e noise; and he could faintly see by a pencil of light a
hideous-looking head, with tall curved horns and a long beard, and
though he could not see them, he seemed to feel that a pair of glowing
eyes were fixed upon his not a yard away.

There was no time to think or reason in such a position. He could see
the head, and feel the pressure of the feet; and he knew that he was not
dreaming now. Frightened he was naturally, but he acted at once as a
lad of manly character might be expected to act: he struck out with his
doubled fist, giving the object a heavy blow just beneath the horns.

The effect was instantaneous. The creature gave a bound, there was a
pattering sound on the floor, and something rushed out through the open
door, uttering a dismal b-a-a-ah!

"Why, it was a jolly old goat!" said Saxe, half aloud. "I wish I wasn't
such a coward."

The next moment he was lying back laughing silently, fully grasping his
position now, and listening to a rustling movement away to his left.

"That you, Melchior?" he said.

"Ah, herr: awake? Good morning."

"Not time to get up, is it?"

"Oh yes; it is getting late. Why, it will soon be full day!"

"Oh, will it?" muttered Saxe rather grumpily, for the bed he had
despised overnight now seemed temptingly pleasant for another hour or
two's snooze. "What nonsense!" he thought. "Soon be day! I hope we
are not always going to get up at such ridiculous times. Well, if I'm
to get up, he isn't going to be snoozing there."

He leaned over and stretched out his hand; but that was not sufficient,
for their bed was wide, and he had to creep a yard or two before he
could grasp his companion's shoulder.

"It's to-morrow morning, Mr Dale," he said.

"Eh? yes! All right. Where's Melchior?" cried Dale, springing up.

"Here, herr," said the guide from the door. "A beautiful morning, and I
think a fine day."

"That's right," said Dale, shaking the hay from his clothes.

"Shall I ask where the dressing and bath-rooms are?" said Saxe,
grinning.

"No," said Dale quietly; "I'll show you."

He led the way out of the chalet, where they met the furtive-looking man
they had seen overnight. He gave them another sidelong look, said Guten
morgen surlily, and then, as it seemed to Saxe, began to put on his
tail--that is to say, he strapped on his one-legged milking-stool, and
went to meet one of the cows.

"This way to the bath-room, Saxe," said Dale; and he led the way to th