then the coachman drove them
home. When they arrived at the hotel they were astonished to find that
they had got home again; and they called out to the coachman to ask
where the lake was that they had driven out to see. He told them that he
had driven them all round it!"

Rollo laughed heartily at this story, and Henry would probably have
laughed too if he had understood it; but, as Mr. George related it in
English, Henry did not comprehend one word of the narration from
beginning to end.

In the mean time the horse trotted rapidly onward along the valley,
which seemed to grow narrower and narrower as they proceeded; and the
impending precipices which here and there overhung the road became more
and more terrific. The Luetschine, a rapid and turbid stream, swept
swiftly along--sometimes in full view and sometimes concealed. Now and
then there was a bridge, or a mill, or some little hamlet of Swiss
cottages to diversify the scene. Mr. George and Rollo observed every
thing with great attention and interest. They met frequent parties of
travellers returning from Grindelwald to Lauterbrunnen--some on foot,
some on horseback, and others in carriages which were more or less
spacious and elegant, according to the rank or wealth of the travellers
who were journeying in them.

At length they arrived at the fork of the valley. Here they gazed with
astonishment and awe at the stupendous precipice which reared its
colossal front before them and which seemed effectually to stop their
way.

On drawing near to it, however, it appeared that the valley divided into
two branches at this point, as has already been explained. The road
divided too. The branch which led to the right was the road to
Lauterbrunnen. The one to the left Rollo supposed led to Grindelwald. To
make it sure, he pointed to the left-hand road and said to Henry,--

"To Grindelwald?"

"Yes, sir," said Henry, "to Grindelwald."

The scenery now became more wild than ever. The valley was narrow, and
on each side of it were to be seen lofty precipices and vast slopes of
mountain land--some smooth and green, and covered, though very steep,
with flocks and herds, and others feathered with dark evergreen forests,
or covered with ragged rocks, or pierced with frightful chasms. Here and
there a zigzag path was seen leading from hamlet to hamlet or from peak
to peak up the mountain, with peasants ascending or descending by them
and bearing burdens of every form and varie