26 THE MARKHOR 



in the depths of our hearts we feel heaven and all 

 its blessings. 



Charming miracles and a wealth of colour greet 

 one on every side. The whole valley rings with 

 spring songs ; all the flowers are singing, and every- 

 thing is bathed in glorious sunshine, from the tiniest 

 meadow flower to the tallest pine. Many a for- 

 gotten love-word is whispered in our ear. Joy and 

 exultation seize upon me and almost drown the 

 frolic and rustle, splashing and dripping, chirping 

 and singing, humming and buzzing, sighing and 

 whispering of this heavenly spring-world. Yes ! 

 this country is an emblem of heavenly joy. With a 

 feeling of devotion one bathes one's heart and eyes in 

 the clear streams ; with buoyant step one glides over 

 the richly coloured meadows and hurries up the hills 

 to the highest points, where they are lost in the 

 deepest azure diamonds in the sky. What a fairy- 

 like dream of intangible eternity do these masses of 

 granite, born in primeval times, conjure up ! 



And it is sup there that the markhor, king of the 

 rocks, holds his court. Silvery forts guard his 

 kingdom a kingdom isolated from the rest of the 

 world. The highest pillars support his throne, and 

 the sky itself is his canopy. Only to the few is it 

 granted to approach him. 



Shall I be one of those few ? 



