CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.
MISUNDERSTANDINGS.
Saxe dropped, but no farther than the sill of the entrance, whereMelchior was able to hold him, while Dale reached over and gripped theboy by the belt and hauled him in.
"Oh, Melchior!" cried Dale indignantly; "I thought I could have trustedyou to secure a rope."
"But I did--I did, herr!" cried the man passionately. "I could havestaked my life upon that rope being secure."
"I spoke to you at the time about it not seeming safe."
"The herr said the rock did not look secure, not the rope. The rock hasnot come down."
"It is enough for me that the rope came down. Another instant, and thatpoor lad would have lost his life."
"Yes, herr; but we saved him. I cannot understand it."
"Has the rope broken?" said Dale, as it was hauled in.
"No, herr," said Melchior, as he examined the rope in the darkness;"and, see, the loop is here and the knots still fast!"
"It is very strange," said Dale.
"Yes, herr. Ever since I have grown up I have laughed at all the oldstories about the dragons in the mountains, and the strange elves,gnomes, and kobolds said to live down in the deep mines; but what canone say to this? Is there an evil spirit to this crystal mine who isangry because we have come, and who seeks to punish us for intruding?"
"No, there is not!" cried Dale, with genuine English unbelief in suchlegends: "nothing of the kind. The loop slipped off the stone; so nowclimb up and fasten it safely, if you can."
There was such a sneer in this that Melchior looked at him reproachfullybefore reaching round the side of the grotto and then stepping out ofsight.
"Rather an upset for you, my lad," said Dale kindly, as he took Saxe'shand, while they could hear the rustling and scratching made by Melchioras he climbed up, dragging the rope after him; for he had not stopped tocoil it up, but merely threw the loop over his head and put one armthrough it.
"Yes, I thought I was gone," replied the boy.
"It has made your hand feel wet, and set it trembling."
"Has it?"
"Yes, and I'm sorry; for I want you to get plenty of nerve out here."
"I'm sorry too, for I hate to feel afraid."
"That was enough to make any man feel afraid. I'm trembling too, mylad; and my heart felt quite in my throat for a few moments."
Just then the rope was shaken vigorously, and became still once more.
"It is quite safe now, herr!" cried the guide; "and I am holding it downtoo."
"Right!" shouted back Dale. "I'll go first this time, Saxe."
"No, sir! please let me go: I would rather."
"Do you feel cool enough?"
"That will make me cooler."
"Then go on. Stop! you had better have the rope midway fastened to yourwaist, and I can hold the other end; then you cannot fall."
"No, no!" cried Saxe, rather hoarsely. "Let me climb without."
Dale gave way rather unwillingly, and the boy seized the rope, gave it atremendous tug, and then swung himself out sidewise and began to climb;while Dale leaned out and watched him, uttering a low sigh ofsatisfaction as he saw him reach the top, and then following withoutmaking use of the rope.
"Now," he said, as he reached the others, "how was it that ropeslipped?"
"I cannot say, herr," cried Melchior. "Look, here: the loop is bigenough for it to come off easily if some one took hold of it with bothhands and drew it up quite two feet, but it could not slip off byitself."
"But it did."
Melchior shook his head.
"Oh, man, man, how can you be so absurd!" cried Dale impatiently. "Youdon't mean to say you believe any mischievous imp could have thrown itoff?"
"What am I to believe, when the rope falls on us like that? There is noone here in this desolate, awful place--not even a wild beast."
"Stop!" cried Saxe: "are you sure? Would a bear do that?"
"Surely not, herr."
"I'll believe in the bear before I believe in the gnome or kobold!"cried Dale. "Oh, Melchior! now I have so far had so much respect foryou as a frank, manly Switzer, don't spoil it by trying to cloak anerror with a paltry excuse. You did not properly secure the rope; itcame off; and it was an accident. You know it was an accident, so letit rest."
"I have tried hard to win the herr's confidence, and to deserve it,"said the man coldly. "I secured that rope as I believe any guide uponthe mountains would have fastened it. The rope gave way not by breakingor coming untied, and I cannot tell how. I told the herr the beliefs ofmy people, and that I had ceased to think that they were true; but weare seeking to penetrate the mysteries of the mines, and this accidenthas befallen us. I can say no more."
"Better not to say more," said Dale coldly. "Will you lead on?"
