270 EXPEDITION TO THE TYROL. 



after our tremendous exercise. As we sat upon the snow, 

 eating and gazing, a dark, grey veil was gradually drawn 

 over tlie whole of the sublime picture, and snow flakes, 

 began to fall. Karl immediately declared that we would 

 have to descend as quickly as possible, and seek shelter 

 for the night. Scrambling hastily down the way we came,, 

 and leaning well back on our staves, with our feet 

 stretched out before us, we shot down the long sheet of 

 snow, at a considerably quicker rate than we had ascended, 

 and reached the stony ravine at the foot of the summit. 

 Mr. Barrill said he was determined to draw blood before 

 the day was at an end. We soon heard the shrill signal 

 whistle of the little marmot, and, for want of better game, 

 he resolved to bag one of those sprightly little animals. 

 Creeping to the top of a neighboring ridge, we peeped 

 cautiously over into a little valley floored with a confused 

 mass of mossy stones and straggling Alpine roses. Here 

 several of the, quaint little animals were frisking about. 

 Each of us tumbled one over by a quick shot, the echoes 

 of which sounded among the mountains, like voices of un- 

 earthly beings, disturbed by the reports. Having bagged 

 these animals, we hurried on. It was growing very dark, 

 and the driving snow almost took away our sight. Fol- 

 lowing the course of a torrent, Karl, after a great deal 

 of trouble, found a well-known sennhutt, where we were 

 to rest for the night. 



