Part 60 (1/2)

Saxe found it so, for it only wanted confidence, and the next minute he was standing beside the guide and looking up from the opening as Dale now began to descend.

Saxe had to back into the black rift to make room for Dale to come, and he held on tightly by a projection from the rocky side of the cavern to stand listening to the trickling of water, evidently a great way below; and as the weird whispering sound came up, he could not repress a shudder.

But there was no time left him for reflections about the danger, for the next minute Dale was blocking out the light of the entrance.

”Ah!” he exclaimed, ”this looks a likely place. Here, let's have a match before we move. There may be all kinds of horrible pitfalls close at hand.” He let go of the rope, which swung to and fro in front of the opening, and took out a box of wax matches.

”I quite thought you had been down here, herr,” said Melchior. Then, as a match was struck and held up, he continued: ”Yes, we must have the lanthorn here, herr, for it is dangerous. See how the floor is split up into great holes.”

Feeble as the light of the match proved, it was bright enough to show that; and, when nearly burned out, Dale threw it from him, and it fell, still burning, down and down till it was a tiny spark and it was impossible to say at last whether it went out or disappeared still burning in the great depth below.

”Why, Saxe, we have hit at last upon a veritable crystal mine,” said Dale, as he held up a fresh match above his head, whose light was reflected from the facets of hundreds upon hundreds of crystals depending from the roof and sides, and, as far as they could see for the tiny glow, encircling the whole place; while Saxe now found that the projection by which he held was a hexagonal piece as clear as gla.s.s.

”Yes, herr,” said the guide triumphantly: ”this is what you wished for.”

”No,” said Dale, throwing away the end of the match again. ”Very interesting, Melchior; but not what I meant.”

”Then I have not understood the herr,” said the guide, in a disappointed tone.

”Oh yes; and brought us to the part of the mountains where these wonders of Nature are to be found. These are beautiful, but, as far as I can see, all very small.”

”But there may be big ones, herr,” cried Melchior.

”May be; but it is doubtful here. There, it does not matter, for in the other cave--that to which you climbed--there are splendid specimens.”

”Is the herr quite sure?”

”Yes, for we brought one away, and Saxe hid it somewhere, and has forgotten the place.”

”Mr Dale!” cried Saxe indignantly.

”Well, then, I did,” said Dale, laughing. ”There, both of you, I am quite content. I should not have murmured about these, but we have at our command some that are incomparably better; and to-morrow we will come properly prepared with lights, chisels and hammer, and see what we can do.”

”I am very glad, herr; and I have one peak I can take you up--the Blitzenhorn--where I am nearly sure we can find the finest yet.”

”Good: we will try it. Now let's get back and dine.”

”Yes, that will be wise,” said the guide, as Saxe p.r.i.c.ked up his ears at the suggestion. ”I journeyed nearly all last night, herr, so as to get back soon; and I hurried on as soon as I found your letter with the pine skewer through it.”

”Under the stone, Melchior.”

”No, herr: stuck down into the crack between two pieces of rock.”

Dale said no more; and Saxe thought it strange, for he remembered the incident of securing the message perfectly.

”But Melk was tired and sleepy: he fancied it was secured like that,”

Saxe said to himself.