The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-07-09
The CHAMOIS HUNTERS
L[Af ~ Edward s. Ellis.
81 A Nd so, nv son. Won think Vol

am sure of it, father. Ihave hunted
him alone, and shot him on the Hottest
peaks; but neither you nor mother knew
OF 1t. Now, when she has given her
assent, why should you hesitate?"
Il 90 not. Come on, Xivin.
1t was the old Bavarian chamois hun
ter, Frohmaur, who had been known for
30 years as one of the most caring and
skllltul of those engaged in this dam
gerous calling, who spoke thus to his
son, a tall, graceful youth of Is. This
lad was courageous, with a quick eye, a
sure foot and that presence of mind in
danger which so frequently settles the
question of life or death with him who
IL concerned.
1t was in their own humble home at
the foot of the towering mountains.
miles beyond the nearest Bavarian vii
iage, that the iron-limbed and grim old
Frohmaur, with his griZzled locks, but
with his eagle eye undimmed, sat down
to talk with his only child. while the
good wife moved about the small apart
ment in the pursuit of her household
duties.
Chamois hunting is one of the most
peculiarly dangerous sports, or. rather,
businesses, known. The animal is
slightly larger than the roebuck, and
weighs from so to 60 pounds. Its color
varies with the seasons, being a dusky,
yellCwish brown in summer, a dark
brown in autumn, ard a jet black in
winter, excepting the hair of the fore
head, the under part, and the hair that
~overhangs the hoof, which always re-
mains tawny. while the black stripe
reaching from the eyes to the mouth
never changes.
The horns of the channels are six or
seven inches in length, and are crooked
backward at the end, a peculiar shape
which has led some to believe he uses
them TO hook on to the rocks when his
foothold is uncertain. However, this is
an error, the principal use of the horns
being for fighting purposes.
TIE chamois is wonderfully adapted
to his life among the mountain peaks
and crags. His sight and scent are
marvelously acute, and the faintest foot
prints in the snow will send him flying
with the speed of the wind in an oppo-
site direction. His hoofs are shaped
like those of the sheep, but are longer
and more pointed, remarkably fitted
for sliding rather than stepping.
In standing still, or walking on Iernl
ground, the channels looks awkward.
but he is at home among the ice and
mountains. His legs are so constructed
that he can make magnificen leaps, and
in dropping from considerable height
they act as springs or cushions and pre-
ven injuries and shocks which in other
animals would be fatal.
FrohmaUr and his son left their
home on a clear, sunlit morning, and
began toiiing up the mountain. Each
had his rife slung across his Shout
ders, besides his "reick-sack," or bag
holding his spy-glass, drinking cup,
bullets and ~incidentals, while his iron
shod staff was grasped in his right
hand.
Father and son continued toiling
steadily upward until the sun was d.
rectly overhead. Such tremendous ex-
ertions would nave exhausted any mar
unaccustomed to it, but when the two
finally halted, their faces were scarce
ly flushed, nor was there any increase
IN their respiration.
Now" said the father, 1--WE must
look for game"
There ought to be some in sight, for
we have passed many buds and shoots
of the latschen," said Xivin, referring
81 II
The father, without making reply,
slowly turned around on his ~hob-nailed
shoes, as he scanned the peaks and
crags above him. Such a survey occu-
pied a number of minutes, and when he
was through he lowered the glass, with
a sigh over his failure.
Meanwhile Xivin initiated the same
maneuver, using his young and keeE
eyes for all they were worth. Sud-
denly he laughed:
"Ha, ha, father, my eyes are better
than yours. You missed the channels,
which l have seen"
The father smiled, as he said:
He is lying on the ground, just to
the left of that rock, on the top of which
are some bushes growing"
"Ah, you saw him, then" said NiXin.
pleased to find his fathers sight SD
good. You detected him at once, and
you were only testing me-"
Such Was the fact, and Frohmaur, the
father, was no less pleased than his son
over the keenness of sight displayed
by the boy.
The channels, which was a dark speck
to the naked eye, was plainly outlined
through the glasses. He was lying
down, as if for a MONDAY rest, and
seemed to be chewing his cud, with no
suspicion of danger. He was too far
away TO be reached with n rife ball, and
the hunters Immediately began the at
tempt to get nearer.
This was where the real difficulty and
peril of their business became man.
ifest. 1t was necessary to descend into
a vast. rocky ~ravine, make their way
a long distance to the right, and then
climb up a series of precipiees on the