Pierre had received so severe a blow from Melchior's axe handle that he
was stunned, and when he came to he was so cowed and beaten that he went
down on his knees, owned to everything, and begged for mercy, with the
result that the miserable inhuman deformity grasped the position, and,
uttering piteous whines and howls, seemed to be imploring mercy, too.
"Look here, Pierre," said Melchior: "I have but to send down to the
village to get a messenger to take a letter to the town, and the police
will fetch you to prison."
"No, no," pleaded the culprit, and he implored for mercy again in the
most abject terms.
"A year in prison would do him good, herr," said Melchior. "He is no
Switzer, but a disgrace to his country. We Swiss are honest, honourable
men, and he is a thief."
Pierre fell on his knees, and began to ask for pity again. "Get up,
dog!" cried Melchior; and turning from him he began to untie the hideous
deformity whose wild eyes were watching them in a frightened way.
"What are you going to do?" cried Dale. "You forget how strong he is."
"No, herr, I remember; and I am going to make use of it; he is tamed
now. Look here, Pierre, you and Mad Fritz will carry those crystals all
down to Andregg's."
"Yes, Herr Melchior--yes," cried Pierre abjectly.
"Stop! You can have the mule to help you, and for the next journey you
can bring the donkey too."
"Yes, Herr Melchior; but you will not let the English nobleman send me
to prison," he cried.
"We shall see. Get to work, both of you, and bring out the best. The
herr will choose which."
"Yes," cried the man eagerly; and Melchior turned to Dale. "You will
have a fair mule-load taken down to the chalet at once, herr, will you
not?"
"Yes, of course."
"Good; and we can leave the others here, and send these two to fetch
them."
"But you can't trust them," whispered Saxe. "Oh yes, I can, herr, now,"
said Melchior proudly. "The law is very strong here in this canton; and
being so strong, it is seldom put in force. People are honest here, in
spite of what this man has done. My life on it now, herr, Pierre will
bring every crystal down to the chalet."
"But the cretin?"
"Will do exactly as he is told. Here, Pierre, take Gros and go to our
camp. Bring the tent and everything back here while we get out the
crystals. Take Fritz with you."
"Yes, Herr Melchior," said the man humbly; and then, turning to the
cretin, he said something in a curious harsh guttural way, and the poor
creature sprang after him and out into the day.
"Then you feel that you can trust them?" said Dale.
"Yes, herr, you may be sure of that. Everything will be taken down to
Andregg's--never fear. Ah! how plain everything seems now! The stones
thrown at us--eh?"
"Never mind about them," cried Saxe excitedly. "You've sent those two
off with the mule, and they'll take away our lunch, and I'm getting
hungry now."
"Sure, I had forgotten," cried the guide, and he ran out. They heard
him jodel and check Pierre and his hideous companion, so that the food
was left behind.
This seen to, Melchior resumed what he was about to say in the ice-cave.
"You will communicate with the authorities, herr, about your great
find?"
"Of course," said Dale.
"That will frighten Pierre, when they come to take charge of the
crystals. You cannot punish that poor Heaven-smitten creature Fritz."
"No, certainly not."
"Then I would ask you, herr, if the man Pierre is patient and obedient,
not to punish him more. He is a poor half-witted creature, and the
temptation was too much for him."
"I shall not punish him."
"Thank you, herr."
"But," said Saxe, "you said that the authorities would take possession
of the crystals!"
"Yes, herr, in the name of the canton. But they will not be ungenerous.
They will like good specimens for our museums; but they will let Herr
Dale choose and take what he wishes to his own country. It is for
science, and we Swiss are as proud to welcome all scientific men to
explore our country as we are to serve those who merely come to admire
and return again and again, to see the mountains, glaciers and lakes of
our dear fatherland."
All fell out as Melchior had foretold. Pierre and his follower soon
returned with the tent, and humbly accepted some food before loading the
mule, and then themselves, with some of the choicest crystals, which
were deposited safely in Andregg's chalet. The next day they made a
journey with the two animals alone, and brought back more; and again on
the following day they set off and brought the rest, Andregg gazing with
astonishment at the magnificent collection.
In due time people from the principal city of the canton arrived, and
the whole of the crystals were taken on mules to the Rathhaus, where
soon after Dale was invited to attend with his companion and their
guide.
They went, and were warmly complimented by the chief magistrate and the
fathers of the city upon their great discovery, following which they
were invited to choose what specimens they liked.
They chose so very modestly that the selection was more than doubled,
and in due time reached Old England's shores, to add lustre to several
collections and museums.
Dale kept his word about Pierre, and quietly incited Saxe to make him a
present when they went away.
"Because he doesn't deserve it," said Saxe, who also made a point of
giving the unfortunate cretin an object which set his eyes rolling with
delight every time it was taken out. This was a large knife with a
collection of odds and ends stored in the handle: toothpick, lancet
blade, tweezers, screwdriver, horse-hoof picker, and corkscrew, the
latter being, as Saxe said, so likely to prove useful.
A month later, after a warm parting from old Andregg and his wife, who
made her apron quite wet with tears, and insisted upon presenting Saxe
with a very nasty-smelling cheese of her own make, the little party
journeyed back through the various valleys, and on to the lovely lake of
deep waters, where the mountains rose up like walls on either side, and
then on and on to Waldberg, whence they were to start next day for home.
And then came the parting from the guide--the brave, faithful companion
of many months.
"And now, Melchior!" said Dale, "I want you to accept this, not as
payment, but as a gift from one friend to another--a present to the man
whose hand was always ready to save us in perilous times."
"That, herr!" said Melchior. "No, no: you have paid me nobly, and it
has not been work, but a pleasure journey with two friends."
"Nonsense, man: take it."
"But, herr!" cried Melchior. "That watch for a poor Swiss guide!--it is
gold!"
"Well, man, yours is a golden heart! Take it, and some day you may tell
your son that it came from an English boy and man who looked upon you as
friends. The watch was mine; the chain is from Saxe here: they are
yours."
The tears stood in Melchior's eyes as the watch was handed to Saxe, who
thrust it into the guide's pocket. Then he grasped their hands.
"Good-bye," he said, in perfect English--"Leben Sie wohl. Ah!" he cried
excitedly: "I know French but badly; but there is a farewell they have,
herrs, which fits so well. The mountains are here, and everlasting. It
is nearly winter now, but the summer will come again, when the snows are
melting, and the valleys will be green and beautiful once more; and when
those bright days are here I shall see that the peaks are waiting to be
climbed and that there are perils to be bravely met by those who love
our land; and then I shall pray. Herr Dale, that you will come again,
and that you, Herr Saxe, will come, and, taking me by the hand, say, as
you have so often said, `where to to-day?' Make me happy, gentlemen--
me, the man you called more than guide, your friend--tell me you will
come again."
"We will, please God--we will!" cried Saxe.
"The words I would have said," said Dale.
"Then, now for those words of French, dear herr: Au revoir!"