The Crystal Hunters: A Boy's Adventures in the Higher Alps

by George Manville Fenn

  CHAPTER SIX.

  A TRY FOR GOLD.

  Strange places bring strange dreams, and often some hours of completeoblivion. Saxe began to dream with all his might. Body and Brain hadbeen having the thorough rest which comes to those who have been walkingfar in the glorious mountain air; but toward morning Brain woke up andbegan to act on its own account, while Body lay asleep; and when Braindoes this without the balance given by Body, its workings are ratherwild.

  In this case it began to repeat the adventures of the day before, but ina curiously bizarre manner; and in consequence Saxe found himself beingdisappointed in the heights of the mountains, which were exceedinglysmall--mere anthills covered with snow, up which he began to climb so asto stand on their tops; but as he climbed they began to grow, so thatthere was always a piece more to get up, and so he went on, finding thatthere was no getting right to the top. Then avalanches began to fallrumbling and roaring down, and covering people at the bottom--hundredsof them, so it seemed to him; and he could hear them moaning under thesnow, which by some curious chance of circumstances was just below him.But the odd thing was that they did not seem to mind it much, onlymoaning piteously and impatiently, as if they were in a hurry for a thawto come and set them free. Then one of them began to ring the bell fordinner; and another did the same; and Saxe felt that he ought to bedoing something to take them food to eat--coarse bread, butter, cheeselike Gruyere, full of holes, and a jug of milk, but he did not do it,and the people went on moaning and ringing the bells.

  Then he was high up, watching the waterfalls with the silvery rocketsslowly descending, and trailing after them their sparkling spray, whichkept lighting up with glorious rainbow colours.

  Then he was stepping from stone to stone in the ice-cave below theglacier, listening to the gurgling and whishing of the water as it camerushing down over the grey, dark rock from out the narrow arching tunnelwhich shut up behind him.

  How he got out of that place he did not know; but soon after his eyeswere aching with the glare of the snow around him. A huge eagle, ahundred times bigger than the one he had seen, was soaring round andround, and coming lower and lower, till it was so close to him that hecould feel the wind of its wings wafted pleasantly over his face. Thebird's back was soft and cushiony, and it seemed to be inviting him totake his place upon it for a ride up in the air; and he was thinking ofdoing so, and gliding off over the silver-topped mountains to look outfor caves where they could chip out crystals, and perhaps discovervaluable metals; but just as he was about to throw a leg over thefeathery saddle and take his seat, there was a fearful yell, thatsounded like an accident in a trombone manufactory, where all theinstruments had been blown up by an explosion of steam. He was hurledback upon the snow, and held down by some monstrous creature, whichplanted its feet upon his chest; and the people buried in the snow beganto moan more loudly and ring the bells.

  Then Saxe opened his eyes, and in his half-awake condition he felt thewafting of the great bird's wings, heard the moaning of the peopleburied beneath the avalanche, and listened to them ringing the bells inan impatient way.

  "What nonsense, to dream such stuff!" he said impatiently. "Why, it'sthe cows lowing in the place underneath, waiting to be milked, andshaking their bells."

  But, all the same, he felt a thrill of horror run through him, and triedto pierce the gloom by which he was surrounded, for certainly somethingwas holding him down with its feet upon his chest, and stooping by himso that he could feel its breath.

  The sensation to him was horrible, for it raised its head now, making astrange noise; and he could faintly see by a pencil of light ahideous-looking head, with tall curved horns and a long beard, andthough he could not see them, he seemed to feel that a pair of glowingeyes were fixed upon his not a yard away.

  There was no time to think or reason in such a position. He could seethe head, and feel the pressure of the feet; and he knew that he was notdreaming now. Frightened he was naturally, but he acted at once as alad of manly character might be expected to act: he struck out with hisdoubled fist, giving the object a heavy blow just beneath the horns.

  The effect was instantaneous. The creature gave a bound, there was apattering sound on the floor, and something rushed out through the opendoor, uttering a dismal b-a-a-ah!

  "Why, it was a jolly old goat!" said Saxe, half aloud. "I wish I wasn'tsuch a coward."

  The next moment he was lying back laughing silently, fully grasping hisposition now, and listening to a rustling movement away to his left.

  "That you, Melchior?" he said.

  "Ah, herr: awake? Good morning."

  "Not time to get up, is it?"

  "Oh yes; it is getting late. Why, it will soon be full day!"

