the falls were used for shower-baths; trout
caught in the streams and lakes; and time was passing, when one evening,
as the glorious sky foretold a bright day on the morrow, Dale, who was
seated outside Andregg's chalet with Melchior, returned that day from
far below with a fresh load of provisions, called Saxe to bring him his
field-glass.

This was brought, and the lad watched him, and saw that he was scanning
the Blitzenhorn carefully.

"He means to try it, after all," thought the boy, whose heart began to
beat heavily.

"Fine day to-morrow, Melchior," said Dale at last, as he closed the
glass.

"Yes, herr, I think so; though one never knows what changes may come."

"But it is pretty sure to be a good day!"

"Yes, herr."

"Then we'll start at three to ascend the Blitzenhorn, and I hope your
prophecies will prove right."

"I hope so, herr. Everything shall be ready. We'll take the mule and
tent?"

"No: we'll go in light marching order, and chance it. Let's get to bed
at once, and start at two."

"Good, herr. Coffee shall be ready at half-past one."

"One moment. What about the moon!"

"We shall have it with us at starting, herr."

"And which way do you propose?"

The guide raised the ice-axe, which never seemed to leave his side, and
pointed out the route he meant to take, with the difficulties likely to
be encountered among the great snowfields which clothed the giant's
sides.

An hour later the preparations had been made, and they were all
sleeping, when, just as he had apparently closed his eyes, Melchior
stood over Saxe and roused him up once more.

"One o'clock, herr; and the coffee is nearly ready."

It had now become such a matter of course to rise at these nocturnal
hours for long expeditions, that Saxe turned out at once, with nothing
more than a growl or two and a vicious snatch at his clothes. The cold
water and the coffee, however, soon set him right, and at two punctually
the trio were on their way along the valley, with the last quarter of
the moon to light them as they struck up close by the end of the lower
glacier, and then went on and on at a steady rate toward the great giant
whose pyramidal peak could be faintly discerned in the distance, looking
to Saxe terribly far off, and as if it would be impossible to reach the
top that day. But their guide had cunning ways for shortening the
distance, leading them round this outer buttress, up that ravine, and in
and out and al