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

  CHAPTER THIRTY TWO.

  THE TREASURE.

  No kobold, gnome, or any other goblin of the mine disturbed the watchersthrough that night. Dale roused Melchior at the end of his spell, andsomewhere about daybreak the guide roused Saxe, in obedience to hisorders, and asked him whether he felt fit to take his turn.

  "Eh?--Fit?" said Saxe, sitting up: "of course. Why shouldn't I be?"

  "I thought you seemed a little upset by the shock yesterday."

  "Nonsense: I'm only sleepy. I'm getting used to that sort of thing.There; lie down, and finish your rest. I'm as fresh as a daisy! I say,though: have you seen anything in the night?"

  "The stars slowly going down behind the mountains, and the peaksbeginning to glow."

  "Didn't Mr Dale see anything?"

  "No."

  "Well, I'm disappointed. I hoped one of you would catch the gentlemanwho comes after us. I'm sure there is something."

  "So am I, herr. The fire is burning. Keep it up, and call me when itis breakfast time."

  He lay down directly, and Saxe ran to the spring for a good sluice, tocome back glowing and scrubbing his scarlet face with a towel.

  "I say, Melk!"

  There was no answer.

  "Melky!"

  Still silent.

  Saxe bent over the Swiss, and then turned away.

  "Well, he can sleep," he muttered: "seems only to have to shut his eyes,and he is off."

  It did not occur to him that he was as great an adept at sleeping as theguide, and he turned away, half ill-humouredly, to finish his roughtoilet, and then he busied himself in making preparations for breakfast,which entailed a severe fight with self, for a sensation of hunger soondeveloped itself. But he won by a vigorous effort, and, after all wasready, forced himself away from the fire and the kettle, walking rightout of the niche, to stand watching the glorious changes on the mountainpeaks, and the lines of light slowly creeping, downward and driving outthe shadows where it was still night while high up amongst theglittering ice fields it was glorious day.

  "Oh, how different it all looks in the sunshine!" thought Saxe. "Whichdid he say was the Blitzenhorn? I forget."

  Then he began to think about the day's work before them--the tramp upbeside the glacier, the climb along the black ravine, right in among themountains, and the exploration of the caves.

  "Well, we shall have found some crystals to take back," he thought."Wish it was breakfast time, though. What am I to do to amuse myselftill Mr Dale wakes?"

  At that moment a peculiar whinnying noise fell upon his ears, and hestarted off down the mountain side in the direction from which the soundhad come.

  "Better company than none," he said, laughing. "Here: where are you,old chap?"

  There was of course no answer, and he was some little time before hecould make out the mule, whose colour assimilated wonderfully with thebrowny-grey rocks. But at last he saw it, end on, standing gazing up anarrow valley, and climbed down to find that it was in the midst of afair spread of short whortleberry growth, whose shoots had evidentlybeen his fare.

  As Saxe drew nearer he could see that, in spite of the animal's warmth,the longer hairs about the mule were covered with hoar-frost, and atevery breath a couple of jets of white vapour were sent forth from themule's nostrils.

  The mule took no heed of his approach, but gave vent to another long,loud, complaining whinny, and kept its head stretched out and its earspointed in the direction of the top of the valley high above them.

  "Hullo, Gros!" cried Saxe, as he approached; and the mule turned alittle more away as the boy approached.

  "Do you hear?" cried Saxe, stepping aside so as to get up to the mule'shead; but that head was averted a little in the other direction, and theanimal's hind quarters were presented.

  "Now, stupid--I mean Dumkoff--I was going to pat your head. I can'tshake hands with your tail!"

  He darted sharply a few paces to the other side, but the mule carefullyturned, to balance the movement, and still presented his tail.

  "Ah, you obstinate old ruffian!" cried Saxe: "how can you expect peopleto be friendly with you! Well, I'm not going to be beaten by an oldmule, anyhow!"

  It was a rash declaration, for as Saxe made a rush right by the animalit spun round, and the positions were once more the same.

