to go right down.

"We can cross here," he said at last.

"Are you sure?" said Dale.

The guide smiled, and stamped heavily right across.

"We are beyond the end of the crevasse," he said; and once more they
went on upward.

"These cracks make the glacier very dangerous," observed Dale, after a
few minutes.

"Not with a rope and care," said Melchior, as he trudged on, shouting
his words and not turning his head. "But what will you? See how much
easier it is. It would take us hours longer to keep to the rocks.
There is a crevasse here: walk lightly--just in my steps."

They followed him carefully, without realising when they were passing
over the opening, the difference in the appearance of the snow being
only plain to the guide; and then onward again till the place was
opposite to them where they were to leave the ice river and climb to the
rocks.

"One moment," said Dale: "let's take one look round before we leave this
part. Look, Saxe! the view is magnificent."

"Yes; and you can see better from here," cried the boy enthusiastically,
as he stepped forward a few yards.

"Ah! not that way!" cried Melchior.

The warning came too late, for Saxe dropped through suddenly, tightening
the rope with a jerk which threw Dale forward upon his face, and drew
him a little way on toward the crevasse, whose slight covering of snow
had given way.

But Melchior threw himself back, and stopped farther progress, as Saxe's
voice came up from below in a smothered way--

"Ahoy! Help! help!"

"Get to your feet," cried Melchior to Dale; "I'll keep the rope tight."

"Yes," cried Dale, scrambling up; "now, quick!--both together, to draw
him out."

"Draw him out? No," said the guide quietly. "Now plant your feet
firmly, and hold him till I come to your side."

Dale obeyed at once, and shouting to Saxe that help was coming, he stood
fast, waiting for the guide.

Meanwhile, Saxe, who had felt the snow suddenly drop from beneath him,
and had been brought up breathlessly with a sudden jerk, was swinging
slowly to and fro, clinging with both hands to the rope, and trying
vainly to get a rest for his feet on the smooth wall of ice, over which
his toes glided whenever he could catch it; but this was not often, for
the ice receded, and in consequence he hung so clear, that the line
turned with him, and he was at times with his back to the side from
which the rope was strained, gazing at the dimly-seen opposite wall,
some