PERSISTENT ILL-LUCK. 163 



would have induced Frank to make another 

 expedition into tur- haunted mountains. 



Wherever we went we saw traces of game. 

 Bears had been before us all up the bed of the 

 river ; chamois evidently abounded on the 

 hillsides ; round the outskirts of a village 

 which we gained before reaching Latali, the 

 pear trees even in sight and liail of the houses 

 had been stripped by Bruin ; and yet with 

 persistent ill-luck Ave never came across a 

 single head of game, though we were all far 

 too dispirited to be a loquacious or noisy 

 party. 



When, after a week's absence, we crept 

 back into Betcho. having after much toil and 

 privation obtained one day's unsuccessful 

 stalk, I agreed with Frank in thinking the 

 pursuit of the tiir a somewhat overrated 

 amusement, and set to work at once to secure 

 an escort to take my companion back to a 

 region of comparative peace and plenty, in 

 M 2 



