292 THE STILL-HUNTER. 



of living shots with the rifle, and that if anything can 

 be done by snap-shooting with it he can do it. 



" Monday morning found me up bright and early, 

 dressed as a mighty hunter, armed with a Winchester 

 rifle, model 1876, and a six-foot pole with a spike in it. 

 All eyes turned toward me, the Yankee hunter; as I 

 stepped forth, dressed in an English hunting-costume, 

 my long hair carefully combed, many an expression 

 either of contempt or admiration went up from the 

 crowd of beaters, but all in German, so I could not 

 understand. I learned afterward that I was looked 

 upon as a good subject for many purposes, but ' nix 

 good' for chamois. We started at the foot of an im- 

 mense mountain and climbed toward the summit for 

 three hours. At last we reached an impassable bar- 

 rier; the Count motioned me to sit down by a little 

 tree. I took my seat, and for the first time looked 

 down the mountain. I came very near falling; turn- 

 ing my eyes toward the summit I dare not look 

 again; everything was still as death, and thus it re- 

 mained for perhaps twenty minutes, when bang ! went 

 a rifle on our right. The next instant there was a 

 rush of stones down the sides of the mountain. The 

 Count sang out, ' Here he comes,' and sure enough 

 he came rushing down the side of the mountain like 

 lightning. He made a great bound and stopped on 

 the side of the mountain, but only for an instant; he 

 cast one wild look in our direction, and jumped out of 

 sight. He ran on our right and soon disappeared, 

 and the next we saw of him he crossed the mountain 

 far out of reach below us. How sorry I was not to get 

 him; it was the first one I ever saw. We sat still for 

 a few minutes, when directly under us, not more than 

 ten yards, stood another chamois. I raised my gun. 



