ce he had seen in the
night, but hideously distorted, and with the glowing bloodshot eyes
within six inches of his own.

CHAPTER FORTY ONE.

MELCHIOR WAKES UP.

The boy's lips parted, but no words came; his arm was raised with its
weapon, but he could not strike--only stand shivering; until, by a
tremendous effort, he flung himself round and dashed back.

"Why, hallo, lad! what is it? Have you seen a ghost?"

Saxe tried to speak, but no words would come for a few moments.

"Yes--no," he panted at last. "Something dreadful--in there."

Dale caught up the ice-axe which he had laid down while he was
measuring, and turned to the guide.

"What is it likely to be, Melchior--a bear?"

"I cannot say, herr," said the guide, whose countenance changed a little
as he, too, caught up his ice-axe. "But I should think not--in there."

"No--not a bear," panted Saxe. "I saw it--last night. Horrible--
horrible."

"Don't rave like a hysterical girl, my lad," cried Dale, grasping Saxe's
arm. "Now, then: speak out--like a man. Is it the body of some poor
creature dead?"

"No--no," said Saxe, struggling to master himself, and now speaking
calmly: "I went to the fall to drink in the middle of the night, and I
saw it there. It cast lumps of ice at me, and I saw it close to the
lanthorn."

"A wild beast?"

"No," said Saxe, with a shudder.

"Come; you must not be scared like that, my lad. What was it?"

"I don't know; unless it is true that there are gnomes and kobolds, and
this is one."

"Well, then, boy--it is not true, and this is not one."

"No--no: of course not," said Saxe, who was now strung up. "It must be
a man."

"Of course. What do you say, Melchior?"

"That it must be a man trying to frighten him, herr. We will go and
see."

"Yes," said Dale calmly, taking the lanthorn: "we must go and see. We
shall be back directly, Saxe."

"I am coming with you," said the boy firmly. "I am ashamed to have been
so frightened, but it was very horrible."

Dale gripped his arm firmly.

"Well done, brother mountaineer," he whispered. "Come along."

He strode into the ice-cave, closely followed by Saxe, and Melchior went
in after him.

"These English: they are very brave," he muttered. "I must go, too."

Dale went on, holding the lanthorn on high, and his ice-axe so that it
could be used as a cudgel in case of attack; and as soon as the first
bend was passed there were clear evidences of pieces of