the ice and stones grinding over it; but how could
it?--the ice couldn't go up hill."

"No, it comes down."

"Then--was it once as far as here?"

"Ever so much farther when I was a boy," said the guide. "It has been
shrinking for years. Mind, herr; it is very slippery here. Let me help
you."

He hooked his ice-axe into a crevice, and held out his hand, by whose
help Saxe mounted beside him, and here descending close to the water
they stepped from stone to stone, with the ice towering more and more
above their heads, till they were close up, and even below it, for they
had entered a low, flat arch, which just admitted them standing upright,
and after a few steps into what Saxe called a blue gloom, they stood
gazing into the azure depths of the cavern, which grew darker till they
were purple and then utterly black. Then they listened to the gurgle
and babble of the tiny river, as it came rushing and dashing over the
rock in many an eddy and swirl, while from far away up in the darkness
there were mysterious whisperings and musical echoes that were strange
to hear.

"Like to go in any farther, Saxe?" said Dale.

"Yes, much--very much," said the lad, in a low voice, "just because I
don't want to."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I can't exactly explain it, because the place makes me feel
nervous and a little shrinking, but I want to try and get over it."

"Better not stay any longer, herr," said the guide; "you are hot with
walking, and the place is damp and cold."

"Yes, it would be wiser to go out in the sunshine again. I should like
to explore this, though, with a lantern and candles."

"Whenever the herr likes," said the guide quietly. And they passed out
again, the icy arch above them looking exquisitely beautiful with its
blue tints, some of which were of the delicious brilliancy to be seen in
some of our precious stones.

It was a wonderful change from the cool gloom of the cavern to the
glaring sunshine outside, where the heat was reflected from the ice and
glistening rocks; and now, striking up to the right, Melchior made for
where the ice ended and the steep slope-up of the valley side began.

Here with a little difficulty they mounted--sometimes the rock growing
too steep and the ice appearing the easier path, then the reverse, till
at last they stood well up on the surface of the frozen river and began
its toilsome ascent.

"Now you'll find the advantage of your big-nailed boots, Saxe," sai