Half an hour’s rugged walk brought them to a point where they had to decide whether to turn north and climb the snow, or south and take to the bare steep rock.
“What do you say, Melchior?” said Dale, giving the guide a meaning look at the same time.
“The snow is too steep, and it looks dangerous there. It is now well on in the afternoon, and our weight might start it; and if it did—you know.”
“What!” said Saxe excitedly. Dale was silent for a few moments.
“I do not want to scare you, lad, but you have to learn these things. If we started the snow at that angle, it would all go down with a rush into the nearest valley.”
“And what would become of us!”
Neither of the men answered; but Saxe knew.
“That is going to be a stiff climb, Melchior,” said Dale, after a few minutes’ searching the place with his eyes.
“I dare say it will be, sir,” replied the guide. “Are you ready?”
“Yes.”