>^A?vDTXTA AXT) TTS WTLD STrKKI" 15 



one. Nor will any one be .successful at this sport who 

 does not do likewise. But I am hound to confess there 

 were so many nioi'iiings wlioii i]\o. sky sliook out tin- fcatlior 

 beds, instead of producing any sun at all, that the conceit 

 does not amount to much. We ascended a lidoe immcdi- 

 ately beliiiid tlie house, and followed its crest. The snow, 

 in spite of the three previous fine days, still la\' every- 

 where except on some southern slopes. Alternate sun 

 and trust had produced a crust upon its surfac'c, in plung- 

 ino- thmuiih which our feet made a terrible noise, which 

 did not [iromise well for "still hunting." However, what- 

 ever its disadvantages, one learns more of the habits of an 

 animal in one day on the snow, than in three without it. 

 And, oh ! the exhilaration of that moment ! Here was 

 fresh "sion." In the neiohbourhood of one of these clear 

 slopes there were unmistakable moufion tracks. Telescopes 

 were immediately busy, notwithstanding the impatience 

 of the natives, who thought this a necflloss waste of time. 

 A few minutes later those blessed words, "■ 1 have them," 

 from Celestiii, brought us all, eager worshippers, to his 

 side. There they were sure enough — four brown spots on 

 one of the southern slopes a mile or more distant. We 

 hatl never seen moufion before, but there was no niistakiiig 

 the identity of the animal. The Sards were sceptical aiul 

 said it was impossible to see moufion at that distance, but 

 that tlicv miu'ht bo pio-s. It was wurrh tho dcjax- of a h'W 

 minutes to iiive these gentlemen a h'>>()ii, so we carefullv 

 posed a telescope on the rocks, and [)reside(l over the 

 peepshow. As cich man canif up to l<Mik. \i was amusing 

 tu watch his face. He would ap[ily his eye with an 

 ex})ression of supercilious ])ity for our credulilx. After a 



