stic heap of pine boughs for
their bed and coverlet, and a roaring fire to add to their warmth.

"The task will be easy enough to-morrow," he said; and then, thinking
sorrowfully of Dale, he kept on with his slow, careful tramp down the
mountain side.

It was as if that clump of pines would never be reached, and there were
moments when he was ready to think that he must have missed them; but a
glance to left or right at the rocks towering up into the sky sufficed
to convince him that he was still on the right track, for he knew them
by heart, and, giving his load a fresh shift, he toiled on again, hot,
exhausted, but full of determination.

Now and then he spoke to Saxe, but there was no reply; and more than
once he felt disposed to let his burden glide down on to the rock and
have a short rest, but he always shook his head and went on downward,
thanking Providence that he was below all the parts which necessitated
clinging; and at last, when so utterly wearied out that his pace was a
mere crawl, he reached the pines, threaded his way in, and lowered Saxe
down. Then, setting rapidly to work, he soon brought together a
quantity of dead wood, and started a fire with a few handfuls of pine
needles piled on the small boughs to shed its warmth upon the boy's
half-frozen feet.

This done, he cut and broke down bough after bough, making of them a
soft, elastic bed near the fire, and dragging Saxe into a better
position before cutting other pieces with his axe and laying them
together like the ridge of a roof over his companion's head.

"He'll soon be warm there," muttered Melchior: "no fear of freezing
now."

The wood was rapidly piled on the fire, for there was abundance beneath
the pines; and at last, after bending down and satisfying himself as to
Saxe's condition, Melchior prepared to creep in and lie down by his
side, but, on second thoughts, seated himself by the fire to enjoy its
warm glow. But he was too uneasy to stay there long; and, creeping back
to Saxe, he laid his hand upon the boy's breast.

"Asleep, herr?" he said gently.

"Asleep?" said the boy confusedly: "I--I suppose I have been; but I'm
giddy, and my head--Melchior--Melchior! why are we here? Have you found
Mr Dale?"

The guide was silent for a few moments. Then, in a low, hoarse voice,
he said sadly--

"No, herr; and it seems impossible to search farther."

"Oh, Melchior!"

"It is true, herr. Your life was in danger, and it was all I