The Crystal Hunters Part 62

"Why, in one of their old books the author has given copperplate engravings of the terrible fiery and other dragons which dwelt in the mountains. Superst.i.tions die hard. But there--I dare say he will forget it by to-morrow."

"But don't you think that some one must have lifted off the rope?"

"No: I believe it was his careless tying."

"But I don't think he could be careless," said Saxe quickly. "Then, about that crystal being found. Somebody must have been down to that grotto, and dropped it as he came away. I think we are being tracked by people who wish us to fail."

"Then whoever it is must wish, for we are not going to fail, my boy. We must and will succeed, in spite of everybody. By the way, did you break off that crystal by which you held when you were in the grotto?"

"No, I tried," said Saxe; "but it was too firm, and I had not room to use my ice-axe, we were so close together."

"Never mind; to-morrow will do. We must get a grand collection of choice specimens, Saxe; and I hope that, as the Swiss Government will be the gainers by my discoveries, they will not raise any objections to my taking a goodly a.s.sortment away."

They relapsed into silence again, and it was growing so dusk when they began to climb up out of the glacier valley, that the reflection of a fire could be seen upon the side of the rocky niche in which they had formed their camp; and later on, as they came in sight of the little fall at the end of the rift in the mountain, the foaming waters were lit up so brilliantly that they looked like gold.

But the beauties of the place were forgotten by Saxe in the sight of a kettle on the fire, and something which looked wonderfully like cut-up chicken waiting to be frizzled over the glowing embers, beside which Melchior's st.u.r.dy figure stood up plainly, with his dark shadow cast upon the side of the white tent.

"Tea nearly ready?" cried Saxe, as they approached.

"Very nearly, herr," was the reply. Then to Dale, as a piece of sharpened pine was held out: "This is the wood used to pin down your letter, herr."

"That?"

"Yes, herr; and it was stuck in that crevice between those pieces of rock."

Dale took the piece with a curiously intent look in his countenance.

Then, half aloud: "I could have taken an oath that I laid the paper on that--"

He looked hastily round, for nothing was visible.

"I was going to say on that stone, Saxe," he said, in a low voice.

"I know," replied the boy; "but the stone isn't there, nor the one you laid upon it."

"There!" cried Dale; "I was sure of it, and you are too. It is very strange."

"Yes," said Saxe: "somebody's having a game with us, unless Melchior's right, and there are--"

"Boys who ought to be kicked for being so ridiculously superst.i.tious.

There, let's have a wash in the spring, and then get to our meal. Back directly, Melchior," he said aloud, quite in his usual voice, as he pa.s.sed close by the guide, who was now busy cooking.

Melchior bowed slowly, and went on with his work, patiently preparing the tea-dinner, and drawing back after the return of the others as if to leave them to partake of their meal alone.

It was a picturesque sight, and wonderfully attractive to a hungry boy,--the steaming kettle, the glowing fire lighting up the whole niche; and, to make the sight more enjoyable, there was the savoury smell, one which seemed to have had a peculiar effect upon Gros, the mule, for he had left the patch where he was picking up a good succulent meal, to draw near and stand blinking his eyes, flapping his long ears, and staring, till Saxe drove him off as he came to take his place.

"I say," he whispered, "poor old Melk is so upset by what you said that he is not going to have tea with us."

"Yes, he is," said Dale quietly; and then aloud: "Melchior, I am afraid I said hastily some words which have wounded your feelings: I beg you will let me apologise?"

"I accept your apology, herr," said the guide quietly.

"Then we will say no more about it; so come and sit down and join us."

"The herr wishes it?"

"Yes, of course."

Melchior sat down quietly and gravely, and the meal went on without further reference to the unpleasant incident; but Dale grew eager about their work on the next day, chatting about the size of the crystals he had felt, and the difficulties of enlarging the hole so that they could creep in.

"That can soon be done, herr, if we have fine weather, but there is lightning over the Blitzenhorn, and that may mean a storm."

"Let's hope not, for though this place is lovely now, it would be very dreary and cold if it were wet. Now then, let's clear away and get to sleep, for we have a long day's work before us to-morrow."

The clearance was made, and the fire raked together and made up so that it might possibly last till morning, and then came the preparation for sleep.

"We shall divide the night into three watches to-night, Melchior," said Dale suddenly.

"The herr will keep watch?"

"Yes; for whoever it is that is watching and trifling with us--"

"Then the herr thinks--"

"That we have an enemy hanging about our camp and following us."

"Ah!"

"And that it was he who threw off the rope."

"Then the herr thinks that?"

"Yes, I feel sure now, for I have been thinking it over, and I know that Melchior Staffeln, the tried old guide, could not possibly have fastened that rope so that an accident would result."

"The herr gives me hope and life again," said the guide warmly.

"Yes, Melchior, I was all wrong. There--shake hands, man, like we English do."

"Yes: it is good," said the guide, eagerly doing as he was told.

"Now lie down both of you, and sleep. In three hours I shall call you, Melchior, and in three more you will come up, Saxe. We may see nothing, but henceforth we will be on guard."

Ten minutes later the fire was subsiding into a glow. Saxe and the guide slept, and Dale was keenly awake watching for the kobold who disturbed their peace.

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO.

THE TREASURE.