  "Oh, will it?" muttered Saxe rather grumpily, for the bed he haddespised overnight now seemed temptingly pleasant for another hour ortwo's snooze. "What nonsense!" he thought. "Soon be day! I hope weare not always going to get up at such ridiculous times. Well, if I'mto get up, he isn't going to be snoozing there."

  He leaned over and stretched out his hand; but that was not sufficient,for their bed was wide, and he had to creep a yard or two before hecould grasp his companion's shoulder.

  "It's to-morrow morning, Mr Dale," he said.

  "Eh? yes! All right. Where's Melchior?" cried Dale, springing up.

  "Here, herr," said the guide from the door. "A beautiful morning, and Ithink a fine day."

  "That's right," said Dale, shaking the hay from his clothes.

  "Shall I ask where the dressing and bath-rooms are?" said Saxe,grinning.

  "No," said Dale quietly; "I'll show you."

  He led the way out of the chalet, where they met the furtive-looking manthey had seen overnight. He gave them another sidelong look, said Gutenmorgen surlily, and then, as it seemed to Saxe, began to put on histail--that is to say, he strapped on his one-legged milking-stool, andwent to meet one of the cows.

  "This way to the bath-room, Saxe," said Dale; and he led the way to thefoot of the nearest fall, whose icy water came showering down softly asif it were from a cloud. Here there was a pool of the greatestlimpidity, broad, deep, and ground out of the solid rock by the constantdropping that wears a stone.

  There were no remains of sleep about Saxe's eyes after his ablutions,and they walked back towards the chalet, meeting Melchior.

  "There is some breakfast ready, herr," he said; "and I should like toknow whether it would be wise to get your things up here and stay for afew days."

  "An excellent proposal; but how are we to get them?"

  "Oh, there are men who would fetch them; or Andregg would send Pierrewith his mule."

  "Who is Pierre?--that man we saw milking?"

  "Yes, herr. I don't like him, but he is honest, and will do that verywell. Shall I send? After you have done here, I can get them carriedfarther over the mountains, or, if you liked, we could hire Andregg'smule for use at once."

  "But the mountains? Can he climb?"

  Melchior laughed.

  "Almost anywhere. I think he could even beat us. He is a wonderfulbeast."

  The proposal was agreed to, and after they had partaken of their homelybreakfast, Andregg was questioned about the mule.

  Oh yes, he was quite willing to lend it, for as many days or weeks asthe herr liked.

  "Then I'll have it to carry our little tent, rugs and provisions. Ipromise you I will feed the animal well."

  "The herr need not trouble himself," said Andregg; "Gros will feedhimself."

  "Well, then, I will not work him too hard."

  "I am not afraid, herr," said the sturdy grey-haired old Swiss, smiling;"he always lies down when he is tired."

  "Then I will not beat him."

  "No, herr," said Andregg; "he will not let you."

  "Here, I want to see that mule!" cried Saxe.

  "Oh yes, the young herr shall see him," said the old Swiss; and he wentto the door and uttered a peculiar jodel, which was answered direc
tly bya horrible bray which Saxe recognised as the yell he had heard before hewas awake.

  "Nein--nein--nein--nein!" shouted the old Swiss, and the donkey's braydied off into a sobbing moan. As this was ended, the old man jodelledagain, apparently without result; but soon after there was a snort, anda peculiar-looking animal came trotting down from the mountain, whiskingits long tail from side to side and pointing its long ears forward. Butas it came close up, it suddenly stopped, and spun round as if upon apivot.

  "Here, come round and let's look at your head," cried Saxe.

  "No; he will not turn till he knows you well," cried the old man; "he'svery bashful, is Gros. You must make friends with him by degrees, andthen he is quite a brother to any one in the mountains."

  "But how am I to make friends with him?" cried Saxe.

  "Get a piece of bread for the young herr, Melchior Staffeln," said theold man. "When it comes," he continued, "you may tempt Gros to come toyou; but he is very particular, and may not like you, because you areforeigners."

  The bread was brought. Saxe took it, and held it out to the mule, whichslightly turned its head, gazed at it wistfully, but kept its hindquarters toward the would-be donor, turning as he turned, in spite ofsundry coaxing words.

  "Here, turn round," cried Saxe: "you can't eat with your tail."

  "Don't go too close, herr," said the old Swiss; "I don't think he would,but he might kick."

  "And I think it's very probable that he will," said Dale sharply; "thatright hind leg is all of a quiver. Why, the brute's vicious, Melchior!"he said, in German.

