THE KROTENKOPF AND THE KRAMER. 309 



"When he comes, he will pass along yonder. Do 

 you see? — just there, where those stones are peeping 

 oift of the snow." And off he bounded with a nimble 

 step, and was soon out of sight, as he took a slanting 

 ' direction over the mountain. There was plenty of snow 

 where I stood ; for the spot being overshadowed, there 

 it lay week after week, safe from the influence of the 

 sun. I brushed some away, and lay down on the rock. 

 I was tired and listless, and then grew angry with my- 

 self for being so. I could not tell what was the matter 

 with me; but, for some cause or other, I strangely 

 enough did not feel the intense interest which always 

 possessed me at such moments of expectation. I took 

 out a crust and ate it, but more for pastime than from 

 appetite. I was annoyed at my own indifference, and 

 at such unwonted apathy. A charm seemed to have 

 been broken, and my eyes now looked at the magnifi- 

 cent forms about me, no longer wonderingly, but as 

 though they were quite common, everyday things. Sud- 

 denly a thundering sound reverberates from the Bischof 

 and rolls up the sides of the Krotenkopf; and then falls 

 back again, like a great wave, that, breaking its massive- 

 ness against the rocks, tumbles to pieces with a low, 

 murmuring moan ; — it was from Bauer's rifle. I started 

 up, and something of the old feelings came creeping on, 

 but sluggishly, and not with a sudden rush as heretofore. I 

 was behind a piece of rock, that covered me entirely up 

 to my chin, and looked right in front, where I expected 

 to see the chamois appear, but nothing came. Presently a 

 stone moved slightly ; and turning my eyes to the side 

 whence the sound proceeded, there stood two chamois 

 at gaze on my left hand, one behind the other : both 

 wore immovable, and looking steadfastly in my direc- 

 tion. T was as immovable as they; it was evident they 



