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CHAPTER XXVII. 



THE HINTER BISS. 



I cannot begin this account of the Hinter Hiss without 

 making mention of one who is intimately associated with 

 all my first recollections of the spot, and whose memory 

 I cherish with the warm and sincere regard due to a 

 thorough sportsman and a most kind and trusty friend. 

 Whoever knew the late Prince Leiningen intimately, 

 and had thus an opportunity of learning how many a 

 genial quality made up the sum of his character, how 

 thoughtful he was for those to whom he was attached, 

 and mindful of little things which another would forget, 

 — to such a one it will appear a most natural circum- 

 stance that I should advert to him here, where every 

 path, and ravine, and mountain-top, and so much of 

 the cheerful past is connected with him and his society. 

 Those sojournings alone with him in the wilderness were 

 pleasant times. Extensive as was the chase, he knew 

 well all the localities even in detail, — no easy matter in 

 such a wild mountain range. The haunts of the game 

 were familiar to him ; and no forester knew better than 

 he, where at dawn or at evening, a chamois or good stag 

 was likely to be found. As I said before, he was a tho- 

 rough sportsman : it was not in the mere slaughter of 

 game that he delighted, but its pursuit by fair means, at 



