DEER-STALKING. 187 



him out elsewhere ; so we start at once for a 

 better view from the realms above. We have a 

 severe climb, attended by an incident which might 

 have spared the reader of these pages some trouble. 

 We have to go some distance round to avoid a 

 very steep snowfield, the labour of climbing which 

 would have been very heavy, even if we were 

 sure of its safe condition, which we are not. We 

 ascend on the left of it, which is better going, al- 

 though our true course is on the right. Towards 

 the top of it cliffs of rocks overhanging it, and ex- 

 tending for some distance to our left, make it 

 necessary for us to cross the snow to gain the 

 now easier ascent to our right. The angle of the 

 slope is rather severe, but the snow is of the right 

 consistency — soft enough to allow us to dig steps 

 with our feet— and so long as we proceed cautiously 

 in this manner there is no danger ; but when we 

 near the other side I grow very impatient at the 

 slowness of our progress, and disregarding, in the 

 impetuosity of my youth, the old hunter's grave 