  This evolution was repeated again and again, till Saxe stopped short,panting.

  "Here!" he exclaimed. "I thought it was cold this morning, and I'mgetting hot. For two pins I'd throw a chump of rock at you, youobstinate old four-legged hit of ill-temper."

  He stooped and picked up a stone as big as his fists, and suddenlybecame aware of the fact that, though the mule's head was turned awayfrom him, the cunning animal turned its eyes back and was watching himcarefully. For as he raised the stone Gros shook his head so that hislong ears rattled, squealed, and a peculiar quivering motion, like thebeginning of a dance, was visible in his hind quarters.

  "Ah! would you kick!" cried Saxe. "You ruffian, you'd better not.There are plenty of stones, and I'll give you one for every hoist ofthose nice little heels."

  He made an "offer," as boys call it, with the stone, and there was aloud squeal. Gros's head went down between his fore legs till he hadnearly touched the ground, and he was turning himself into a tripod soas to set his hind legs at liberty.

  Certainly they seemed at liberty, for he threw them out so vigorouslythat, as Saxe gazed at the hoofs playing about in the air, they seemedto be sparring and fencing at him, while the tail between whipped andwhisked about, and ended by tucking itself in tightly, till Saxe satdown on a rock roaring with laughter, when the mule suddenly ceased itsefforts, stood still, and turned its head round to watch him.

  "Now it's coming!" cried Saxe, leaping up and raising the stone again.

  The mule squealed defiance, and out flew its heels once more, and thiswas repeated till, half choked with laughing, Saxe threw down the stone.

  "There!" he said: "I wouldn't throw at you. Poor old chap, then!"

  He approached the animal now on the side to which its head was thrust towatch him, and, to his great surprise, Gros did not stir, but moved hishead a little, and let him approach, pat his neck, and pull his ears.

  "Only your fun, was it, old chap--eh! There! It was only my fun too.It's all right. Go on, old fellow. But, I say, how long have we beencarrying on this game? Suppose my fire's out!"

  He gave the mule a final pat, and then hurried back to the tent, wherethe fire was burning steadily, but wanted replenishing. This done, helooked at the sleepers, who were both like the Irishman in the oldstory, paying attention to it; then Saxe told himself that he wouldcontinue his watch.

  This idea seemed so droll that he could not refrain from smiling.

  "Rather a queer way of keeping watch," he said, "going off like that.Never mind: there's nothing much to steal, and no one to steal it. ButI suppose I ought to stop; only the worst of it is, if I stop here Ibegin feeling hungry."

  The temptation came over him to examine the stores which Melchior hadbrought on the previous day, but he resisted it; and by dint of walkingabout using Dale's glass to examine the different peaks and snowfieldsin the distance, the time passed till Dale woke with a start and sprangup.

  "Ah, Saxe, my lad, have I overslept myself?--No? Well, it's time I wasup. All right? That's well. Now, this ought to be an important dayfor us," he continued, as he rapidly prepared himself for the journey."We must creep into that grotto somehow, and with plenty of light. Iexpect we shall find it quite a treasure-house. But," he said at last,"I think you may wake up Melchior now."

  "I am awake, herr," said the guide, rising. "It is just the time I hadsettled to sleep."

  In a few minutes they were ready for breakfast, and as they beganMelchior drew from the pannier a portion of the provision he hadbrought, smiling as he placed it upon the slab of rock which served themas a table.

  "What are you laughing at?" said Saxe.

  "Oh
, only about being a boy like you once, herr, and thinking that whenI was your age I too could eat one breakfast and feel ready for anotherin an hour."

  "I felt ready for one an hour ago, but I didn't have one," said Saxe."No, it was two hours ago."

  "But the herr did have a breakfast one or two hours ago."

  "I?" said Saxe sharply. "No, I didn't have anything."

  The guide looked at him wonderingly, then at the provisions he wassetting down, and ended by shrugging his shoulders.

  "I beg the young herr's pardon. I thought he did," said Melchiorquietly; and for the time the incident was forgotten.

