The Argosy — page 315: what you’re looking at

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290 By the Vulture’s Nest. so fair, she might have been a lady born. After a little more con- versation, she added: ‘Is the gentleman staying with the Herr Graf?” “Yes,” replied Graham, “‘and I am going to the chamois hunt to-morrow. Will you not wish me good luck ?” ‘Well, yes; but not with much heart. I have more sympathy with the poor little ill-used animals, than with those who pursue them. But good-day to you, sir. I must now get back to my work.” And with that, she disappeared within the house. Graham strolled on through the churchyard, softly humming a favourite air. As he slowly recrossed the village the view again opened out, and this time the castle, whose hospitable roof had shel- tered him during the preceding night, appeared before him. It stood upon a slight eminence, entirely surrounded by forests of a deep green, and was built in a fanciful style, rendered beautiful by age. Inthe park surrounding the castle on all sides, Graham met some of the gentlemen who were to be his fellow sportsmen, and with whom he returned to the house. After a great deal of pleasant conversation, the Count advised Graham to pay a visit to the spot where he was to shoot his chamois on the morrow, which was cele- brated for its beautiful view into a dozen different valleys. Graham was delighted with the idea, and submitted with a good grace when the Chevalier offered to go with him. It was early in the afternoon when they set out. Their guide, a young forester, led the way to a narrow path between two bright meadows, enclosed on either side by the forest’s dark pine trees, and beyond them a group of successive hills, with narrow valleys between them. Graham was glad of a companion to whom he could speak about all that pleased his eye, but he found little sympathy in Monsieur le Chevalier. Frenchmen, as a rule, are no great admirers of scenery, and this young man had a firm notion that this was the time for setting up a reputation. Whatever they began to talk about he invariably found means to terminate by an allusion to some of his own exploits. Suddenly he broke off in the middle of a sentence, and gave a low whistle of delight. Graham followed the direction of the French- man’s eyes, but seemed—not equally pleased. Not a hundred paces in front of them, on a wonderfully smooth sward, stood a small house, and in the dark doorway a slight female figure in bright garments—Graham’s acquaintance of the morning. She was shading her eyes with her hand, and already welcoming them with the loud melodious “ Jodl,” common among the mountain peasantry of Tyrol, which their guide, the young forester, as cheer- fully returned. Then she advanced a little to meet them, and greeted them cordially. The girl made them at home in a very few minutes, and, seating herself on the bench at Graham’s side, chatted for some time in an. Eomicbooks.co