"If it was not for this, how could we endure it?" he said, while there was a grave, calm look on his face, so little to be expected in a guide.
"How could we endure this grandeur, or our own littleness?" I asked.
"To know that God rules, giving each his place, to the mountains theirs, and to us ours. Insignificant we may be, and still we are each of us of more value than all the mountains in the universe. Jesus created mountains; but he died for us."
"Where did you learn this, Franz?"
"From the Bible, sir."
I saw it all; the Bible was the textbook he had studied. It was this which had given him that rare expression of face, and the words so far above the condition of life indicated by the little hamlet where he lived.
There was no more time, for the sun was going down, and we must go with it; and rising, we began to make the descent.
The moon was full orbed before we reached the cottage. I was weary beyond the power of utterance.
"If you would prefer to stop here, we can give you a comfortable bed," said Franz, "and Annette will have something to eat. I told her that there was a possibility that you would like to remain."
It was the very thing I wanted, and placing my pole by the side of Franz's in the little shed from which Annette had brought it in the morning, I entered the cottage.