e to you English gentlemen; but you come from great
cities where people are many, and you can hardly count your friends.
Out here in the deep thals, where men are shut up by the snow for weeks
together, with only their cows and mules and goats, they grow to look
upon the animals about them as friends, just as the poor animals
themselves look to their masters for their care, and run to them for
help and shelter when the great storms come down. Why, herr, you have
seen they live in part of the house. The chalet is built up with a warm
shelter beneath for the little flock or herd. Poor Gros! Andregg will
nearly break his heart; and," added the guide simply, "he will not even
have the consolation of saving the skin."

This last notion, in the reaction he felt, sounded so droll to Saxe that
he turned away his head for fear the guide should see him smile.

But Melchior saw nothing; and stooping down again, he rose.

"Going down very fast, herr. In another hour I think we may venture to
start again."

The torrent tore along so furiously that in the time specified the
little party made a start, and then paused again as they reached the
place where the ledge descended into the water. For the stream rushed
along heavily as Melchior began to wade; and he once more uncoiled and
passed the rope.

"It is heavy going," he shouted; "but every minute it will be better,
for after a little while the path rises quite high."

They started again, and Saxe felt his heart beat heavily as the water
rose to his knees and he could feel its soft strong push against him;
but he forgot all this the next moment, on hearing Melchior give vent to
his feelings in a long, loud jodel, which sounded strange enough in the
awful rift, with an accompaniment of the noise of rushing waters, but
not half so strange as the curious whinnying half-squeal, half-neigh,
that came back from a little way ahead.

For there, dimly-seen, was the mule, standing just as they had left him;
and as they approached he signified his joy by a very near approach to a
bray.

"And you said you saw him swept by!" cried Dale.

"I saw a leg and a bit of back," said Melchior; "but it might have
belonged to any poor drowned beast swept out of the lake. Why, Gros!
old Gros!" he cried, wading up to the mule, "this is the grandest sight
I've had these many days!" while the mule literally squealed and
stamped, sending the water flying in its delight at hearing human voices
a