66 SAVAGE SVANETIA. 



cades and mountain streams shone here and 

 there, splashing over the ledges or welling up 

 through the deep dark moss. 



The whole place seemed made as a noon- 

 day paradise for chamois, and that it was 

 haunted by those for whom it was so fit 

 innumerable paths and deserted forms on the 

 ledges bore ample testimony. As we peeped 

 over into a little gorge, whose sides were of 

 white gravel, the sullen look vanished from 

 Simon's face, and beckoning to me to follow he 

 began to crawl cautiously back from the edge. 

 His quick eyes had noticed fresh tracks made 

 in the earlier morning by a herd of chamois 

 at play on the gravel slope, and he guessed 

 rightly that they would be asleep not far from 

 their playground. 



Creeping on hands and knees from ledge 

 to ledge, Simon leading the way, and using his 

 eyes for both of us, we proceeded for several 

 hundred yards round the face of the rocks. 



