224 FOREST CREATUEES. 



morning, and climbed up to and over the ridge, in order 

 to descend and reach, a village in the valley on the 

 other side. We had been descending for more than an 

 hour and got from amid the snow and the bare rocks, 

 and had reached verdure and the intertwining Lat- 

 schen.* Though the ground was rugged and broken 

 enough, yet, in comparison with the region above, which 

 we had just left, it looked almost cultivated. And this, 

 and the sight of dwellings and roads, and the village 

 church spire far below us, no doubt produced the im- 

 pression of being lower down the mountain than was 

 really the case. "You need no longer move so 

 cautiously," said my companion to me. " We shall 

 see nothing more, so you may turn your pole again 

 now ; " for, in order that the iron point might not ring 

 against the rocks, I was using the upper end which was 

 imshod ; and we went on, peering no longer below in 

 expectation of finding something. We agreed to stop 

 at a little knoll in front, and eat our breakfast there, 

 and were laying down our rifles without once looking in 

 front, when my comrade, seizing my arm and bending 

 to the earth, exclaimed, " A' Bock ! " And there, indeed, 



* Latschen, Pinus jpumilio, is a sort of pine found on the mountains, 

 growing on their barren sides, or out of the crevices of the rocks. It 

 does not at once grow upwards, but creeps along the ground for some 

 distance before its branches rise perpendicularly. Its foliage is dense 

 and bushy, and forms a good covert for the game. 



