Chapter 32. The Treasure.

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_ CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. THE TREASURE.

No kobold, gnome, or any other goblin of the mine disturbed the watchers through that night. Dale roused Melchior at the end of his spell, and somewhere about daybreak the guide roused Saxe, in obedience to his orders, 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 peaks beginning to glow."

"Didn't Mr Dale see anything?"

"No."

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

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

He lay down directly, and Saxe ran to the spring for a good sluice, to come 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 the guide, and he turned away, half ill-humouredly, to finish his rough toilet, and then he busied himself in making preparations for breakfast, which entailed a severe fight with self, for a sensation of hunger soon developed itself. But he won by a vigorous effort, and, after all was ready, forced himself away from the fire and the kettle, walking right out of the niche, to stand watching the glorious changes on the mountain peaks, and the lines of light slowly creeping, downward and driving out the shadows where it was still night while high up amongst the glittering ice fields it was glorious day.

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

Then he began to think about the day's work before them--the tramp up beside the glacier, the climb along the black ravine, right in among the mountains, 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 myself till Mr Dale wakes?"

At that moment a peculiar whinnying noise fell upon his ears, and he started off down the mountain side in the direction from which the sound had 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 he could make out the mule, whose colour assimilated wonderfully with the browny-grey rocks. But at last he saw it, end on, standing gazing up a narrow valley, and climbed down to find that it was in the midst of a fair spread of short whortleberry growth, whose shoots had evidently been 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 at every breath a couple of jets of white vapour were sent forth from the mule'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 ears pointed in the direction of the top of the valley high above them.

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

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

"Now, stupid--I mean Dumkoff--I was going to pat your head. I can't shake hands with your tail!"

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

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

It was a rash declaration, for as Saxe made a rush right by the animal it 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'm getting hot. For two pins I'd throw a chump of rock at you, you obstinate old four-legged hit of ill-temper."

He stooped and picked up a stone as big as his fists, and suddenly became aware of the fact that, though the mule's head was turned away from him, the cunning animal turned its eyes back and was watching him carefully. For as he raised the stone Gros shook his head so that his long ears rattled, squealed, and a peculiar quivering motion, like the beginning 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 of those nice little heels."

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

Certainly they seemed at liberty, for he threw them out so vigorously that, as Saxe gazed at the hoofs playing about in the air, they seemed to be sparring and fencing at him, while the tail between whipped and whisked about, and ended by tucking itself in tightly, till Saxe sat down on a rock roaring with laughter, when the mule suddenly ceased its efforts, 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 this was 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 to watch him, and, to his great surprise, Gros did not stir, but moved his head 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 been carrying on this game? Suppose my fire's out!"

He gave the mule a final pat, and then hurried back to the tent, where the fire was burning steadily, but wanted replenishing. This done, he looked at the sleepers, who were both like the Irishman in the old story, paying attention to it; then Saxe told himself that he would continue 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. But I suppose I ought to stop; only the worst of it is, if I stop here I begin feeling hungry."

The temptation came over him to examine the stores which Melchior had brought on the previous day, but he resisted it; and by dint of walking about using Dale's glass to examine the different peaks and snowfields in the distance, the time passed till Dale woke with a start and sprang up.

"Ah, Saxe, my lad, have I overslept myself?--No? Well, it's time I was up. All right? That's well. Now, this ought to be an important day for us," he continued, as he rapidly prepared himself for the journey. "We must creep into that grotto somehow, and with plenty of light. I expect 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 had settled to sleep."

In a few minutes they were ready for breakfast, and as they began Melchior drew from the pannier a portion of the provision he had brought, smiling as he placed it upon the slab of rock which served them as a table.

"What are you laughing at?" said Saxe.

"Oh, only about being a boy like you once, herr, and thinking that when I was your age I too could eat one breakfast and feel ready for another in 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 was setting down, and ended by shrugging his shoulders.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For Melchior was already hard at work with hammer and chisel, cutting off great angles that obstructed the way in and sending the fragments showering down.

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

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

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

"Is the spike safe? Take care."

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

He began hammering again, this time without the chisel, and using the hammer with so much effect that they could hear the pieces of rock he chipped off rattling down inside, till at the end of about half an hour he 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 you shall go first."

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

As they were speaking Melchior stood once more upon the edge of the entrance, sending a shovelful or two of the broken stone clattering down as 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 then glided 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, swung himself over on to the projection, and then easily climbed in at the opening; saw that there was ample room for him to pass, and then he crept forward cautiously on hands and knees, finding that the floor sloped downward rapidly toward where all was black darkness.

He stopped short, not caring to go farther, and waited till the agitation of the rope, which he had let go, told him that Dale was nearly up. The next minute the figure of the latter darkened the opening, 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 his hold 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 that Dale was smiling at him.

"No kobolds or goblins? Well, let's strike a match and light up: then perhaps we may. That's one good thing about these hollows,--there is no explosive gas, like there is in a coal mine. There, take this and hold it 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 all angles, and even lying upon the floor of the grotto, dozens upon dozens of magnificent crystals, which seemed to be clear as glass, of a dull brown, like smoky quartz, and some even of a hue that was almost a purply-black.

At that moment Melchior's head appeared.

"Is there room for me to come in, herr?" he said; and before an answer could 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 your head!"

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

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

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

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

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

"Yes, herr," said the guide, holding up the lanthorn, and making its light play in all directions, its rays flashing off the various facets in a way that displayed in some the beauty of their forms, and in others the 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, if it can be broken off without injury."

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

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

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

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

"You may trust me," said Dale. "I shall behave quite honourably to the Government, who will, I have no doubt, consent to my keeping some of them. Now, then: we shall have a long, slow journey back, with such a load. 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 its clearly-cut angles.

Two more very beautifully clear pieces were then selected, and then Dale looked 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 get lower 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 a laugh. "There, Melchior, try if you can get down that heavy piece."

"Yes, herr, easily done," said the guide; and, drawing up the rope, he made 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 a loop over the spike. Then sliding down, he soon set the crystal free, and the others were lowered down. Dale and Saxe followed, and the rope was jerked off the spike and coiled up.

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

"I was thinking that those pieces will tell tales," he said. "If any one 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 most desolate 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 their treasures," replied the guide, laughing, as he stooped and lifted the big crystal on to his shoulder; then took it off, and asked Saxe to place the coil of rope under it. "The stone is heavy," he said cheerfully. "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 as soon 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 Saxe would gladly have freed himself of the burden by letting it fall on the stones. But these were the crystals of which Dale was in search, and as he saw that his companion was patiently plodding on and making his way over the sharp, rough masses of stone with which the ravine was floored, he bent to his task patiently, though it seemed as though they would never reach the spot where the mule was tethered.

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

With the heaviest crystals safe on the mule's back, a redistribution took place, Melchior relieving Dale of his heaviest piece, and Dale exchanging his lighter one for Saxe's; and in this order the side of the glacier 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. "You cannot take many away, unless we have a train of mules. Where will you have these placed?"

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

A good long look was taken at the various magnificent specimens before they were laid together. Then Melchior busied himself helping to prepare the meal; and very shortly after this was ended, watching being deemed unnecessary, the whole party were sleeping soundly, not one of them, after the heavy toil of the day, being startled by the loud squealing whinny given by the mule toward the middle of the night.

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

Read next: Chapter 33. In Desperation

Read previous: Chapter 31. Misunderstandings

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