The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1889-04-20
OLD SIEGEL AND Ills SON.


through that beautiful tract of mountain
scenery in the south of Bavaria known
as the Saltzkammergut, stayed for a
fortnight Berchtesgaden. spent much OF
my time there in fishing for grayling and
in talking to the chamois hunters. with
many of whom had made acquaintance
during previous visit. used often to
sit for hours listening to their hunting
stories. and on one occasion l hunted
with them.
The mountains Immediately around
Berchtesgaden nre kept as royal cham.
OILS preserve, and as the king was ex.
pected to arrive shortly. none but his
majesty's own jaegers were allowed, dur.
ing the time was there, to disturb the
chamois.
was, however, very anxious to have
at least one days sport, and arranged
with old Siegel and his son Franz,
chamois hunters whom had known for
some time, and on whom l could depend,
to have a "jagd" on the morrow Siegol
persuaded Gotting, friend of his, to
come with us.
We started early in the morning. and
after toiling for several hours up through
the dark pine woods, which became
more scant and scrubby the higher we
went, emerged at last on the open snow
fields.
We now separated; Franz and Gotting
madc Il long detour to the left, while
Siegel and l fastened on to reach some
commanding position above in case any
chamois were driven up. After an
hours more climbing we halted on the
top Of precipice, which. shaped in the
form of q crescent, made q complete cul
de sue for any chamois driven up by our
friends below.
We had hardly been watching ten
minutes when two chamois appeared in
sight, bounding up the mountain side
and coming directly toward us. When
the foremost had come within range
fired and missed, us most men would
have done, firing os did at SO small an
object from height almost perpendicu.
larly above it,
The beasts turned. and. springing with
wonderful speed over the sharp rocks,
were soon out of sight. fired second
shot just rs they were disappearing. and
think struck one of them, but it con-
trived to get away and wo never saw il
again.
Siegel and l, somewhat crestfallen,
trudged on up the mountain. Eeeping q
sharp lookout on all sides and haltine
now and then to give tho others time to
overtakc us.
Suddenly VIC heard, far down below
US, q shot, and then ell was again silent.
We were much surprised, IS it is one OF
he first rules in this Kind of hunting
never, except when absolutely necessary,
even to raise the voice, much less, OF
course, to fro q rifle, which scares the
charlois completely.
We knew that Gotting and Franz, di.
rectly below us as they were, could not
possibly have seen chamois, as oui
shots must have driven them quite out Of
reach. After minutes anxiety listen
ing, we fancied VIC heard shouts, and
fearing wo knew not what, called loudly
Franz's name.
We then heard-and this time quite
distinctly-tho voice of Gotting saying.
Come down! come down. 1t is all over!
Franz has shot himselfr
Siegel and l were standing together
ankle deep in the snow. glanced into
his face, and think shall never forget
the look of misery saw there. Before
knew what he was about, he had seized
his rifle, had presented the muzzle to his
head, and was feeling with his foot in u
frenzied manner for the trigger.
snatched the piece away just in time.
he did not try to recover it, but throw
ing himself on the SNOW, hurst into q
most passionate, most eloquent torrent
of praise of his sons many virtues. He
told me what good son he had always
been to him, anxious to fulfill his slight
est wish.
at length succeeded in partially sooth-
| ing him, and in rousing him To action.
We scrambled down as fast us we could,
guided by Gotting's shouts.
1t was long time before we reached
them; to me it seemed an age. Iaccused
myself of being the author of all this
misery, and my anxiety was heightened
by the reflection that we were in reality
| poaching. and we should very likely, in
consequence of this misfortune, get into
trouble on our return.
We found poor Franz lying shot through
the back and in great pain among stunted
"knieholz"-a plant something like our
whinbush. II appeared that he had. con.
trary to all jaeger rules. carried his rifle
capped. and that in walking through the
knieholz he had stumbled and fallen, and
his rifle had somehow or other exploded,
causing u severe wound.
We stanched the blood as well as we
could with our handkerchiefs, and then
held consultation. Gotting said he
knew of chalet some way off to which
he thought we might manage to carry
Franz.
lifted him up as carefully as possible,
and walked for some way over the
abominable Inieholz, which threatened
10 trip one up every moment. | man.
aged, think. to go about two hundred
yards with my burden, and then, ex-
hausted, had to lay him down. Ills
father tried to carry him next, but un'
nerved and half blinded by his tears, had
also soon to give it up.
Gotting was the only ono OF the party
who could carry Franz for any great
length of tinlo over the rough ground
wo were now compelled to traverse; he
was small man. but seemed to be all
wire and muscle,
1t was, however, evident that at the
slow pace we were obliged to go we
should never. even IL we knew the exact
direction-which, by the way, none OF
us did-get 10 the chalet before nightfall.
Some other arrangement must he made,
Getting proposed that he should stay
with the wounded man, while Siegel and
| should 20 forward and attempt tc
reach the chalet. Gotting was the only
one Of the party who had ever been
there, and that was years before. He
gave us directions how to find it.
We ears - pass - ths EiEht q laft q