ing--only stood watching while
Melchior crept right into the narrowest part and began to ascend, taking
advantage of every crack and prominence, rising higher and higher
without a moment's hesitation, though so narrow was their
standing-place, that unless Dale and Saxe could stop him in case of a
slip, the unfortunate man would glance off and shoot into space.

Melchior was still climbing on when this idea struck Dale, who turned
sharply to his young companion.

"Why are you staring down there!" he said, as he noticed that Saxe had
turned from watching the guide and was looking down the tremendous
series of precipices stretching step-like from where he stood to the
valley southward.

"I was thinking how deep it is."

"Think of how far it is to the top, and let the rest take care of
itself. Here," he whispered, "stand close in with me. If he slips we
must stop him somehow. Well," he cried aloud, "can you manage it?"

"Oh yes, herr; and so will you," cried Melchior. "It is not so very
hard. This rift seems as if made on purpose."

The task looked very laborious all the same. But the man's climbing
skill was wonderful; nothing seemed to daunt him, and at the end of a
few minutes there came a triumphant jodel from the invisible spot to
which he had made his way.

Directly after the rope fell in rings from above.

"Let the young herr fasten it round him before he begins to climb,"
cried Melchior; and he was obeyed.

"You will never climb that, Saxe," said Dale. "It was a hard task for
him."

"But I must try," said the boy huskily; and he started at once,
desperately and in haste.

"Bravo! one does not know what one can do till one tries," cried Dale.
For with the rope always kept taut to help him and give him confidence,
Saxe climbed on, his nerves in such a state of exaltation that he forgot
how dizzy it had made him feel to see Melchior mount, but at the same
time remembered almost exactly how he had planted his feet in the
critical places.

This went on till he was three parts of the way up, where a projecting
rock overhead had to be passed; and the boy now felt, as he rested for a
few moments, that if he slipped there or failed to cling sufficiently
tightly, he must fall to the broad shelf where Dale was standing, and
rebound into the awful depths below.

In fancy he saw himself bounding from place to place, always gathering
speed, till he lay a shapeless mass among the stones of the valley; and,