diamond dust, glittering in
the bright sunshine, a faint echo or two came from high up the rocky
face of the valley, and then all was silent once more.

"You see?" said Melchior. "Why, often a touch of a hand, or even a
shout, will bring them tumbling down. Always keep away from the
seracs."

He led them now at a safe distance across the glacier to the left, till
a wide opening presented itself, through which they passed on to
comparatively smooth ice; but even this was all piled together, wedged
in blocks, which made the party seem, as Saxe said, like so many ants
walking about in a barrel of loaf sugar.

Then there was a smoother stretch, all longitudinal furrows, up which
they passed fairly well--that is to say, with only a few falls--till
they went round a curve; and there they paused, breathless and
wondering.

"Why, that was only a peep down below," cried Saxe. "Look, Mr Dale!
look!"

He had cause to exclaim, for from where they stood they had an opening
before them right up a side valley running off from the glacier at a
sharp angle. This, too, was filled by a glacier, a tributary of the one
they were upon, and with the sides of the minor valley covered with snow
wherever the slope was sufficient to hold it. Beyond rose peak after
peak, flashing pure and white--higher and higher; and even the hollows
between them filled with soft-looking pillows and cushions of dazzling
snow.

"Those are the mountains you told me about, then?" cried Saxe.

"Some of the outposts, lad. There are others far greater, miles behind
those; and you are now having your first genuine look into wonderland."

"I never thought it was like this."

"No one can imagine how wonderful the mountains are," said the guide
solemnly. "I looked up at them as a little child, and I have been up
amongst them from a boy, while I am now thirty-five; and yet they are
always changing and ever new. Sometimes they are all light and
sunshine, though full of hidden dangers. Sometimes they are wild and
black and angry, when the wind shrieks and the lightning flashes about
their shattered heads, and the thunders roar. Yes, young herr, you
never thought it was half so wonderful as this. Shall we go on?"

"I was thinking," said Dale. "I only meant to come a little way to-day,
and let my companion have a glimpse of what is before him; so we will
not go much farther, as it is so far back to the chalet."

"If the herr does not mind simple fare