AN ALP. TO Berchtesgaden they went. We shall not follow Hamilton, either when he inspected the salt-works, or visited the beautiful lakes in its immediate neighbourhood; nor would we accompany him to the alp, which he afterwards ascended, were it not to give our readers a slight idea of those excursions so common in the mountainous parts of Bavaria, and of the little importance attached to a chamois hunt. They were unceremoniously joined in their expedition by a number of hunters, foresters, and some officers who were on leave of absence. A. Z. went with them very willingly, as she heard that an acquaintance of hers was spending a few weeks on the alp for her health, enjoying what is called “_Sommer frisch_”; and, in fact, on reaching the _châlet_, which was situated in the midst of the mountains, they found a very nice-looking, sunburnt person, sitting with her maid before the door. She was surprised to see the Z—’s, but not in the least to see the others, as she said scarcely a week passed that someone did not come to hunt; and on hearing that Hamilton spoke German she pointed upwards towards the rocks before the house, and said that in the evening he would see the chamois leaping about there. “She is destroying all the mystery of a chamois-hunt,” said Hamilton, turning to A. Z. “I could run up that mountain, I think.” “I would not advise you to try it; nor, indeed, can I consent to your making any excursion on the mountain alone, as long as you are travelling with us. Violent deaths are not at all uncommon here; it is not long since a girl, gathering herbs, fell over a precipice and was dashed to pieces; and a man was found nearly starved to death, in a place to which he had climbed, but from which he found it impossible to extricate himself. That old man,” she added, lowering her voice, “that old _Jäger_, who is now speaking to Herrmann, had some dispute with his only son when they were on a chamois-hunt together; people say that a push from him, in the heat of argument, precipitated the young man thousands of feet below; his body was found in a dreadfully mutilated state, but there was no evidence against the old man, for they had been alone; and as such accidents are but too common, the exact state of the case has never been ascertained, and his confessor alone knows what happened.” “Well, Hamilton, are you disposed to try a shot this evening?” asked Baron Z—; “three or four chamois have been seen in the neighbourhood.” “I shall go with you as a looker-on; but as I am a very bad shot, I think one of these poles will be of more use to me than a rifle.” “We shall send some men up to beat them down to us,” said Baron Z—. “There is no use in climbing more than is necessary.” “Can you not use dogs?” asked Hamilton.