ature Fritz."

"No, certainly not."

"Then I would ask you, herr, if the man Pierre is patient and obedient,
not to punish him more. He is a poor half-witted creature, and the
temptation was too much for him."

"I shall not punish him."

"Thank you, herr."

"But," said Saxe, "you said that the authorities would take possession
of the crystals!"

"Yes, herr, in the name of the canton. But they will not be ungenerous.
They will like good specimens for our museums; but they will let Herr
Dale choose and take what he wishes to his own country. It is for
science, and we Swiss are as proud to welcome all scientific men to
explore our country as we are to serve those who merely come to admire
and return again and again, to see the mountains, glaciers and lakes of
our dear fatherland."

All fell out as Melchior had foretold. Pierre and his follower soon
returned with the tent, and humbly accepted some food before loading the
mule, and then themselves, with some of the choicest crystals, which
were deposited safely in Andregg's chalet. The next day they made a
journey with the two animals alone, and brought back more; and again on
the following day they set off and brought the rest, Andregg gazing with
astonishment at the magnificent collection.

In due time people from the principal city of the canton arrived, and
the whole of the crystals were taken on mules to the Rathhaus, where
soon after Dale was invited to attend with his companion and their
guide.

They went, and were warmly complimented by the chief magistrate and the
fathers of the city upon their great discovery, following which they
were invited to choose what specimens they liked.

They chose so very modestly that the selection was more than doubled,
and in due time reached Old England's shores, to add lustre to several
collections and museums.

Dale kept his word about Pierre, and quietly incited Saxe to make him a
present when they went away.

"Because he doesn't deserve it," said Saxe, who also made a point of
giving the unfortunate cretin an object which set his eyes rolling with
delight every time it was taken out. This was a large knife with a
collection of odds and ends stored in the handle: toothpick, lancet
blade, tweezers, screwdriver, horse-hoof picker, and corkscrew, the
latter being, as Saxe said, so likely to prove useful.

A month later, after a warm parting from old Andregg and his wife, who
made her apron quite wet with tears