attributed his surliness to its true cause. It supplied another bit
of the mosaic he was slowly piecing together. Greatly as he preferred
Helen's company, he was willing to sacrifice at least ten minutes of
it, could he but listen to the "discussion" between Stampa and Bower.

Therein he would have erred greatly. Helen was tired, and she admitted
it. She did not decline his aid when the path was steep and slippery.
In delightful snatches of talk they managed to say a good deal to each
other, and Helen did not fail to make plain the exact circumstances
under which she first caught sight of Spencer outside the hut. When
they arrived at the carriage road, which begins at Lake Cavloccio,
they could walk side by side and chat freely. Here, in the valley,
matters were normal. The snow did not place such a veil on all things.
The windings of the road often brought them abreast of the four men
in the rear. Bower was trudging along alone, holding his head down,
and seemingly lost in thought.

Close behind him came Stampa and the Engadiners. Karl, of course, was
talking--the others might or might not be lending their ears to his
interminable gossip.

"We are outstripping our companions. Don't you think we ought to wait
for them?" said Helen once, when Bower chanced to look her way.

"No," said Spencer.

"You are exceedingly positive."

"I tried to be exceedingly negative."

"But why?"

"I rather fancy that they would jar on us."

"But Stampa's promised lecture appears to have ended?"

"I think it never began. It is a safe bet that Mr. Bower and he have
not exchanged a word since our last halt."

Helen laughed. "A genuine case of Greek meeting Greek," she said.
"Stampa is an excellent guide, I am sure; but Mr. Bower does really
know these mountains. I suppose anyone is liable to err in forecasting
Alpine weather."

"That is nothing. If it were you or I, Stampa would dismiss the point
with a grin. You heard how he chaffed Barth, yet trusted him with the
lead? No. These two have an old feud to settle. You will hear more of
it."

"A feud! Mr. Bower declared to me that Stampa was absolutely unknown
to him."

"It isn't necessary to know a man before you hate him. I can give you
a heap of historic examples. For instance, who has a good word to say
for Ananias?"

The girl understood that he meant to parry her question with a quip.
The cross purposes so much in evidence all day were baffling and
mysterious to its cl