“Yes, he is,” said Dale quietly; and then aloud: “Melchior, I am afraid I said hastily some words which have wounded your feelings: I beg you will let me apologise?”
“I accept your apology, herr,” said the guide quietly.
“Then we will say no more about it; so come and sit down and join us.”
“The herr wishes it?”
“Yes, of course.”
Melchior sat down quietly and gravely, and the meal went on without further reference to the unpleasant incident; but Dale grew eager about their work on the next day, chatting about the size of the crystals he had felt, and the difficulties of enlarging the hole so that they could creep in.
“That can soon be done, herr, if we have fine weather, but there is lightning over the Blitzenhorn, and that may mean a storm.”
“Let’s hope not, for though this place is lovely now, it would be very dreary and cold if it were wet. Now then, let’s clear away and get to sleep, for we have a long day’s work before us to-morrow.”
The clearance was made, and the fire raked together and made up so that it might possibly last till morning, and then came the preparation for sleep.
“We shall divide the night into three watches to-night, Melchior,” said Dale suddenly.