The Argosy — page 318: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

By the Vulture’s Nest. 293 Graham was struck by the man’s words; they were spoken so sensibly, and so quietly. They sounded like a law by which a man must abide, if he be not a madman. After a while, Jockl added : ‘‘ I have been to that place six or seven times myself, and have each-time shot a chamois there. But since Louise has had that dream, she wont let me go there again. She is such a good sister—lI cannot help letting her have her way.” ‘She is your sister!” Graham exclaimed. ‘‘ Whata very nice girl she is. Well, I am grateful to you both for the interest you take in my behalf, and I now promise to speak to the Count about it.” Graham scarcely had time to change his dress at the castle, before the dinner bell sounded. The company sat down to table without the Frenchman, who had not yet returned. Graham informed his host that he had not seen the place he had gone out to look at, and thought he could not do better than repeat the whole of his conver- sation with Jockl. But he never mentioned the young man’s sister. The Count laughed and said : “You have spent your afternoon with the most dangerous poacher of all our neighbourhood—a brave young fellow, however, whom I only wish I could get asaranger. But he prefers his liberty to all other advantages. I believe he considers a chamois to be no longer a chamois, if he is authorised to shoot it.” After a pause the Count added : “But why did you not tell us before that this is to be your first chamois hunt? Jockl is perfectly right, and the Chevalier has now achance. But where is he?” “The Chevalier left me long ago,” returned Graham, “and after a time sent back our guide to me, saying he would return alone. I hope he has not lost his way.” “Tt is a moonlight night,” observed one of the other ouests, and from all the hills around, the castle is plainly visible. Only what to a stranger seems the easiest and best road to take is sometimes very difficult to get over.” The host looked at his watch, and, while the company were assembled and smoking in the large hall, Graham withdrew. He then took his hat and strolled leisurely out into the garden, as if he intended spending only a few minutes in the open air. But as soon as he had reached the dark shadow of the pine trees, he hastened his step, and took the same direction as in the afternoon, when the Frenchman had been his companion. A vague feeling of uneasiness, almost of suspicion, had taken possession of him, and gave him no rest. The high summits of the mountains were flooded with the cold silvery light of the moon, and every shrub and stone were clearly discernible, whilst the shadows were so dark that the fancy could easily people them with phantoms of mountain spirits. When Graham reached the plateau from whence he could dis- tinguish Louise’s chalet in the distance, he saw a light burning in one EORNIELOOKS, (EC) m