hich Dale and Saxe had explored valleys,
traced glaciers to their sources, and made plenty of mountain ascents;
but though they penetrated into the wildest regions of the higher alps,
and encountered storm and wind sufficient to tear them from the giddy
crags to which they climbed, no more crystals rewarded their efforts, no
curiously half-hidden rift fringed with sparkling points invited them to
break a way in.

"Why not try the Blitzenhorn, herr?" Melchior would say: "the young
herr is getting to be a clever, sure-footed mountaineer now, and I have
hopes of our being successful there."

Dale would gaze up at the mighty peak whose icy crown stood up before
them, beyond the mountains which surrounded Andregg's hut, and shake his
head.

"No," he said: "the climb is too difficult for Saxe."

"Oh no!" cried the boy; "I feel sure I could do it."

"And I feel sure you could not," replied Dale. "Look at it. The snow
slopes you could manage; but those black, forbidding, almost
perpendicular crags would be too much for you, and that is the part we
should have to explore."

"Yes," said Melchior; "certainly that is the part we should have to
explore."

"Well, why not let me try!" cried Saxe.

"Wait, my lad--wait."

So their days passed on, amidst fine weather and foul; partly-passed at
Andregg's chalet, partly in the mountains with their tent. They had
been again and again to the black ravine, and examined other grottoes,
bringing away a good assortment of crystals, but, as Dale said, there
was nothing particular among them; and though they divided their time
between trying to make fresh discoveries and tracing the old treasures,
the crystals had disappeared as completely as if the legendary spirits
of the grots and mines had snatched them back, and hidden them where
they would be safe from mortal eyes.

But it was a glorious time, in spite of the disappointment, and Saxe
revelled in the wondrous scenery, growing more sure-footed and firm of
nerve day by day when in the mountains, and happy and full of fun when
back in Andregg's valley, leaving the donkey or his companion Gros, and
accompanying heavy, surly, stupid, strong Pierre up the green alps to
fetch home the goats and cows, becoming a perfect adept with a great
wooden Alpine horn, whose notes evoked wonderful echoes among the
mountains which shut them in.

The natural history collection increased--butterflies, pressed plants
and minerals were stored up;