352 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



deep tone," answered Hans, " a much better stag even 

 than we first saw. If he keep about the same ground 

 a little longer, which he no doubt will do, we may ma- 

 nage to come up with him and get a shot." 



We still listened, for it was a pleasure to hear the 

 deep roar. But in our neighbourhood nothing gave sign 

 of life. Hans proposed to go some distance down the 

 mountain-side, and then making a circuit to pass through 

 the thicket, and thus if any game were there, to drive 

 it towards me. I agreed to the plan. We looked for 

 a good place where I might take my stand. The spot 

 chosen was a very steep declivity, covered partly with 

 long tangled grass, and partly with large stones. At a 

 hundred and sixty or seventy yards below me the forest- 

 trees advanced from either side, and left but a small 

 space of open ground, which led down to a distant water- 

 course. Cutting down some branches, I made a sort of 

 breastwork to avoid being seen. But hardly was this 

 precaution taken, when a long cloud of mist came sailing 

 up from the hollow, and as it advanced shutting out even 

 the nearest objects from sight. I did not know whether 

 this vapour might extend further on or not ; and I feared 

 that if Hans continued his drive and the mist did not 

 soon disperse, a stag might pass without my being aware 

 of his neighbourhood. I therefore watched this filmy 

 yet opaque mass as it rolled along, now for a moment 

 growing thin as air and letting the blue sky look in, 

 and then taking threatening forms, flinging over very 

 object its damp and clammy shroud. In half an )-oiiy it 

 had disappeared. 



I had waited an hour and a half, when at a good dis- 

 tance below me a patch of brownish-red colour, as of a 

 stag, became suddenly visible, — and it was one. The 

 antlers grew clearly distinguishable, and he came slowly 