  Half an hour later Gros was brought up, provisions packed, thegeological hammer and a cold chisel put inside with the food, and theystarted after leaving wood and water ready for a fire when theyreturned.

  The ravine was duly reached, Gros having proved himself an admirableclimber on the ice, and he made no objection to ascending the blackravine for some distance; but at last it grew too bad for him, and hewas tethered to a block of stone and left to meditate and lick themoisture which trickled down, for there was no pasture--not so much as apatch of moss.

  Then the climb went on, Dale asking the guide if he thought the mulecould get back with a load of crystals in the pannier.

  "That depends on the weight, herr. If it is too much for him, we musthelp, or we must all go twice."

  In due time they reached the rock beyond which was the way down to thelower grotto; but though it would have been tempting to have exploredthis with lights, it was decided to leave it for the present, and to goon and break into the cave discovered by Saxe.

  "Well," said Dale, as they stood beneath it and gazed upon the blackcrevice, "do you think you can get at it so as to use a hammer and thechisel?"

  "Oh yes, herr," said Melchior quietly; and thrusting the hammer handleand the chisel through his belt, he went up and along the ledge withwonderful agility, sprang across on to the projecting block, and thenSaxe watched him eagerly as he saw him drive in the point of thegeological hammer as high up as he could reach, and use it to hold bywhile he climbed higher and got his feet on the lower edge of theopening, where he stood with his hand inside to steady himself while hewriggled out the hammer. Then, holding this in his breast, they saw himtake a steel spike from his pocket, and after a little examinationthrust the point in a crevice which looked like an upward continuationof the opening into the grotto. This done, a sharp stroke or two fromthe hammer enabled him to fix the spike sufficiently firmly to enablehim to hold on by it with his left hand while he drove it in firmly withthe hammer before passing the double rope over it, and making a sling inwhich he could sit opposite the opening and work.

  "There, Saxe, neither you nor I could have done that," said Dale, as theguide settled himself in the loop swinging before the mouth of thegrotto.

  "It makes my hands feel wet," whispered Saxe. "Look!"

  For Melchior was already hard at work with hammer and chisel, cuttingoff great angles that obstructed the way in and sending the fragmentsshowering down.

  They watched him intently, seeing that he used the hammer as he used hisice-axe, so as not to deliver an unnecessary blow.

  "Think you will make a way in?" cried Dale, as the guide paused for afew moments to wipe his brow.

  "Oh yes, herr; I should have done by now, only my blows fall weaklysitting swinging here."

  "Is the spike safe? Take care."

  "I shall not fall, herr," he replied. "If the spike gave way I shouldhave time to save myself."

  He began hammering again, this time without the chisel, and using thehammer with so much effect that they could hear the pieces of rock hechipped off rattling down inside, till at the end of about half an hourhe ceased striking, and began raking out the bits he had broken off.

  "I can get through here now, herr," he said. "I'll come down, and youshall go first."

  "No: that is your right, Saxe, as the discoverer; only be careful not topenetrate far. There may be danger."

  As they were speaking Melchior stood once more upon the edge of theentrance, sending a shovelful or two of the broken stone clattering downas he untied the knots in the loop, and, taking one end of the rope,threw it over the spike, made a slip-knot, drew it tight, and thenglided down to where Dale and Saxe were standing.

  "There, herr," he said; "you can hold the rope, creep along the ledge,swing yourself across, and mount easily now."

  "Shall I go first?" said the boy, looking at Dale.

  "Yes, of course; but we shall be close behind you."

  Saxe seized the rope, and, profiting by old experience, went up, swunghimself over on to the projection, and then easily climbed in at theopening; saw that there was ample room for him to pass, and then hecrept forward cautiously on hands and knees, finding that the floorsloped downward rapidly toward where all was black darkness.

  He stopped short, not caring to go farther, and waited till theagitation of the rope, which he had let go, told him that Dale wasnearly up. The next minute the figure of the latter darkened theopening, and he too crept in.

