276 OUR FIRST CHAMOIS HUNT. 



inches. Its hair was short, like that of the doe, and of 

 an ashy color, varying to a blackish brown. The horns 

 arose between the eyes, bent backwards, terminating in 

 hooks, and were of a glossy black hue. The eyes were 

 black, and full of expression. Unlike the tame goat, it 

 had no beard, nor even a short tail. Compared with the 

 cimaron of the Rocky Mountains, I would say that it is a 

 more beautiful and spirited animal. I no longer won- 

 dered at the enthusiastic love of the Tyrolese for hunting 

 the chamois. Its rarity the amazing acuteness of its 

 senses its fleetness and the stupendous scenery among 

 which it finds a home, are all circumstances that increase 

 the excitement and render it thrilling sport. A hunter 

 by nature cares but little for slaughtering even the 

 largest game. His luxury is in triumphing over animals 

 difficult to approach. 



We now thought of returning But the thought was 

 many times easier than the achievement. On all sides of 

 us tremendous cliffs appeared, and not a crack or crevice 

 could we see. Where had we descended ? .Following 

 our tracks in the snow, they led us to the foot of a cliff, 

 the ascent of which seemed an utter impossibility. But 

 we had descended by that path there could be no doubt 

 of it. It was no easy thing to get at the cliff at all. As 

 usual, there was a gap between the snow and the rock. 

 This was bad enough to cross from above ; but to jump 



