Part 26 (1/2)

”Only very fine, hard granite, with scarcely a grain of felspar,” he said. ”What about this?”

As he spoke he stooped down over a narrow crevice running up a portion of the summit.

”Yes. There may be something here, but it would require blasting tools and power to open it out. Look here, Saxe!”

He pointed to the narrow split, in which it was just possible to get the end of his ice-axe handle; and as Saxe bent down he saw that the sides were lined with tiny quartz crystals, which grew bigger lower down.

”I want to find a rift in the mountains leading into a cavern where we may find crystals worth saving. Yes, Melchior, I will not waste time.

These are of no value. Lead on.”

The guide had been giving an anxious look round, for there was a faint sighing of the wind, and clouds were floating around them now and then, shutting off the sun.

”I should like to get well down, herr, before the weather changes. The young herr would find it terribly cold.”

”Hadn't we better wait till it gets clearer,” said Saxe, ”and go down then?”

”If we did we might not be able to get down at all,” said Dale quietly.

”Why?”

”We might be frozen to death. Come, Saxe, you must not be greedy.

You've had a splendid ascent on a lovely day, and you will have others.

Always pay respect to your guide's opinion about the weather. Come along.”

Saxe could hang back no longer, though the sensation of dread he suffered from was terrible. Try how he would, there was the horror of that first bit of the descent before him; and, shuddering and feeling cold, he followed to the edge of the rock where he had found the guide sitting, and a fresh access of horror came over him as Dale said coolly:

”Now, Melchior, it is your turn to go first and have the use of the rope. I'll come last.”

”We can all use it, herr,” said the guide. ”It will be quite long enough if I pa.s.s it round this block and let both ends hang down. I can draw it after us when we are down.”

He threw the rope over a great block of granite, and proceeded to draw it along till the ends were equal, when he lightly twisted the rope and threw it over the precipice.

”Then I'll go first,” said Dale; and, seizing the twisted rope, he lowered himself over the edge, hung in sight for a few moments, and then, as soon as his hands were clear of the edge, allowed himself to slide down, while Saxe's palms felt cold and wet.

He watched the rope intently and strained his ears, and then started, for Melchior gently laid his hand upon his shoulder.

”What is it?” cried Saxe excitedly. ”Has he fallen?”

”No, herr; and n.o.body is going to fall. You are fancying troubles. I know. I have not led strangers up the mountains for twenty years without studying their faces as well as the face of Nature. I can read yours. You are scarcely yourself, and feeling fear where there is no need. Come now, take a long breath. Make an effort, and be calm. I'll draw up the rope and fasten one end round you, and lower you down.”

”No,” cried Saxe excitedly; ”I can get down without. Is he safe yet?”

”Safe? He is down: look at the rope shaking. Shall I draw it up?”

For answer Saxe stooped down, and rose again to get his ice-axe well behind him in his belt. Then he stooped again, seized the lightly twisted rope, lay down upon his chest, thrust his legs over the edge of the precipice, worked himself back till he was clear, and began to glide slowly down.

He shuddered, for the rope began to twist; and directly after, instead of gazing at the rough granite rock, he was facing outward, and gazing wildly down at the step-like series of precipices below.

”Not too fast,” came from Dale; and this brought him back to his position, and, twisting his legs about the double rope, he slipped down more slowly, wondering the while why the rope had ceased to turn and swing, till he saw that it was being held tightly now.