42 -A CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



the poles, their progress is arrested ; for, being out of 

 their depth, they are unable to climb over them ; and 

 turning, swim back again to the shore. 



It was here that Count Arco performed an exploit 

 which hardly the boldest hunter could surpass, — a deed 

 so very perilous that I never think of the several circum- 

 stances attending it, without feeling something like giddi- 

 ness and being ill at ease. Yet there is a strange charm 

 in danger; and as a child will ask for a tale to be re- 

 peated which it has already often heard and been fright- 

 ened at, so I inquired again about his adventure when 

 the other day we were once more together. 



" Will you tell me," said I, " the story of your going 

 after the buck you shot near the Konigs See, — the ter- 

 rible place, you know, where in coming back you grew 

 giddy and sat down, and thought you would never be 

 able to get out again ?" 



" That was on the Ober See where you mean, just op- 

 posite Thai BergWand ; but I thought you knew the story 

 already."* 



" So I do," I replied ; " you told it us all a long time 

 ago, one day after dinner ; but I don't remember the par- 

 ticulars exactly, and I should like to hear it again." 



" Well," said he, " this was how it happened : — I had 

 wounded a chamois, and as usual he climbed up and 

 passed along a wall of rock, where we lost sight of him. 

 We knew that he would not be able to get out further 

 on, for it was a terrible place, I can tell you." 



" And very high up, was it not ?" I asked, interrupt- 

 ing him, — " right over the lake." 



" Three thousand feet," he replied ; " not an inch less, 

 — that I am certain of: it was a perfect wall of rock, and 



* The spot itself where this occurred is called Sailer Statt, and is on 

 the Walcli Hutt Wand. 



