." But he smiled the next moment, as he
recalled that he had set the example by hugging Saxe; and then he drew
back, for fear that the old peasant Andregg and his man Pierre should
follow suit.

"Why, Saxe, my lad, I thought you and Melchior were buried beneath the
snow."

"That's what we thought about you, herr," cried Melchior. "We have been
searching for you."

"I searched for you both for over an hour," said Dale, "and then in
despair I went off for help."

"But how was it we did not see you?" cried Saxe, who now, in his great
joy, began to recover voice and strength.

"The snowfield is great," said Melchior gravely. "Several people might
be on it at once, hidden from each other by the rough piles of ice and
snow; and the young herr forgets that he was buried long beneath, and
that it was, I dare say, nearly an hour before I struggled out and found
him. How did you, sir, get on?"

"Ah! that I can hardly tell you," said Dale. "It was all one roar and
rush and confusion; but I was kept at the top all the way, and never
quite covered by the snow."

"All the way, herr?"

"Yes. I cannot tell how far it was; but I seemed to glissade right down
into the valley, where I was fixed for a few minutes right up to my
armpits. Then I got free, and began to struggle back up the snow in
search of you, till, quite in despair at not finding you, I went for
help."

"It was no wonder that the herr did not find us," said Melchior. "He
was borne to the bottom, and we were shut in not so very far from the
top. But, there, our lives are all preserved; and we thank you,
neighbours, for coming to our help."

"Glad to help thee, Melchior, my brave man," said old Andregg, in his
rough patois; "and I shall be glad to see thee give up this wild
mountain life and become a quiet peasant like myself."

"Well," cried Dale, "what is to be done? Can you walk back to
Andregg's?"

This after the boy had briefly given him an account of his adventures.

"Yes, I think so," said Saxe. "I seem to be rested now."

"No!" cried Melchior emphatically. "The young herr cannot walk another
step to-night. We must stay here."

"You are right," said Dale. "We have brought up food and blankets. Now
you talk like this, I begin to feel how exhausted I am."

"Then we will make camp here, herr," said Melchior. And the fire being
replenished by Pierre, the little party were soon seated around,
partaking of the simple fare provided; and