Part 79 (1/2)
The task was comparatively easy, for their knowledge of the mountains in that wild neighbourhood was far greater than Melchior's. The cretin's strength and activity were prodigious, and he readily learned his lesson from his master, with the result that has been seen.
CHAPTER FORTY TWO.
CLEAR AS CRYSTAL.
Pierre had received so severe a blow from Melchior's axe handle that he was stunned, and when he came to he was so cowed and beaten that he went down on his knees, owned to everything, and begged for mercy, with the result that the miserable inhuman deformity grasped the position, and, uttering piteous whines and howls, seemed to be imploring mercy, too.
”Look here, Pierre,” said Melchior: ”I have but to send down to the village to get a messenger to take a letter to the town, and the police will fetch you to prison.”
”No, no,” pleaded the culprit, and he implored for mercy again in the most abject terms.
”A year in prison would do him good, herr,” said Melchior. ”He is no Switzer, but a disgrace to his country. We Swiss are honest, honourable men, and he is a thief.”
Pierre fell on his knees, and began to ask for pity again. ”Get up, dog!” cried Melchior; and turning from him he began to untie the hideous deformity whose wild eyes were watching them in a frightened way.
”What are you going to do?” cried Dale. ”You forget how strong he is.”
”No, herr, I remember; and I am going to make use of it; he is tamed now. Look here, Pierre, you and Mad Fritz will carry those crystals all down to Andregg's.”
”Yes, Herr Melchior--yes,” cried Pierre abjectly.
”Stop! You can have the mule to help you, and for the next journey you can bring the donkey too.”
”Yes, Herr Melchior; but you will not let the English n.o.bleman send me to prison,” he cried.
”We shall see. Get to work, both of you, and bring out the best. The herr will choose which.”
”Yes,” cried the man eagerly; and Melchior turned to Dale. ”You will have a fair mule-load taken down to the chalet at once, herr, will you not?”
”Yes, of course.”
”Good; and we can leave the others here, and send these two to fetch them.”
”But you can't trust them,” whispered Saxe. ”Oh yes, I can, herr, now,”
said Melchior proudly. ”The law is very strong here in this canton; and being so strong, it is seldom put in force. People are honest here, in spite of what this man has done. My life on it now, herr, Pierre will bring every crystal down to the chalet.”
”But the cretin?”
”Will do exactly as he is told. Here, Pierre, take Gros and go to our camp. Bring the tent and everything back here while we get out the crystals. Take Fritz with you.”
”Yes, Herr Melchior,” said the man humbly; and then, turning to the cretin, he said something in a curious harsh guttural way, and the poor creature sprang after him and out into the day.
”Then you feel that you can trust them?” said Dale.
”Yes, herr, you may be sure of that. Everything will be taken down to Andregg's--never fear. Ah! how plain everything seems now! The stones thrown at us--eh?”
”Never mind about them,” cried Saxe excitedly. ”You've sent those two off with the mule, and they'll take away our lunch, and I'm getting hungry now.”
”Sure, I had forgotten,” cried the guide, and he ran out. They heard him jodel and check Pierre and his hideous companion, so that the food was left behind.