354 IN THE LAND OF THE BORA. 



some miles' weary climbing. The entire hillside is 

 one (wooded) moraine, the loose stones being 

 covered with dead leaves and sticks, but absolutely 

 without one inch of sure foothold, except, of 

 course, here and there on the root of a tree. I 

 found this much more trying when returning back 

 upwards, but I put in one fall each way, each 

 resulting in considerable abrasion of cuticle at 

 elbows and knees. After some two hours, nearly 

 half of which time we were halted, my excited 

 guide pointed out a chamois on the tremendous 

 cliff opposite, but, not having my glass, I failed to 

 locate it. Presently I heard Duran cheering the 

 hounds, but the roar of the torrent drowned their 

 music. After a bit the little rifle rang out twice, 

 and we hurried on. 



I had just got to a place where I could see a 

 little, when my companion spotted another chamois 

 — a large dark beast, evidently a buck — coming 

 straight down opposite, a fine sight. " Here 

 comes one ! here comes one ! here comes one ! " 

 he kept on ; and, remonstrance being quite un- 

 availing, I at last put my hand over his mouth. 

 Meanwhile the buck had disappeared in the thick 

 wood which fringes the stream. The roaring of 

 the swollen stream prevented my hearing him 

 cross, but when some minutes had elapsed, I knew 

 he must be near us, and to a certainty standing 

 and looking back for the dreaded hounds. I saw 



