e
purpose, and the preparations were completed by Pierre, of the heavy,
stolid face, bringing in the mule, and haltering it in the stable
beneath the chalet.

Saxe was the first to wake next morning at dawn and rouse Dale and the
guide, the little party starting off soon afterward, before the sun was
up, with the mule heavily laden, and the goat trotting, along by its
side contentedly enough. Once or twice it made a bound or two up the
steep rocks by the track, and Saxe was about to start in pursuit.

"There goes my breakfast milk!" he shouted; but the guide restrained
him.

"She has only gone to crop a few mouthfuls," he said; and so it proved,
for the active little animal returned to the track again farther on.

The way to the great glacier--or gros gletscher, as Melchior called it--
was now familiar, so that the various points of view had ceased to
extort ejaculations of wonderment from Saxe, who trudged on, with
geological hammer in hand, "tasting," as he called it, the different
stones they passed.

"For who knows?" he said: "I might hit upon gold or silver!"

"You would have to hit that kind of stone much harder to make it produce
gold," said Dale, laughing.

Saxe went on in silence for a time, and then broke out with--

"Never mind: I did find the crystals, and perhaps I shall hit upon
another grotto yet."

"Pray do," said Dale merrily. "But at any rate we will have a few of
the best from the lower grotto in the Black Ravine."

"Yes; and I would have a good search down there," said Saxe: "we may
find a fresh place."

"Well, we shall see, my lad; we shall see."

The journey to the niche was made leisurely enough, with no further
excitement than a false alarm or two raised by Saxe, who felt sure that
they were being followed; but, as he was only laughed at for his pains,
he turned sulky, and went on without looking back. He played with the
goat, which took to him in the most affectionate way, snowing its
appreciation by butting at him when he did not expect the kindly
attention; and he became the best of friends with Gros, who climbed on,
uttering low sighs of satisfaction as soon as Saxe had hit upon the idea
of scratching here and there with the point of the geological hammer,
and whinnying impatiently for a continuance of the titillation as soon
as the boy ceased.

Then the niche was reached, looking quite familiar with the traces of
their old fireplace; the tent was set up and secured with b