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Read Ebook: The Crystal Hunters: A Boy's Adventures in the Higher Alps by Fenn George Manville Burton Frederic William Illustrator
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Ebook has 3818 lines and 109647 words, and 77 pages
Richard Dale looked at his young companion, whose forehead was wrinkled, as he stared up at the huge mass of rock from its lower green alps or pastures, up over the grey lichened stone, to where the streakings of white snow began, and then higher and higher to the region of everlasting ice.
"Well," he said at last, as he lowered his eyes to the guide and the strong, resolute-looking man beside him, "I--"
A quick change came over him, and with a laughing look he continued quickly:
"Not travellers' tales, eh?"
"Travellers' tales?" said the guide slowly.
"He means, are you deceiving him?" said Dale.
The guide shook his head gravely.
"The great mountains are too solemn to speak anything but truth in their shade."
"Well," said Saxe slowly, "then it's the mountains that deceive."
"Wait a bit, boy, and you'll soon learn how great they are. It takes time. Now, understand this: I do not want to interfere with your enjoyment; but if we are to carry out my plans, it must be work and not play."
"Why not both?" said Saxe merrily.
"Because we must husband our strength, so as to always have a little left to use in an emergency. Now, then, we understand each other, do we not?"
"Yes, Mr Dale."
"Then forward."
The guide nodded his head good-humouredly; but he did not stir.
"Well?" said the Englishman.
"Let us understand each other," said the guide quietly. "Those who go up into the mountains must be brothers. Now your life is in danger, and I save you; next my life is in peril, and you save me. A guide is something more than one who goes to show the way."
"Of course," said Richard Dale, eyeing the man curiously: "that is why I have chosen you. Friends told me that Melchior Staffeln was a man whom I might trust."
"I thank them," said the guide. "And the herr wishes me to be his guide for days and weeks or months, and show him the way up the great mountains as I have shown others?"
"No!" said Dale sharply. "I want you to take me right in among the heights, passes and glaciers where the visitors do not go."
The guide looked at him fixedly.
"Why? what for?" he said. "You did not tell me this when you came up to the chalet last night, and sent for me."
"No. I tell you now."
"Why do you wish to go? There may be danger."
"I'll tell you. I want to see the mountains and study them. I would search for metals and specimens of the stones in the higher rocks."
"Crystals?"
"Yes."
"Hah!" said the guide. "To see if there is gold and silver and precious stones?"
"Yes."
"If it is known you will be stopped by the magistrate of the commune."
"Why? I do not want to rob the country."
"But the gold--the silver."
"Let's find them first, man; and see what the chief magistrate says then. Can you lead me to places where I can find these?"
"Perhaps."
"Will you?"
The man was silent for a few minutes. Then,--"Will the herr be straightforward and honest to my country, and if he finds such treasures in the mountains, will he go to the magistrates and get leave to work them?"
"Of that you may be sure. Will you come?"
The man was silent and thoughtful again for a minute.
"If the people know, we shall be watched night and day."
"They must not know."
"No, they must not know."
"Then you will come?"
"Yes," said the man, "I will come."
"Then, once more, forward," said Dale. "Saxe, my lad, our search for Nature's treasures has begun."
AN ALPINE VALLEY.
The track for some distance up the valley was so rugged and narrow that the little party had to go in single file; but after a time they came upon a more open part, less encumbered with rock, and, with the lad on ahead, Richard Dale strode up abreast of the guide, and, taking out his case, lit a cigar, and offered one to the Swiss.
The guide shook his head.
"No, thank you, herr," he said; "I seldom smoke anything but my pipe."
They went on for a while in silence, the only sound falling upon their ears being the continuous roar of the torrent-like river which rushed down the valley in a narrow chasm far below their feet--one series of thundering cascades, all foam and milky glacier water.
Patches of pine forest, with the trees crowded close together, every stem straight as an arrow, ran for some distance up the sides of the vale; but there was no sign or note of bird. All was solemn and still, save that deep-toned roar.
Saxe stopped suddenly, waited till they came near, and held up his hand.
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