y reluctance:

No. 1 is a slim youth just over twenty, with a delicate complexion and
curly hair, but whose digestion is atrocious, frequently causing his
normally amiable character to be tinged with viciousness, and

No. 2 is ten years older and the reverse of No. 1 in feature and figure,
and also (alas!) in disposition, being crotchety and irritable whenever
events turn out uncomfortably, as frequently happens when there are no
members of the fair sex near to make the passage through life's waters
smooth. He remembers, though would fain forget, some trifling
difficulties in the matter of mending, button sewings, &c., which caused
him to prove a less desirable companion than might otherwise have been
expected.

[Illustration: FLUeELEN.]

However, the two arrived safely at Bale, and, after a matutinal bath in
a slop basin at the station, and a very hot breakfast in two minutes in
the refreshment room, proceeded direct to Lucerne, where they put up at
the Swanen.

Old Haefeli always pretends the keenest interest in the latest arrival,
so we were not surprised on the following day that our hotel bill was
not less than usual. Of course, before leaving that lovely town we did
the "lion" and the "lions" of the place, including the picturesque old
bridge, with its numerous paintings of horrible subjects connected with
the eventful lives of SS. Leodegar and Maurice, the patrons of Lucerne.
But, although there seems to be no way of getting at the details of the
story, thus primitively depicted, which evidently embraces old priests
without heads and warriors worshipping the phenomenon, we admired the
colouring and quaint drawings of the pictures.

The Rigi was partly covered with snow, so that it was impossible to get
either on foot or by train higher than Kaltbad--and when once an
official saw us attempting to walk through a likely field for a better
view, warned us sternly against any such foolhardy attempt.

This was amusing, after the information contained in the Hotel Guide
Book, which runs thus:--"Some daring ascensionists up the Rigi, only
obstinate themselves to disdain the railway, and so _walk_ up the
mountain _on foot_."

Our run down to Weggis was exhausting from the speed with which it was
done, but we soon found ourselves safely and comfortably ensconced at
the hotel at Brunnen, where we intended to spend the night previous to
proceeding by the St. Gothard into Italy.

_En passant_ we might remark on the