178 SAVAGE SVANETIA. 



chamois comfortably, Shukaclialo would be 

 one of the first places I should visit. 



Having lighted our pipes, Frank and I 

 strolled off, each to his ground, for the night. 

 The big stretch of corn-fields, as being nearer 

 and of greater extent, was assigned to my 

 friend, who, as he had never killed a bear, 

 was the more anxious to do so now. 



For me, Simon had decided on a little 

 patch of his own, somewhat higher up the 

 mountain- side, and a good deal further from 

 camp. Here he and I arrived just after sun- 

 set, and hid ourselves away behind a fallen 

 tree in the midst of the standing corn. 



The evening was perfect. No breath of 

 wind stirred the full ears, not a rustle came 

 from the regiments of dark trees that seemed 

 in the gloaming to be marching down into 

 the little yellow basin of corn-field. 



Looking out across the lower end of the 

 basin, we had a view of the course of the now 