  "Well, Saxe: what has Aladdin's cave to show us?"

  "Darkness," replied the boy.

  "Ah, well; we shall soon dissipitate that," said Dale, as he loosed hishold of the rope and began to prepare the lanthorn he had brought up."Seen any gnomes?"

  "Can't see anything," replied Saxe shortly; for it seemed to him thatDale was smiling at him.

  "No kobolds or goblins? Well, let's strike a match and light up: thenperhaps we may. That's one good thing about these hollows,--there is noexplosive gas, like there is in a coal mine. There, take this and holdit out before you," he continued, as he closed and passed the lanthorn."Lift it up! Now what can you see?"

  "Something glittering--yes, crystals!--beauties!--what a size!"

  "Hah! Yes. These are worth all the trouble we have taken!" cried Dale,as he dimly saw pendant from the roof, projecting from the rock at allangles, and even lying upon the floor of the grotto, dozens upon dozensof magnificent crystals, which seemed to be clear as glass, of a dullbrown, like smoky quartz, and some even of a hue that was almost apurply-black.

  At that moment Melchior's head appeared.

  "Is there room for me to come in, herr?" he said; and before an answercould be given, "Ah! those are large."

  "Large, my good fellow! they are the finest I have ever seen. Come in.Well, Saxe, how far does the grotto go in? Can you stand up? Mind yourhead!"

  "Just stand up here," he replied; "but it is higher farther in."

  "Let me go on first, herr," said Melchior: "it may be dangerous. Thereis no telling where these cracks in the rocks extend."

  He took the lanthorn and crept forward cautiously, while Dale and Saxewatched the play of the light on the wonderful prisms and hexagons whichhung in all directions. But there was no penetrating above thirty feet;for the grotto, after rising six or seven feet in height, dropped downagain, and closed together till there was a mere slit.

  "There may be more of it beyond here, sir," said the guide, "if we couldbreak through."

  "There is more than enough here, Melchior," cried Dale. "I am satisfiedif we can get these away."

  "Yes, herr," said the guide, holding up the lanthorn, and making itslight play in all directions, its rays flashing off the various facetsin a way that displayed in some the beauty of their forms, and in othersthe limpid transparency of the stone,--"yes, herr: there are many mules'burdens here. What will you do first?"

  "Try to get off that one," cried Saxe, pointing. "It is the best here."

  "They all seem best, Saxe," said Dale. "Yes, we will have that one, ifit can be broken off without injury."

  "There is a fine one here, herr," said the guide. "It must have fallenfrom the roof."

  As he spoke he turned over a huge piece, after setting down thelanthorn, the light from which shot beneath it, and showed a richpurply-black stain, as the guide set the great hexagon up on end.

/>   "Why, that is the finest I have seen," said Dale, growing quite excitedover his discovery. "This and two or three more will be a load for themule."

  "Yes, herr, as many as we can get over the rocks with; but we can makemany journeys backwards and forwards now we have found the place. Butthe herr will not take all away without sending word to Lucerne orGeneva?"

  "You may trust me," said Dale. "I shall behave quite honourably to theGovernment, who will, I have no doubt, consent to my keeping some ofthem. Now, then: we shall have a long, slow journey back, with such aload. Try and strike off that small white piece."

  The "small white piece" proved to be ten inches long and very heavy,when it had been dexterously struck off, without damaging any of itsclearly-cut angles.

  Two more very beautifully clear pieces were then selected, and then Dalelooked questioningly at Melchior.

  "If the mule carries the two largest pieces, herr," he said, smiling,"and we take one each, I think it will be all we can do. When we getlower down, on to the better way, the mule can carry all."

  "Yes, we must not be too grasping," said Dale, with a sigh. "I wish,Saxe, I had all these over in England safe."

  "I should like to have the whole grotto over there safe," replied Saxe.

  "Better say the mountain while you are about it," cried Dale, with alaugh. "There, Melchior, try if you can get down that heavy piece."