  "No, no--not vicious," said the old Swiss; "it's only that he'sfrightened and bashful: he isn't used to company, herr. Be patient withhim, and he's a beast that would almost lay down his life for you."

  "Looks more like laying down our lives," said Saxe, making a sudden dartround, as the mule was watching Dale, and then, as the animal turnedsharply, holding out the bread.

  Perhaps the wind bore the scent of the piece of loaf to the mule'snostrils, and the temptation was too great to resist. At any rate itstretched out its neck and extended its muzzle, so that head and neckwere nearly in a straight line, and uttered a shrill, squealing whinny,which was answered at once by the donkey with a sonorous trumpetingbray, as the lesser animal came cantering up with tail and ears cocked.

  "Ah! child of the evil one!" shouted old Andregg, "go back to yourpasture;" and stooping down, he picked up a piece of freshly cutpine-wood, and threw it at the offending animal, missing him, but makinghim put his head down between his fore legs, and kick out his hind legsin defiance, before cantering off again.

  By this time the mule was sniffing at the bread, and drawing nearer andnearer to Saxe's extended hand, consenting finally to take it and beginto eat.

  "Is it not beautiful?" cried old Andregg, smiling. "Behold, you havemade a friend who will serve you like a dog."

  "I can't see anything very beautiful in it, Mr Dale," said Saxe, whohad now advanced so far that he was permitted to pat the mule's neck;"and what does he mean by `serve you like a dog'? Bite! He looks as ifhe could."

  "He will be very useful to us, herr, and save us many a long wearytramp," said the guide, smiling. "I am willing and strong, but I cannotguide and carry much as well, and if you share the load with me, yourclimbing will be too laborious. With the mule to drive before us, wecan take water, food, and blankets, beside a kettle for coffee; andsleep for one, two or three nights in the mountains, if we like. Shallwe take him to-day?"

  "I thought he was to be sent down the valley for our portmanteau andthings," said Dale.

  "Andregg can send the donkey," replied Melchior.

  "Then by all means let us take the animal. I wish, though, that we hadour ice-axes and rope, that I left at the chalet below."

  "They will be ready for our next journey," said Melchior. And after dueinstructions had been given to old Andregg and his man Pierre,preparations were made for a fresh start up the mountains.

  These did not take long. A kind of basket was secured firmly on themule's back, and old Andregg, under Melchior's directions, produced acouple of worn ice-picks or axes, blankets, bottles, a kettle forcoffee, and a little ready-chopped wood to supply the first start to thetwigs and branches they would collect before leaving the forest.

  By the time the mule was loaded with everything deemed necessary, Pierrewas ready with the donkey, and the start was made together up and downthe valley. At least, that was intended; but there were objectionsraised by the two four-footed friends, both wanting to go together; andwhen at last, after a volley of angry language from Andregg, the donkeywas dragged by Pierre along the track, it began to bray loudly.

  This was sufficient to attract the mule, which whinnied and tried tofollow the donkey.

  Melchior seized the bridle and checked him, just as they were ascendingthe first of a series of zigzags leading out of the deep valley, withthe result that the donkey brayed again and had to be held by main forceby Pierre's arm round his neck, for he had dragged his head out of thebridle; while Gros began to kick and back and behave so obstreperouslythat Dale gave him a sharp prod with the end of his alpenstock.

  Misplaced prod! It was an unhappy touch, making, as it did, Gros give atremendous plunge off the narrow mule-track, to come down on a slope sosteep that he lost his footing, fell, and rolled over and over in awonderful way, scattering bottles, wood, and tins from the basket, allof which went careering down the side of the valley with the mule,leaping, bounding and rattling and creaking in a way which drove thepoor beast nearly frantic with fear, the catastrophe being in no wisebettered by the shouts of Andregg and the dismal brayings of the donkey,which seemed to be frantic in the endeavour to join his unfortunatefriend.

  The roll down was neither long enough nor dangerous enough to do anyharm to Gros; but the state of the scattered cargo, as it was collectedand carried to where the mule stood shivering, stamping and kicking atthe basket as it hung down now between his legs, was deplorable, andmeant a delay of half an hour before a fresh start could be made.

  "You must be kind to Gros, herr," said the old Swiss reproachfully. "Healways hated to be pricked by the iron point of an alpenstock. I haveknown him bite boys who used their alpenstocks to him."

  "That's a hint for you, Saxe," said Dale merrily. "Worse disasters atsea," he cried. "Now, Melchior, are we all ready once more?"

