ne was hit."

"But I cannot eat, herr, with the knowledge that some one is hurling
down stones upon our heads. Do you know that either of those falling
stones would have killed us?"

"Yes, but they did not hit us," said Saxe.

"But surely there is no one up there to hurl down stones?" said Dale.

"I don't know, herr," said the guide, shaking his head.

"But you said you thought it was a chamois," cried Saxe.

"I did, herr, but I'm afraid I was wrong. I am not a believer in such
things; but some of our people would say that the spirits of the
mountains are displeased with us for coming here, and are throwing
stones to drive us back."

"They're pretty strong, then, to throw such stones as that," said Saxe,
with his mouth full of Swiss cheese.

"Yes," said Dale, looking at the stone which had fallen; "and they take
very bad aim--eh, Saxe?"

"Awfully: I could do better than that. Why, if I were up there I
believe I could hit either of you."

"But it might be only to frighten us," said Melchior seriously.

"Why, Melchior, my man, surely you do not believe in such childish
nonsense as that?"

"No, herr, not when I have English gentlemen with me; but there are
times on the mountains, when I am quite alone and I hear noises that I
cannot understand, that I do get fancying strange things, and all the
old stories I have heard as a boy come back to me."

"And then you say to yourself, `I am a man who puts his trust in reason,
and shall not let myself be scared by silly tales.'"

"Well, yes, herr, something of the kind," replied the guide, smiling.

"There goes another stone!" cried Saxe, as a smaller one fell about
fifty yards farther on.

"Yes," said the guide; "and it is as if somebody were climbing along
there, near the edge of the rocks, and sent them down."

"Ah! that's more like an explanation," cried Dale, laughing. "Somebody.
Yes, you must be right. Somebody with feet and hands, like ourselves.
Can you see who it is?"

"No, herr," said Melchior, after a long examination; "and it puzzles me,
for who could be climbing along up there?"

Dale shrugged his shoulders. "Impossible to say."

"Yes, herr, it is impossible to say," said Melchior, who was still
watching the precipice; and he was now joined by Saxe. "You see,
anybody who wished to get along the pass would come down here."

"But there may be a path up yonder."

"No, herr, there is none, or I should have known of it years ago. I
have b