DOZIXa CHAMOIS. 147 



our comrades, wlio had had no better luck 

 than ourselves. 



Lying that mornmg, after breakfast, out- 

 side our cave, we made out on the rido;e 

 beyond the Tchosura a large herd of chamois 

 feeding and playing in a hollow of the hills, 

 which the morning sun had not yet pene- 

 trated. Tired of so much inaction as we had 

 been doomed to for the last three days, I at 

 once proposed that we should attempt to stalk 

 them ; but to this my guides gave a decided 

 negative, at least for the present, so that I 

 had to content myself with watching the 

 bonny beasts through my glass. 



At last the sun crept into the hollow and 

 banished the cool shadows, whereupon the 

 whole herd left off playuig and feeding, and 

 one by one lay down in the tall herbage. 

 None of them seemed easily pleased with their 

 lairs, for, after lying for some time with their 

 heads held well up, they would rise and take 



L 2 



