ADVENTURES OF CHAMOIS HUNTERS. 283 



other. When the rising against the French and Bava- 

 rians was first commenced, remarkable signals were 

 adopted. Sawdust was thrown on the rivers Inn and 

 Eisach, fires were kindled on the tops of mountains, and 

 women and chidren ran from rock to rock, and from 

 cottage to cottage, shouting " It is time." Victory after 

 victory was achieved by the peasant army, under the gal- 

 lant inn-keeper, Hofer. But the Austrians withheld their 

 support, and, ultimately, numbers triumphed. Hofer, after 

 wandering, like a hunted wild beast, among the rocks of 

 his native land, was betrayed into the hands of the French, 

 and, ignominiously, executed. The hunters were delighted 

 to find that we sympathised with Hofer and his cause, 

 and we ascertained that we had risen greatly in their 

 esteem in consequence. Of the whole party, Karl Spiegle 

 was the only hunter who had travelled beyond the boun- 

 daries of the Tyrol. He had passed some months in 

 Lithuania, formerly a part of Poland, now a province on 

 the western borders of the Russian empire. He informed 

 us that he had witnessed some great sport in that country, 

 and we listened to his narrative with a great deal of 

 interest. 



"Lithuania," said Spiegle," is still partially covered 

 with forests. One of these which is called the Grand 

 Forest, is no less than twenty-five miles in extent each 

 Way. It abounds in wild animals, particularly wolves and 



