ne as much work as he felt was
enough."

"What's the matter, then? Is he ill?"

"No, herr; his coat is smooth and dry."

"I know," cried Saxe.

"You know, herr?"

"Yes; of course, he has been trying to find enough to eat amongst these
stones, and there is scarcely anything. He is hungry, and crying out
for supper."

"Oh no, herr. I showed him where he could find plenty of green shoots,
and I gave him half a loaf of black bread as well before we had our
meal."

"Then he wants kicking for waking us up like this."

"No, herr," said the guide drily; "and it is bad work to kick Gros. He
is a very clever animal, and can kick much harder than a man. I
remember Pierre kicking him once, and he kicked back and nearly broke
the man's leg."

"Then don't kick him. But what is the matter with him?"

"I cannot tell you, herr, unless some one has been here since we lay
down to sleep."

"But, surely, Melchior, if any one came he would have seen the tent and
spoken."

"Yes, herr, one would think so, for out in the mountains here we are all
friends. We should have given him to eat and drink just as we should
have expected it if we came upon a camp."

"Well," said Dale, "it was a false alarm, and I'm going to lie down
again. Come, Saxe."

"But suppose--"

"No, no; we have so much hard work to do to-morrow that we want all the
rest we can get. There is nothing to suppose, is there, Melchior?"

"Oh no, herr; and besides, if the herr likes, I will sit up and watch."

"There is no need. Come: sleep."

"I can't sleep," thought Saxe, as he lay down once more in the shelter
of the tent. "I shall be listening, and expecting to hear that cry
again."

But his head had hardly touched the rug before he was breathing heavily;
and he slept without moving till a hand was laid upon his shoulder; and
as he opened his eyes he saw that it was daybreak and that the dark
figure bending over him was the guide.

"Time to get up?"

"Yes, herr--quick!" was the reply. "Will you wake up the herr?"

"Eh? Yes: all right, Melchior," cried Dale. "Hah! what a splendid
sleep! It does not seem five minutes since I lay down."

"Will you come out, sir?" said the guide, in rather a peculiar manner.

"Yes, of course. Eh? Is anything the matter?"

"I don't quite know, herr," replied the guide, as they stood together;
"but it is clear some one has been here in the night."

"Then that is what frightened the mule?"

"Yes, herr