THE HINTER RISS. 345 



knees downward, their feet resting on the wood -ashes, 

 occasionally using them as pokers to move the embers. 

 Besides the short breeches they each had on a coarse 

 sackcloth shirt, open at the chest, and nearly as black 

 as the charred beams and rafters. When it or the per- 

 sons of the wearers had last been washed, is a question 

 which would have posed any of the company to answer. 

 Their memories would hardly have reached back to so 

 remote a period. Their long hair and shaggy beards, 

 their begrimed faces and uncouth covering, gave them cer- 

 tainly a somewhat savage look ; yet they were friendly 

 and obliging, and were always ready to show me such 

 little courtesies as prove a friendly feeling and kindly 

 disposition. One in particular, who seemed to hold me 

 in especial affection, was always on the alert to do me a 

 service, which he invariably accompanied with a know- 

 ing shake of the head, a sly wink, and a smile so friendly, 

 that it would have made the swarthiest face look bright 

 and winsome. 



Before making ourselves comfortable for the night, 

 Hans and myself went out to listen for the stags. We 

 mounted the steep for some little distance, in order to 

 get beyond the noise of the water below, which, rushing 

 over its rocky channel, entirely prevented any remote 

 sound from reaching our ears. Presently we heard a 

 low moan, which perhaps might have been unheeded by 

 one not accustomed to the peculiar, almost inaudible, 

 murmur. As we ascended higher it sounded most dis- 

 tinctly, — a hollow, dull, angry tone, which came from 

 the mountain far above us. Again the sound was heard ; 

 but this time it proceeded from another direction : there 

 was, too, a difference in the roar j it was in another key 

 from that which had first made us stand still and listen. 

 Thus we knew there were at least two stags about there. 



