376 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



that's the thing. Even were we to go down again and 

 round the other side, all is so open there we could not 

 approach him." 



" And he'll hardly come down and join the others/' 

 I said ; " he'll stay where he is, quite alone. But the 

 others, — did you see if a buck was among them ?" 



" Yes, one was a buck, but nothing like him opposite. 

 However, if you like I will try to drive them, and it is 

 not impossible that he may join the others and come with 

 them. What is your opinion? Don't you think if I 

 get round and appear on the other side, they will pass 

 up here within shot ? They surely will never go up the 

 yonder, so come here they must." 



I took the same view of the case as himself, for un- 

 less the chamois turned back, which was not likely, 

 they could not do otherwise than seek an egress near 

 to where we were lying. " Well, I '11 be off," said Hans, 

 "the sun is shining, so be careful not to let your 

 telescope be seen, — it glitters so. I remarked that the 

 other day, and such sparkling is visible afar, and would 

 be sure to be seen by the chamois. It will take me an 

 hour and a half to get to the summit, and about half 

 that time to come down again, so be on the watch then." 



As Hans began toiling up the mountain, I could not 

 help thinking, while looking after him, what an indefa- 

 tigable, good-tempered fellow he was. No fatigue, no 

 difficulty or privation ever for a moment prevented him 

 from starting off to serve me ; and he was always cheer- 

 ful, never out of humour, even though I missed the 

 buck which after an infinity of trouble he had managed 

 to make move towards me. 



It was a delicious spot where I lay ; I was comfort- 

 ably ensconced between two large stones, which, while 

 they formed a sort of easy-chair, screened me from the 



