THE KROTENKOPF AND THE KRAMER. 313 



we went on up the steep and narrow path.* As we 

 ascended higher, the wild beauty of the spot became 

 more and more visible. In some places there were 

 perpendicular buttresses of rock, of five or six hundred 

 feet in height, with here and there projecting spots, 

 covered with grass, or a pine-tree that had managed to 

 force its roots into some chance fissure. This was a 

 " Graben," as well as the " Rethel Clam," but very un- 

 like it in appearance and character. Grand as the forms 

 were, the whole was so shut in by the peculiar shape of 

 the mountain, and the parts brought so near together, 

 that verdant nooks were formed, giving the whole a 

 mild aspect ; moreover there was herbage in abundance 

 among the grey rocks, and the foliage of pines and 

 latschen to break the rugged and sharp outlines. Here 

 and there you saw little green spots, that you would 

 gladly have alighted on, had you had wings to fly there. 

 On our path was overshadowing wood ; and the shade, 

 and a languor I could not shake off, soon brought me 

 to a resting-place. It was a delicious afternoon, and, 

 though the 23rd of September, agreeably warm. I 

 looked before me, down into the deep gully, and listened 

 to the waters below, sounding, where we sat, just plea- 

 santly loud enough to tell of their presence, and no- 

 thing more. While I was thus contemplating the scene, 



* One of those mishaps which occasionally occur in the mountains 

 happened to this good dog, just before my departure from Partenkir- 

 chen. Neuner missed him on the mountain, but as he whistled for him 

 in vain, thought he had followed the slot of a roe, and would come back 

 after a time. He however never saw him again, and supposes he fell 

 over the rocks in the ardour of pursuit. For two days Neuner searched 

 the whole mountain for his dog, in case he should have got into some 

 place whence he could not climb out again, and where he might be still 

 alive. He called him by name, as he knew that, if alive, he could 

 answer by a bark or howl. In spite of all his endeavours he could find 

 no traces of him. 



