328 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



other work-day they might, I verily believe, have done 

 what they would, and he would surely not have stopped 

 them. 



" How do you like it ?" said one of the youths to me. 

 " It's fine fun, isn't it ? and beautiful dancing too, eh ? 

 In the flat land one never sees anything like it. Does it 

 please you ? But I'll tell you what," he continued, in a 

 confidential whisper, "you should see me and that man 

 yonder dance together — that would surprise you ! You 

 must tell Pepi you want to see us, and then he won't 

 mind it." I did so, and the two performers began. All 

 the rest sat round, attentively watching them, and it was 

 evident by their silent eagerness that great was their ad- 

 miration. I hardly knew which amused*me more, the de- 

 light and wonderment of the spectators, or the attempts 

 at excellence of one of the dancers ; it was droll beyond 

 description to see his mincing steps, his affected attitudes, 

 and his lackadaisical air, so strikingly in opposition as it 

 was to the natural romping of my bouncing little baker; 

 and then their dresses too, and the surrounding groups 

 must be taken into account, all serving to heighten the 

 rich comic effect of their superabundant gravity. 



" Oh, what a pity it's over \" exclaimed the originator 

 of the dance when it was ended. " But tell me, how did 

 you like it ? We are merry fellows, eh ? Why, when 

 I was at Munich — I went there to draw for the conscrip- 

 tion, I drew the last number but one, — you should have 

 seen how the people stared when / danced. They stared, 

 I tell you, for such dancing they had never seen. There 

 was not one who could keep it up with me : I tired them 

 all down. But here, you see, it's not high enough. One 

 might knock his head if he were to jump high. It's 

 right merry here among us, isn't it ? We are the right 

 sort of lads, eh ? Ay, this is Heimgarten V and away he 



