gain.

But a good hour passed before the cautious animal--as if assured by its
own instinct that the way was safe--began to advance, and in a short
time was upon the clear ledge, trudging steadily along, Melchior
following with his load, till the bright daylight was seen ahead, and
they came to a halt on the platform whence Gros had fallen and dragged
in his leader.

The rest of the journey was easily performed, Gros bearing his lightened
load on along the edge of the lake, and past the place where Dale had
searched for gold, till the vale at the foot of the great glacier was
neared, when the mule set up a loud squealing, which was answered by the
donkey's bray and a lowing from the cows.

Then Melchior jodelled, and it was responded to from the chalet, where
Andregg, his wife, and Pierre were standing watching, and ready to
prepare a comfortable meal and usher Gros into the shelter in the lower
part of the place.

In another hour Saxe was lying upon his bed of sweet-scented hay half
asleep, thinking of all he had gone through since he last lay there, and
ready to ask himself whether it was not all a dream. Then suddenly
consciousness failed, and he was really in the land of dreams.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

SAXE TAKES A SHOWER-BATH.

The musical tinkling of bells roused Saxe at daybreak; and, as he
listened to the pleasant sound produced by quite a large herd of goats,
their leader's horn was heard from time to time collecting stragglers
who were disposed to stop at intervals to begin breakfasting on the way.

"We haven't done much in finding crystals yet," thought Saxe, as he lay.
"I wonder what he means to do this morning. I feel as if I should like
a day or two's rest; but I don't know--I'm not so very tired."

He lay very still for a few minutes, listening to the tinkling chime of
the goat-bells, gradually growing more distant as their wearers made
their way up the side of the valley; and as he listened he could tell as
well as if he were watching when one of the goats broke away from the
herd and leaped and bounded among the rocks to some tempting patch of
young green grass,--for there was a sudden splash, so to speak, in the
stream of sound; and again when two or three young kids rose on their
hind legs and butted and danced at each other.

The picture Saxe painted in his mind made him restless, and the morning
love of another half-hour being chased away, he determined to rise and
get out in the clea