Saxe glanced in the guide's face, and gave him a look of sympathy as hesaw how it was wrinkled and drawn with trouble; but nothing more wassaid, and he went on coiling up the rope as they passed along the darkchasm, only stopping to untie the knot as they reached the main rift andbegan the descent toward the glacier.
It was no place for conversation, even if Saxe had been so disposed; forevery one's energies were taken up by the task of mastering the waybetween or over the rugged blocks which filled the bottom of the place.But at last, at a sudden turn, a gleam of the white ice was seen, andsoon after Dale was busily obliterating the mark he had made thatmorning for Melchior's guidance.
Then began the slow descent, sometimes beside, sometimes over theglacier--wherever Melchior could indicate a short cut; the crevasseswere passed, each bringing up its recollections of their adventures, andat last a more even part of their journey fell to their lot along thepolished rock.
But Dale went on in silence, answering Saxe so shortly several timesthat he dropped back from walking abreast, and went on down for somedistance half-way between his companions.
"I can't help it," he said to himself at last: "he must be offended ifhe likes. I don't believe poor old Melk could help the accident. Ishall walk with him."
He waited for the guide to come up, and he was soon abreast, lookinginquiringly at him, as if asking what he meant to say. The man's facewas dark and heavy of aspect, and he was evidently deeply hurt by Dale'sanger; and, in consequence, he looked up with a bright smile as Saxeasked him if he was tired.
"Oh no, herr," he said; "my legs are a little heavy, but not so heavy asmy heart."
"Don't take any notice of that," said Saxe, in a low voice; "he did notmean anything much. He was angry because I was so nearly killed."
"Yes; and it was just," said the guide: "for I am answerable for yourlives. It would have been most horrible if you had gone down there."
"Yes, of course it would," said Saxe lightly.
"And I have been thinking it over and over, herr, till I can think nomore; for the thoughts always come to the same point. I cannotunderstand it."
"Why, the rope got worked up, Melk; that's all."
"No, herr--impossible: that loop could not have worked up unless handstouched it."
"Gnomes or kobolds?" said Saxe, smiling as he had not been able to smilein the gloomy ravine.
"Ah, herr! you laugh at the old fancy; but there the matter lies; and Iam beginning to think that a great deal of our misfortune is due to thesame cause."
"What! the stone-throwing from the mountain?"
"Yes, herr."
"Well, don't let us talk any more about it, or you'll be making me fancyall sorts of things after it is dark. How much farther have we to go?"
"A good piece yet, herr; but we know the way. There is no doubt aboutit. In a little while I shall hurry on before, and get the fire lit, soas to have the tea ready for Herr Dale. I am sorry I have angered himso."
"Don't say any more about it, and he will soon forget it all."
"Yes, herr--I hope so," replied Melchior; "but I cannot."
Half an hour after he stepped out, and went silently by Da
le, touchinghis hat as he passed, and went on so quickly that he was soon out ofsight; and then Dale slackened his pace a little, to allow Saxe to comeup.
"Tired and hungry, my lad?" he said.
"Yes, both," replied the boy. "I hope Melchior has brought a chicken tobroil for tea."
Dale laughed.
"Well, now you speak of it, I hope so too, for I suppose I am hungry;but all that business put eating out of my head. By the way, Saxe, I amsorry I spoke so sharply to Melchior. The man is very sensitive, and ofcourse he cannot help having a lingering belief in the old superstitionsof the people among whom he was raised."
"I suppose not," said Saxe thoughtfully.
"Why, in one of their old books the author has given copperplateengravings of the terrible fiery and other dragons which dwelt in themountains. Superstitions die hard. But there--I dare say he willforget it by to-morrow."
"But don't you think that some one must have lifted off the rope?"
"No: I believe it was his careless tying."
"But I don't think he could be careless," said Saxe quickly. "Then,about that crystal being found. Somebody must have been down to thatgrotto, and dropped it as he came away. I think we are being tracked bypeople who wish us to fail."
"Then whoever it is must wish, for we are not going to fail, my boy. Wemust and will succeed, in spite of everybody. By the way, did you breakoff that crystal by which you held when you were in the grotto?"
"No, I tried," said Saxe; "but it was too firm, and I had not room touse my ice-axe, we were so close together."
"Never mind; to-morrow will do. We must get a grand collection ofchoice specimens, Saxe; and I hope that, as the Swiss Government will bethe gainers by my discoveries, they will not raise any objections to mytaking a goodly assortment away."
