my eye recon- 

 noitred the ground, and I saw all the difficulties of our 

 position. Over the ridge where we lay the descent was 

 nearly perpendicular; latschenwere growing there abun- 

 dantly, it is true, so that to climb down would have been 

 possible enough, but not noiselessly, and that was here a 

 question of the last importance. From out the depth be- 

 fore us, that went stretching away more or less abruptly 

 to the valley, rose here and there a pile of rock like the 

 towers of a cathedral, with latschen growing on its sur- 

 face, or starting from the gaps and crevices. It was on 

 the top of one of these rocks the buck was feeding. With 

 our glasses we looked down full upon his broad back. 



" What a magnificent fellow ! If we could but get 

 him, Neuner ! " I said, half inquiringly. 



" Yes," he answered, " but how ? that's the thing." 



At first he was partly hidden among the latschen, then 

 his hind-quarters, quite black, emerged from the dark 

 green bushes, as he slowly moved on, perfectly uncon- 

 scious of our neighbourhood. 



" I don't see him now," said Neuner. 



" But I do : look there, the black spot to the right 

 of that bare rock, — that's he ! Here, take my glass." 



" Ah, what a size ! Well, we had better go down 

 yonder to the left, and see if there is any possibility of 



