The guide shook his head, and then took up his ice-axe for a protection against whatever the object might be that had alarmed them, as he began to peer cautiously in all directions.
“It woke me up with a start,” whispered Saxe.
“Yes; the most unearthly cry I ever heard. It must have been some kind of owl, and its shriek sounded the more terrible from being up in this land of echoes.”
“Then if it was a bird there is nothing to be afraid of,” said Saxe. “It gave me the shivers.”
“It was startling. Found anything, Melchior?”
“No, herr; and I’m puzzled.”
“We think it was a bird.”
“No, herr; that was no bird.”
“Could it have been an animal?”
“There are no animals up at this height, but chamois and marmots. They could not have made such a cry.”