They relapsed into silence again, and it was growing so dusk when theybegan to climb up out of the glacier valley, that the reflection of afire could be seen upon the side of the rocky niche in which they hadformed their camp; and later on, as they came in sight of the littlefall at the end of the rift in the mountain, the foaming waters were litup so brilliantly that they looked like gold.
But the beauties of the place were forgotten by Saxe in the sight of akettle on the fire, and something which looked wonderfully like cut-upchicken waiting to be frizzled over the glowing embers, beside whichMelchior's sturdy figure stood up plainly, with his dark shadow castupon the side of the white tent.
"Tea nearly ready?" cried Saxe, as they approached.
"Very nearly, herr," was the reply. Then to Dale, as a piece ofsharpened pine was held out: "This is the wood used to pin down yourletter, herr."
"That?"
"Yes, herr; and it was stuck in that crevice between those pieces ofrock."
Dale took the piece with a curiously intent look in his countenance.Then, half aloud: "I could have taken an oath that I laid the paper onthat--"
He looked hastily round, for nothing was visible.
"I was going to say on that stone, Saxe," he said, in a low voice.
"I know," replied the boy; "but the stone isn't there, nor the one youlaid upon it."
"There!" cried Dale; "I was sure of it, and you are too. It is verystrange."
"Yes," said Saxe: "somebody's having a game with us, unless Melchior'sright, and there are--"
"Boys who ought to be kicked for being so ridiculously superstitious.There, let's have a wash in the spring, and then get to our meal. Backdirectly, Melchior," he said aloud, quite in his usual voice, as hepassed close by the guide, who was now busy cooking.
Melchior bowed slowly, and went on with his work, patiently preparingthe tea-dinner, and drawing back after the return of the others as if toleave them to partake of their meal alone.
It was a picturesque sight, and wonderfully attractive to a hungryboy,--the steaming kettle, the glowing fire lighting up the whole niche;and, to make the sight more enjoyable, there was the savoury smell, onewhich seemed to have had a peculiar effect upon Gros, the mule, for hehad left the patch where he was picking up a good succulent meal, todraw near and stand blinking his eyes, flapping his long ears, andstaring, till Saxe drove him off as he came to take his place.
"I say," he whispered, "poor old Melk is so upset by what you said thathe is not going to have tea with us."
"Yes, he is," said Dale quietly; and then aloud: "Melchior, I am afraidI said hastily some words which have wounded your feelings: I beg youwill let me apologise?"
"I accept your apology, herr," said the guide quietly.
"Then we will say no more about it; so come and sit down and join us."
"The herr wishes it?"
"Yes, of course."
Melchior sat down quietly and gravely, and the meal went on withoutfurther reference to the unpleasant incident; but Dale grew eager abouttheir work on the next day, chatting about the size of the crystals hehad felt, and the difficulties of enlarging the hole so that they couldcreep in.
"That can soon be done, herr, if we have fine weather, but there islightning over the Blitzenhorn, and that may mean a storm."
"Let's hope not, for though this place is lovely now, it would be verydreary and cold if it were wet. Now then, let's clear away and get tosleep, for we have a long day's work before us to-morrow."
The clearance was made, and the fire raked together and made up so thatit might possibly last till morning, and then came the preparation forsleep.
"We shall divide the night into three watches to-night, Melchior," saidDale suddenly.
"The herr will keep watch?"
"Yes; for whoever it is that is watching and trifling with us--"
"Then the herr thinks--"
"That we have an enemy hanging about our camp and following us."
"Ah!"
"And that it was he who threw off the rope."
"Then the herr thinks that?"
"Yes, I feel sure now, for I have been thinking it over, and I know thatMelchior Staffeln, the tried old guide, could not possibly have fastenedthat rope so that an accident would result."
"The herr gives me hope and life again," said the guide warmly.
"Yes, Melchior, I was all wrong. There--shake hands, man, like weEnglish do."
"Yes: it is good," said the guide, eagerly doing as he was told.
"Now lie down both of you, and sleep. In three hours I shall call you,Melchior, and in three more you will come up, Saxe. We may see nothing,but henceforth we will be on guard."
Ten minutes later the fire was subsiding into a glow. Saxe and theguide slept, and Dale was keenly awake watching for the kobold whodisturbed their peace.
The Crystal Hunters: A Boy's Adventures in the Higher Alps Page 31