270 



CHAPTER XXII. 



THE OESTER BERG. 



At noon I started for Partenkirchen, and walked straight 

 to the forester's house to report myself. He was not a 

 little surprised at my good fortune. Then, before going 

 up the Oester Berg where Neuner had seen two chamois 

 lately, I went to the inn to get some bread, a few lumps of 

 sugar, in case I should wish to make a glass of grog, and 

 a couple of eggs for mixing with my schmarren. The 

 landlord's daughter — who, although her wedding was 

 near at hand and she was busied the live-long day with 

 three of her handmaids in marking and hemming, and 

 folding great piles of linen for the household of which 

 she was soon to be mistress, was not always in the best 

 of moods — met me as I entered. " Good day, Chris- 

 tina !" I said; "why, I expected a friendly greeting, 

 — you wanted a chamois, and I sent you one yester- 

 day." 



"Ah, good day \" she answered: "one hardly knows 

 you in your green hunter's hat and joppe." 



" The chamois was good, was it ?" 



" A capital one, — who shot it ?" 



" No, no ! that I don't believe." 



" Now for your unbelief, Christina, you must give me 