  "Yes, herr, easily done," said the guide; and, drawing up the rope, hemade it fast to the largest crystal and carefully lowered it down.

  "You must go down now and unfasten," said Dale. "I can lower the rest.But what about the rope when we have done?"

  For answer Melchior climbed up and loosened the rope, leaving only aloop over the spike. Then sliding down, he soon set the crystal free,and the others were lowered down. Dale and Saxe followed, and the ropewas jerked off the spike and coiled up.

  "The only way of locking up the door," said Saxe, laughing. "But, Isay, these will be very heavy to carry back. What's the matter?" hecontinued, as he saw Dale looking at the fragments of broken rock sentdown by Melchior.

  "I was thinking that those pieces will tell tales," he said. "If anyone comes up here, they will see we have been at work."

  "Yes, herr, if any one comes by; but nobody is likely to come here."

  "I suppose not," said Dale thoughtfully, after a look round.

  "The herr forgets that we are now in the wildest part of this the mostdesolate of our cantons."

  "Yes, I had forgotten," said Dale lightly. "No one is likely to come,unless it be one of your kobolds, Melchior."

  "They will not come, herr, or they would have been here to protect theirtreasures," replied the guide, laughing, as he stooped and lifted thebig crystal on to his shoulder; then took it off, and asked Saxe toplace the coil of rope under it. "The stone is heavy," he saidcheerfully. "Yes, that's it: now it will ride easily. I think, herr,if you take my ice-axe and give me another under this arm to balance it,I can get on well."

  "But you are too heavily laden now, Melchior."

  "Oh no, herr: I am a strong man. Give me the other."

  It was handed to him.

  "Now, can you carry the other three?"

  "Oh yes--easily," cried Saxe, who took one of the largest. "'Tis heavy,though," he added to himself, as he felt the weight of the solid stone.

  "Then these two are my load," said Dale, placing one under each arm assoon as he had thrust the ice-axe handles through his belt. "Ready?"

  "Yes."

  "Then off!"

  They started, and but for the knowledge of the value of the load Saxewould gladly have freed himself of the burden by letting it fall on thestones. But these were the crystals of which Dale was in search, and ashe saw that his companion was patiently plodding on and making his wayover the sharp, rough masses of stone with which the ravine was floored,he bent to his task patiently, though it seemed as though they wouldnever reach the spot where the mule was tethered.

  There he was though, at last, ready to whinny in welcome of theircoming; but this glad greeting closed when Melchior's load was carefullybalanced across his back, and the journey downward was very slowly andsolemnly performed.

  With the heaviest crystals safe on the mule's back, a redistributiontook place, Melchior relieving Dale of his heaviest piece, and Daleexchanging his lighter one for Saxe's; and in this order the side of theglacier was descended, and they reached the camp hot, tired and hungry.

  "Why, Saxe, we shall not want many loads like this," said Dale.

  "No, herr," said Melchior, as the boy stood shaking his head. "Youcannot take many away, unless we have a train of mules. Where will youhave these placed?"

  "Oh, just inside the tent for to-night. In the morning we must contrivesome hiding-place for them, to which we can bring the rest; and when Ihave all I want we must bring mules here and remove them."

  A good long look was taken at the various magnificent specimens beforethey were laid together. Then Melchior busied himself helping toprepare the meal; and very shortly after this was ended, watching beingdeemed unnecessary, the whole party were sleeping soundly, not one ofthem, after the heavy toil of the day, being startled by the loudsquealing whinny given by the mule toward the middle of the night.

  Saxe's sleep was almost dreamless till toward morning, when he became alittle restless consequent upon imagining that he was engaged in adesperate encounter with a small round goblin, who was about the size ofa baby, but seemed to have the strength of an elephant. He walked in atthe tent door, and informed Saxe that he had come to fetch the crystalsstolen from his storehouse that day; and upon Saxe refusing to give themup, a desperate encounter took place--a fight which had no beginning andno end, finishing off, as it were, in a mist, out of which he started tohear the sound of wood crackling, and to find that it was day.