378 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



with great surprise — dashed boldly up the face of the 

 rock, where we both had decided they would certainly 

 not go. But it took even the chamois a good time to 

 reach the summit, for to the very top they went, and 

 then disappeared over the other. On my companion 

 reaching me I learned why he had come at once over 

 the rock. He had seen chamois on the other side, and 

 had therefore kept this side the shoulder of the moun- 

 tain, in order not to be perceived. 



We set off after them, and climbing down into the kahr, 

 and crossing it, mounted the green declivity still higher. 

 Advancing cautiously we approached the edge of the 

 chasm, and lying fiat on the earth looked over. Many 

 chamois were there scattered in various directions, but 

 all as yet beyond our reach. Two we marked as being 

 bucks. There was nothing to be done but wait, and see 

 if they came nearer. \¥e thought they would, and in 

 some hours' time, pass out of the hollow over the rocks 

 near where we lay. Hans meanwhile took an hour's 

 nap, and I dozed and watched the chamois by turns. 

 They strolled carelessly about, and as I observed them 

 hour after hour, I was convinced more than ever how 

 little foundation there was in the stories generally told 

 about the sentries and outposts that keep strict guard 

 against the approach of an enemy. 



The sight and hearing of the chamois are so good that 

 they are in reality in little need of sentinels : they are 

 at all times watchful, and the sound that one of them 

 could hear would be heard by all. Nor would the taint 

 of human neighbourhood borne down to them on the 

 breeze reach one only, to be announced then by a shrill 

 sound to the rest. They all would look up and scamper 

 away at the same moment, as though an electric shock 

 communicated at once with all their bodies, the moment 



