We pushed on, and in the beauty of the walk forgot our indignation. My
estimate proved to be correct.

At a quarter to one, said Harris, who was leading:

"Here we are; I can see the summit."

"Any sign of that restaurant?" said George.

"I don't notice it," replied Harris; "but it's there, you may be sure;
confound it!"

Five minutes later we stood upon the top. We looked north, south, east
and west; then we looked at one another.

"Grand view, isn't it?" said Harris.

"Magnificent," I agreed.

"Superb," remarked George.

"They have had the good sense for once," said Harris, "to put that
restaurant out of sight."

"They do seem to have hidden it," said George. "One doesn't mind the
thing so much when it is not forced under one's nose," said Harris.

"Of course, in its place," I observed, "a restaurant is right enough."

"I should like to know where they have put it," said George.

"Suppose we look for it?" said Harris, with inspiration.

It seemed a good idea. I felt curious myself. We agreed to explore in
different directions, returning to the summit to report progress. In
half an hour we stood together once again. There was no need for words.
The face of one and all of us announced plainly that at last we had
discovered a recess of German nature untarnished by the sordid suggestion
of food or drink.

"I should never have believed it possible," said Harris: "would you?"

"I should say," I replied, "that this is the only square quarter of a
mile in the entire Fatherland unprovided with one."

"And we three strangers have struck it," said George, "without an
effort."

"True," I observed. "By pure good fortune we are now enabled to feast
our finer senses undisturbed by appeal to our lower nature. Observe the
light upon those distant peaks; is it not ravishing?"

"Talking of nature," said George, "which should you say was the nearest
way down?"

"The road to the left," I replied, after consulting the guide book,
"takes us to Sonnensteig--where, by-the-by, I observe the 'Goldener
Adler' is well spoken of--in about two hours. The road to the right,
though somewhat longer, commands more extensive prospects."

"One prospect," said Harris, "is very much like another prospect; don't
you think so?"

"Personally," said George, "I am going by the left-hand road." And
Harris and I went after him.

But we were not to get down so soon as we had anticipated. Storms come
quickly in these re