Part 36 (2/2)
”I cannot tell you, herr, unless some one has been here since we lay down to sleep.”
”But, surely, Melchior, if any one came he would have seen the tent and spoken.”
”Yes, herr, one would think so, for out in the mountains here we are all friends. We should have given him to eat and drink just as we should have expected it if we came upon a camp.”
”Well,” said Dale, ”it was a false alarm, and I'm going to lie down again. Come, Saxe.”
”But suppose--”
”No, no; we have so much hard work to do to-morrow that we want all the rest we can get. There is nothing to suppose, is there, Melchior?”
”Oh no, herr; and besides, if the herr likes, I will sit up and watch.”
”There is no need. Come: sleep.”
”I can't sleep,” thought Saxe, as he lay down once more in the shelter of the tent. ”I shall be listening, and expecting to hear that cry again.”
But his head had hardly touched the rug before he was breathing heavily; and he slept without moving till a hand was laid upon his shoulder; and as he opened his eyes he saw that it was daybreak and that the dark figure bending over him was the guide.
”Time to get up?”
”Yes, herr--quick!” was the reply. ”Will you wake up the herr?”
”Eh? Yes: all right, Melchior,” cried Dale. ”Hah! what a splendid sleep! It does not seem five minutes since I lay down.”
”Will you come out, sir?” said the guide, in rather a peculiar manner.
”Yes, of course. Eh? Is anything the matter?”
”I don't quite know, herr,” replied the guide, as they stood together; ”but it is clear some one has been here in the night.”
”Then that is what frightened the mule?”
”Yes, herr; that is what made him cry out. Look!”
”What at?” said Dale quietly, as they now stood beside the ashes of the last night's fire.
”Cannot the herr see?”
Dale looked sharply round, and Saxe followed his example.
”I see nothing,” said the former.
”Nor I,” said Saxe; ”only that the bits of burnt wood seem to have been kicked about.”
”That's it, herr,” cried Melchior; ”and look there!”
He bent down, and pointed.
<script>