354 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



the mist floating upwards soon after lie had left me ; and 

 knowing that as long as it lasted I should see nothing, 

 he had waited quietly till the brightness re-appeared 

 before commencing to drive the forest. He always 

 thought about what he had to do ; I could safely rely on 

 his executing any manoeuvre with skill and without com- 

 mitting a blunder. He was ever ready to carry out any 

 of my wishes, and as to exertion he was indefatigable. 



We waited what we considered a sufficient time, and 

 then v began to follow the slot of the stag. Over the 

 hard ground this was not so easy ; and when it was soft, 

 and on the grass, there were everywhere the traces of 

 the cows and heifers which wandered hither for pastu- 

 rage. It required the greatest attention to make out 

 and follow the right track : there were moreover the 

 traces, some old and others quite fresh, of other stags 

 in the mire, that had passed backwards and forwards 

 through the thicket. Sometimes I got on a wrong scent, 

 and had to double back again like a hound : the size 

 and peculiarity of the stag's hoof was to be well kept 

 in mind, in order to discover the right footprints among 

 fifty others ; and sometimes one which looked very like 

 that I was following would, on being felt, prove to be no 

 fresh impression, but two or three days old. Hans had 

 gone in another direction. I had made out the track as 

 far as a wet meadow, and over a steep bit of clayey 

 ground. Here the stag had evidently slipped — slipped 

 with the forefoot ; and this made me feel all the surer 

 that I was on the right track. From here the bank 

 sloped down to the watercourse. Noting the spot I 

 went back to Hans, and told him I would not follow 

 further, but send for a bloodhound, and then we might 

 make sure of the stag. " For," said I, " if he is not at 

 rest, the dog will soon come up with him, and bring him 



