Part 75 (1/2)
”No,” said Saxe sharply, ”not by accident: I was looking for it.”
”Yes; but it was by mere accident that we were in the right spot.
There--never mind the crystals. We have had a delightful trip, made an excellent collection of Alpine plants, and you have had a good early apprentices.h.i.+p to mountaineering. Better still, we have escaped unhurt, in spite of the one or two rather serious accidents.”
”Yes,” said Saxe thoughtfully, ”that's true. How soon are we going up another mountain?”
”What! have you not had enough climbing?”
”No: I should like to go up a dozen more.”
”Then you will be disappointed for this season, Saxe. Melchior will tell you that it will soon be risky to attempt the high Alps. But as you want an expedition, what do you say to one up the great glacier again--this time as far as we can get?”
”This glacier?”
”No, no: the one in the high valley. We might camp again in the narrow niche.”
”And go up the Black Ravine, and examine that lower grotto?”
”Well--yes, if you like. I do not feel very anxious, for the memory of that place is too much a.s.sociated with my disappointment.”
”When shall we go?”
”Make your hay while the sun s.h.i.+nes, my boy. The weather is so settled that we cannot do better than go to-morrow.”
”I was going with Melk to the Silbern See to-morrow, for trout; but I'd rather visit the great glacier.”
”Then go and tell Melchior that we will be off in the morning. I want to make some notes about the movement of the glacier, and perhaps we may descend one or two of the creva.s.ses where the ice is not so thick.”
Saxe started off to where Melchior was busy fitting an iron spike to a stout ashen alpenstock.
”Now, Melk!” he cried: ”off to-morrow again!”
”Where to, herr? over into Italy?”
”No: into the cold country again. Mr Dale wants to visit the great glacier once more.”
”To search for the crystals?”
”Oh no. Don't talk about them to him. It only makes him angry. But we are going to stay up there two or three days; so take a good load of provisions and blankets, so as to make it warmer in the tent.”
Melchior looked pleased, and rose to speak to Pierre about the mule, and ordered him to chop up some pine-wood small, to act as kindling to start a fire when that collected might be wet. Then Andregg and his wife were summoned, and received their orders about bread, b.u.t.ter, poultry and cheese; after which Saxe had a happy thought.
”Look here, Melchior!” he said; ”I like milk in my coffee.”
”Yes, herr, it is pleasant. I will take a bottleful.”
”Oh, but I want it every day!”
”We could not take a cow up there.”