and under fern fronds, to form into tiny pools in the
crevices of the rocks; and from one of these they drank with avidity
long cooling draughts of the sparkling water dipped out in the flask
cup, and then they turned to go.

As they walked back, it was to find that Melchior had just returned with
the pannier, and had been spreading part of his clothes in the sun to
dry.

"We have been after water," said Dale.

"Ah! you found it all right, then?" said the guide eagerly.

"Yes; but it is a good way off, and I only had my flask with me."

"Good way off!" said Melchior. "Why, it is close here."

"But we could not drink that," cried Saxe.

"Why? It is beautiful water. I will show you."

He took a tin from the basket as he spoke.

"Well, you can drink it if you like," said Saxe. "I wouldn't have
minded it out of the lake; but this thick stuff--why, it's horrid."

"From the lake? No, not good," said the guide. "Bad for the throat.
See here!"

He took a dozen steps toward the schlucht, and passed round a huge mass
of rock, behind which a pure fount of water gushed out from a rift, at
whose foot Gros was drinking where the water ran down to join the river.

"Some people say that they like to travel without a guide," said Dale
quietly.

"Yes, herr; there are plenty who come here, and think they know in a day
all that it has taken me more than twenty years to learn."

He led the way back to the basket, and busily spread their homely dinner
on a smooth block of stone, Saxe vowing that he had never eaten such
bread and cheese before.

When the meal was ended, and the basket once more placed on the mule's
back, Dale looked inquiringly at the guide.

"Over yonder, herr," he said, pointing at the wall of rock away to their
left.

"But we can't get up there with the mule," cried Saxe: "we're not
flies."

"Wait and see, herr," replied Melchior. "We shall mount yonder, and
then go right over the col between those two peaks. There is the valley
on the other side that we are seeking, and there we must rest for the
night."

"Then the sooner we start the better," said Dale, "for the day is
getting on."

"Yes, herr; and the mists come down into the col where the snow lies.
Are you ready?"

The answer was in the affirmative, and the guide started straight for
the wall of rock, which still looked quite impassable as they drew near,
till Melchior turned sharply round into a cleft, which looked as if a
huge p