er or two, and perhaps combine pleasure with
profit. Let's see: we must be getting near the cave."

"Round that next corner," said Saxe decisively.

"How do you know?"

"Because I can see the piece of black overhanging rock which I felt
compelled to stare at all the time I was stuck fast on that shelf. But,
I say, Mr Dale, do you feel pretty sure that Melchior will be back at
the tent when we get there?"

"I cannot be certain; but--no--yes--I can be certain," said Dale
quickly. "I am sure he will not be waiting for us at the tent."

His manner puzzled the lad, who looked at him curiously.

"Well?"

"What made you change so suddenly, sir? One minute you thought one way,
the next minute you thought differently."

"Because I had good reasons," replied Dale. "Look!"

Saxe looked here and there, and in every direction but the one indicated
by Dale's nod.

"I don't see anything, sir."

"Try again, boy. There, on that stone, with his back to us."

"A chamois!" cried Saxe eagerly.

"Chamois don't smoke pipes, my lad," said Dale laughingly.

"I see now," cried Saxe, and he burst out into his imitation of a Swiss
jodel, which was answered back as Dale thrust his fingers into his ears.

The boy looked at him as he ceased his cry, and a curious smile puckered
up his face.

"Don't you like Melchior's jodel, sir?" he said drily.

Dale understood him, and responded with a laugh; but no more was said,
for Melchior sprang down from the rock which he had made his observatory
as lightly as a goat, and came to meet them.

"Back again, then," said Dale.

"Yes, herr; and I found your note with the stick through it by the tent
door."

"You mean with the stone lying upon it?"

"No, herr: a piece of sharpened pine-wood, driven through it to hold it
down."

"Ah, well, you found it," said Dale, with an uneasy glance at Saxe,
whose forehead had grown wrinkled.

"Yes, herr, I found it, and followed you till I saw your mark on the
ice, and came up here."

"You felt, then, that we came up this ravine!"

"Oh yes, herr; and I was not surprised. It is one of the places I
thought likely for crystals, and I see you have found some."

"Pound some? How do you know?" cried Saxe.

"Because I see you have been to one cave and left some of your treasure
behind. I found this just inside the way leading to it."

"Then you climbed up?" said Saxe, taking a little crystal of the size of
his finger from the guide's hand.