They climbed on, but the difficulties increased, and there proved to be an awkward ice ledge to pass along, with a terrific gulf beneath; and a gap or two, with snow bridges, which were apparently waiting a touch to go down at once. These were all safely overcome. And at last a long slope of loose snow was all that remained to toil up before they reached the top, where Saxe threw himself down to enjoy the wondrous prospect of glittering ice peaks, and, a few minutes after, the food Melchior brought from his wallet.
“It doesn’t seem so difficult as you thought,” said Saxe, with his mouth full.
“Don’t holloa till you are out of the wood,” replied Dale. “Shall we go back the same way?” he said to the guide.
“No, herr; I shall take you back right to the black rock, where it is too steep for the snow to lie.”
“And for us to get down?”
“I shall skirt the edge of those steep bits, herr. You will see.”
In half an hour they were once more afoot, with the sun beginning to blaze down upon them and the snow dazzling their eyes; but the descent to the first bare rocks was steadily made, and the exploration began, with the result during the next two hours of four crevices being discovered, each lined with crystals that, at the first sight, looked like ice, but a close investigation satisfied Dale that they were not worthy of his notice, and that the minor grotto in the black ravine was far superior.
“No good, herr,” said the guide sadly. “Sehr schlecht. I hoped we should have done better.”
“Never mind. We have done the best we could, and this has been a magnificent ascent.”
“The herr is satisfied with that?”