er gray eyes looked innocent of guile, and were therefore at their
most dangerous.

"Oh, many people have told me. Cats may look at kings, and the most
insignificant persons may talk of Emperors. I've heard many things of
yours."

"Good things or bad?"

"No doubt such things as he truly deserves. Now can you guess which?
But perhaps I would tell you without your guessing, if I were not so
very, very hungry." She glanced at the pocket of his coat, from which
protruded a generous hunch of black bread and ham--thrust in probably,
at the instant when she had called for help. "I can't help seeing that
you have your luncheon with you. Do you want it all," (she carefully
ignored the contents of her ruecksack, which she could not well have
forgotten) "or--would you share it?"

The chamois hunter looked surprised, though not displeased. But then,
this was his first experience of a feminine explorer, and he quickly
rose to the occasion.

"There is more, much more bread and bacon where this came from," he
replied. "Will you be graciously pleased to accept something of our
best?"

"If _you_ please, then I too shall be pleased," she said. Guiltily,
she remembered Miss Portman. But the dear Letitia could not be
considered now. If she were alarmed, she should be well consoled
later.

"I and some friends of mine have a--a sort of hut round the corner
from this plateau, and a short distance on," announced the chamois
hunter, with a gesture that gave the direction. "No woman has ever
been our guest, but I invite you to visit it and lunch there. Or, if
you prefer, remain here and in a few minutes I will bring such food as
we can offer. At best it's not much to boast of. We chamois hunters
are poor men, living roughly."

The Princess smiled, imprisoning each new thought of mischief which
flew into her mind, like a trapped bird. "I've heard you're rich in
hospitality," she said. "I'll go with you to your hut, for it will be
a chance to prove the saying."

The eyes of the hunter--dark, brilliant and keen as the eagle's to
which she compared him--pierced hers. "You have no fear?" he asked.
"You are a young girl, alone, save for me, in a desolate place. For
all you know, my mates and I may be a band of brigands."

"Baedeker doesn't mention the existence of brigands in these days,
among the Rhaetian Alps," replied Virginia, with quaint dryness. "I've
always found him trustworthy. Besides, I've great faith in the
chivalry of Rhaet