OUR FIRST CHAMOIS HUNT. 277 



from the sloping snow against the face of the rock was 

 ten times more perilous. However, we found that the 

 task was to be accomplished. Karl took the labor of 

 carrying the chamois upon himself, although he frankly 

 acknowledged that it was the prize of my rifle. But he 

 dropped it for the time. He then uncoiled a rope from 

 his belt, and giving us hold of the end, sprang across the 

 chasm, alighting on a narrow ledge, with his nose almost 

 touching the rock; then, having steadied himself, he 

 turned around, and seated himself, with his legs dang- 

 ling over the chasm. Now came Mr. Ban-ill's turn. He 

 said that he could see no ledge, but was determined to 

 jump ; so he adjusted the rope to his belt, and sprang 

 across, almost into Karl's arms. I watched his progress 

 with intense interest. He swayed for a moment or two 

 over the chasm, and then, climbing on Spiegle's shoulders, 

 managed to draw himself up to a ledge, a few feet higher. 

 Turning round was a critical performance, but it was at 

 length effected, and my friend set his back firmly against 

 the rock. Now came my turn. By Karl's direction, I 

 tied the chamois to the end of the line, which he threw 

 ine, and then sprang into his arms, leaving the animal to 

 be hauled up afterwards. For a moment, I doubted my 

 ability to hold on without pulling the Tyrolese into the 

 gap. But he had muscles of iron, and I soon stood safely 



beside him on the ledge. The whole line was now un- 



24 



