f sunrise, shining over a billowy white world, for
the fog had been rent asunder, and through its torn, woolly folds, I
caught an unforgettable glimpse of glory. The sky was a rippling lake
of red-gold fire, whose reflection turned a hundred snow-clad
mountain-crests to blazing helmets for Titans. Above the majestic
ranks rose their leader, towering head and shoulders over all. "Mont
Blanc!" I had just time to say to myself in awed admiration, when the
snow-fog was knit together again, only a jagged line of fading gold
showing the stitches.

Nobody had called me; I knew that, now, yet I had an uneasy impression
that someone wanted me somewhere, and that something was wrong. It was
stupid to let this worry me, I told myself, however; and having
lingered a few moments at the window studying the lovely pattern of
frost-work lace on the glass, and the fringe of priceless pearls on
branch of bush, and stunted tree, I went back to bed. There, I pulled
my watch out from under my pillow, and looked at it. "Only six
o'clock," I yawned. "Three good hours more of sleep. I wonder if the
Boy----" Then I tumbled over another pleasant precipice.

When I waked again, it was almost nine, and nerving myself to the
inevitable, I rang for a cold bath. The morning was bitterly chill,
but the tingling water soon sent the blood racing through my veins,
and by ten o'clock I was knocking at the Boy's door. No answer came,
and thinking that he must already be down, I was on my way across the
white, frozen grass to the restaurant, when I met the muleteer coming
up with Finois.

"Hallo, Joseph!" I exclaimed in surprise. "Where are Fanny and
Souris?"

"Innocentina has taken them, Monsieur," he answered.

"What--they have started?"

"But yes, Monsieur, and very early."

"Tell me what happened," I prompted him.

"Why, Monsieur, it was this way. There was not much sleep for me last
night, if you will pardon my liberty in mentioning such matters,
because of the little animal which bites and jumps away. I know not
what you call him in your language, though I think he is known in all
lands. Besides, the beasts were noisy in the stable underneath the
room where I lay with the men. About half-past four the others got up,
but I lay still, as it was well with my animals, and there was no
hurry. But a little more than an hour later, they called me from
below, laughing, and saying there was a lady to see me. I had not
undressed, Monsieur, for many r