  "Yes, herr," replied the guide.

  "Then which way do you propose going, after we get up out of thevalley?"

  "Over yonder, between those two peaks, herr," said the man, pointing.

  "With the mule? Is it possible?"

  "I think so, herr; and if you like we will try. I don't think therewill be much snow in the pass--no more than the mule can manage. And,once there, I think we can descend into a wild valley below thesnow-line--one where man very seldom treads."

  "Excellent," said Dale. And they started, leaving old Andregg and hiswife collecting the broken bottles and damaged articles below.

  They had not ascended above half a dozen of the many zigzags of thepath, when the bray of the donkey came faintly from behind, and Gros setup his ears, stopped, whinnied, and looked as if he were about to turnback; but this time kindness was tried, Melchior snatching a piece ofbread from his pocket and walking on, holding it behind him.

  The result was excellent. The bray of Gros's relative was forgotten,and he increased his pace, sniffing at the bread till he could succeedin taking it from the guide's hand, and, steadily journeying on, munchthe sweet, fresh food.

  In spite of the delay it was still early; and, feeling no trace of hislast night's weariness, Saxe tramped on along the zigzag shelf in thevalley side, till the edge of the steep part was reached. Melchiorstrode off to the right, and then to the left, so as to reach the narrowvalley down which the stream came that had supplied them with water fortheir morning's bath.

  This was a mere crack running up into the mountains, but with a littlecare a path was
found upon the steep alp which formed one side, and whenthis became too precipitous, they descended into the rocky bed, andslowly made their way on till an opportunity for ascending to higherground presented itself.

  The progress made was very slow, but wonderfully interesting, from thevariety of moisture-loving plants which took Dale's attention, and thebrightly coloured insects, which took that of Saxe, while the mule wasperfectly content to wait while a halt was called to capture insect orsecure plant; the solemn-looking animal standing fetlock-deep in thewater, and browsing on the herbage in the various crannies among thestones.

  One of these halts was in an opening out of the narrow gorge runningnearly east and west, so that it was flooded by the morning sun; andhere, as the limpid water trickled and glided over the sandy bed, Daletook a shallow tin from the mule's pannier and lowered himself down tothe edge of the stream.

  Taking hold of a piece of rock so as to reach out, he bent down andscooped out half a panful of sand, where there was an eddy; and as themule began to munch, and Saxe watched his leader's acts, Melchior pulledout his pipe, struck a match, and began to smoke.

  "The herr is going to try for gold," he said quietly to Saxe; but Daleheard it.

  "Yes. Is there much here, do you think?"

  "It is too much to say, herr," replied the guide. "There may be, but Ihave never known any to be found on this side of the mountains."

  "Is any found on the other side, then?"

  "Oh yes, on the Italian slope, herr, and down in the valleys, they seekfor and find gold--not much, but some."

  "Got any, sir?" said Saxe.

  "I don't know myself," replied Dale, who was washing the heavier gravelaway, and picking out the stones he brought to the surface by a skilfulmotion of the pan beneath the water. "I must wash out all the sandfirst before I look to see if there is colour, as the Americangold-finders call it."

  "Is there another pan, Melchior?" said Saxe; "I want to try too."

  "No, herr, there is only one."

  "You wait, and let's see what I find, my lad. I expect it will benothing. There's a nice fragment of onyx," he continued, picking outand pitching up a piece of flinty-looking rock to the lad. "I dare saythere are some good agates here too, if we searched for them."

  Dale spent about a quarter of an hour getting rid of every scrap of thegranite; then held the pan in the bright sunshine, so that the waterdrained off and the rays shone full upon the bottom of the vessel.

  He turned it about at different angles, shook the fine sand, and turnedit over with his fingers; but ended by shaking his head.

  "No luck, sir?"

  "Not a speck. Never mind; I'll try again."

  He dug down with the edge of the tin, scooping out a good deal of sand,so as to get a tinful from as deep down as he could.

  "Gold is heavy, and would sink low if it were washed down," he said; andfor the next quarter of an hour he repeated the washing process, whileMelchior smoked, the mule browsed on the succulent herbage, and Saxedevoted himself to creeping farther along by the stream, and peeringdown into the pools in search of trout.

  "That old fellow at the chalet said the mule would feed himself, MrDale," said the boy suddenly.

  "Yes, he will not be much trouble to us that way," replied Dale, stillplying the pan vigorously; when the mule suddenly reared its head,cocked its ears forward, and whinnied.