The Crystal Hunters Part 68

"One moment. What about the moon!"

"We shall have it with us at starting, herr."

"And which way do you propose?"

The guide raised the ice-axe, which never seemed to leave his side, and pointed out the route he meant to take, with the difficulties likely to be encountered among the great snowfields which clothed the giant's sides.

An hour later the preparations had been made, and they were all sleeping, when, just as he had apparently closed his eyes, Melchior stood over Saxe and roused him up once more.

"One o'clock, herr; and the coffee is nearly ready."

It had now become such a matter of course to rise at these nocturnal hours for long expeditions, that Saxe turned out at once, with nothing more than a growl or two and a vicious s.n.a.t.c.h at his clothes. The cold water and the coffee, however, soon set him right, and at two punctually the trio were on their way along the valley, with the last quarter of the moon to light them as they struck up close by the end of the lower glacier, and then went on and on at a steady rate toward the great giant whose pyramidal peak could be faintly discerned in the distance, looking to Saxe terribly far off, and as if it would be impossible to reach the top that day. But their guide had cunning ways for shortening the distance, leading them round this outer b.u.t.tress, up that ravine, and in and out and along shelves, so that, by the time the sun rose, they had well mastered the outworks, and were ready to attack the peak itself.

For the next two hours it was now steady climb over rock and snow. Then the difficulties began, but were surmounted one by one,--a great snowfield or two were skirted, an arete mounted, which led them to the foot of a slope of hard ice, where they halted for a rest.

"Must we take that, Melchior?"

"Yes, herr: there is no other way, and with the rope it is not so difficult."

"But you will have to cut steps all the way!"

"Yes, herr."

"And the precipice?"

"You will not mind that, herr; and I am sure he will not shrink from it now."

Saxe declared that he was ready, and for the next hour they were crossing the ice, where a slip might have sent all flying down two or three thousand feet. But it was pa.s.sed at last, and the great black crags were now within easy reach.

"Do you mean to go right to the top, herr?" said the guide; "because, if so, it would be better to do it now, before the snow grows softer, and descend to the black crags afterwards. Then, if we do not find crystals, I can take you round by the cornice, and over or round one of the snowfields home."

"What do you say, Saxe? Shall we venture?"

"Yes, we must be able to say we have climbed the Blitzenhorn."

"Go on, then, Melchior, and we'll do it. Is there anything very bad?"

"No, herr, I think not. A few creva.s.ses, perhaps, that one can get over, are the worst. Nothing more difficult than we have often done."

They climbed on, but the difficulties increased, and there proved to be an awkward ice ledge to pa.s.s along, with a terrific gulf beneath; and a gap or two, with snow bridges, which were apparently waiting a touch to go down at once. These were all safely overcome. And at last a long slope of loose snow was all that remained to toil up before they reached the top, where Saxe threw himself down to enjoy the wondrous prospect of glittering ice peaks, and, a few minutes after, the food Melchior brought from his wallet.

"It doesn't seem so difficult as you thought," said Saxe, with his mouth full.

"Don't holloa till you are out of the wood," replied Dale. "Shall we go back the same way?" he said to the guide.

"No, herr; I shall take you back right to the black rock, where it is too steep for the snow to lie."

"And for us to get down?"

"I shall skirt the edge of those steep bits, herr. You will see."

In half an hour they were once more afoot, with the sun beginning to blaze down upon them and the snow dazzling their eyes; but the descent to the first bare rocks was steadily made, and the exploration began, with the result during the next two hours of four crevices being discovered, each lined with crystals that, at the first sight, looked like ice, but a close investigation satisfied Dale that they were not worthy of his notice, and that the minor grotto in the black ravine was far superior.

"No good, herr," said the guide sadly. "Sehr schlecht. I hoped we should have done better."

"Never mind. We have done the best we could, and this has been a magnificent ascent."

"The herr is satisfied with that?"

"Yes."

"Splendid!" added Saxe.

Then a difficult descent began, among the jagged ma.s.ses of rock, whose hollows were full of snow. After some stiff work a great couloir was reached, one which led well down in the direction the guide was now taking, and along this gully they managed to glide in safety, though twice over great stones came bounding down from the black crags overhead.

Then a ledge of ice had to be cautiously approached and pa.s.sed, one angle where there was barely foothold calling for all Saxe's fort.i.tude; but he pa.s.sed it bravely and fought very hard not to show that he had felt a slight attack of nerves. There had been a curious catching sensation in his throat, and his breath had come as he glanced once down into the blue haze in an ice gulf; but he breathed more freely as firm snow and then solid rock was reached; and the descent continued, no allusion being made to the perilous bit, though on glancing at the guide once he received a nod which evidently meant:

"Bravo! well done! You could not have faced that when you first came among the Alps."

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE.

A CATASTROPHE.

"When are you going to give us a glissade, Melk?" cried Saxe, as they reached a piece of smooth snow descending at a moderate angle.

"The first time there is a suitable place, herr," replied the guide quietly.

"Why not here?"

"I will show you when we get to the bottom."

Saxe looked disappointed, and grew more so as the descent was made slowly and toilsomely, with every precaution taken and warning words uttered from time to time respecting keeping the rope taut.

"But there were no creva.s.ses here?" said Saxe, as they reached to where the slope seemed to curve over suddenly and then descend more sharply, for the continuation was out of sight.

"No, there are no creva.s.ses," replied Melchior; "but a slip here would have been bad."

"This is a cornice, then, Melchior?" said Dale.

"Yes, herr, and if you two will hold me, I will step out a little way and break a hole for you to see."

In obedience to his instructions, Saxe and Dale stepped back to the full extent of the cord, and then eased it out as the guide stepped forward, till he suddenly held up his hand.

"Now," he said, "let me bear out against the rope;" and, raising the ice-axe in both hands, he began to use it vigorously, cutting hard at the frozen snow, till there was a sharp crack, and he threw himself back while a huge piece of the cornice broke away and dropped down out of sight. Then all waited breathlessly till a faint hissing sound told that it had touched rock or ground somewhere below, but how far down Saxe did not realise, till Melchior made way for him to creep to the extreme edge and look.

"We have the rope tightly," said Dale, "so you need not hesitate."