The travelers spent two happy days with their friends in the herdsman's
cabin. They would like to have spent the rest of the summer with them.
Jack and Joe would like to have learned how to milk the goats and how
to blow the great alpine horn.
But there were many other things which they wanted to do and to see in
this wonderful little country of Switzerland, so they shouldered their
knapsacks and started once more on the trail.
The way soon became steep and rocky. Gray clouds hid the snow-covered
peaks. The wind blew cold, and the boys were glad of the hard climb to
keep themselves warm.
They crossed one or two small alps where cows were feeding, and they
stopped at a tiny cabin to ask for a drink of milk.
[Illustration: _In the cabin they found a small boy watching a large
kettle of milk over an open fire_]
In the cabin they found a small boy, who was watching a large kettle
of milk over an open fire. The boy said that his father had gone up
the mountain to hunt for a lost cow, so he was making cheese from his
goats' milk.
The Overall Boys were quite sure that they would be lonesome, if they
had to stay away up there all alone. But this little boy whistled and
sang and talked with his goats, calling them each by name. They really
were having a jolly time together.
[Illustration: _The boy and the goats had jolly times together_]
After the good drink of milk the travelers tramped on and up, while the
gray clouds dropped lower and the wind grew colder. Soon fine white
flakes began to frisk through the air and to dance on the boys' cheeks.
"Oh, Jack," called Joe, "it is snowing!"
"So it is!" shouted Jack. "It's snowing! It's really snowing, and it's
summer time! Hurrah!"
The white flakes fell faster and thicker. In a few moments they were
falling so fast and so thick the trampers could see only a short
way ahead of them. It was hard climbing now. The path was steep and
slippery. The boys had to stop often to get their breath, and their
knapsacks suddenly grew very heavy.
"I suppose it is because we are up so high," said Jack. "The air is so
thin up here we can't get enough of it to breathe. It is always like
that on the high mountains, they say."
"I don't care," said Joe. "We are in a snow blizzard, anyhow. Just
think of it!"
"I shouldn't care to lose our path," said Jack. "I guess it wouldn't be
a very happy night for us if we did."
"Oh, Jack, I have lost the path already! I can hardly see you. My! How
it snows! Where are father and mother?"
"Here we are!" shouted their father. "I think we are near the top of
the Pass. I hear a dog barking. There is a house up at the top, where
we can stay all night. Keep climbing, boys!"
Just then a great dog came bounding down the mountain toward them. He
gave a short, quick bark, turned about and led the party safely up to
the small hotel. Then away he bounded again to find other travelers,
who might be lost in the snow and who needed his help. He was a St.
Bernard dog, and he had saved the lives of many people on the high
mountains.
It was a tired party that spent the night in the little hotel at the
top of the Great Scheidegg Pass, but when morning came they were ready
for another battle with the snow.
Of course the trail was covered, and the snow was too soft and too
deep for them to tramp over it without snowshoes. The little party was
snow-bound on the mountains in midsummer.
But the Overall Boys liked being snow-bound. They built a fine snow
fort, with snow soldiers in it, and piles of snow cannon balls to keep
enemies away from the little hotel.
The St. Bernard dog had a jolly time, too. Once he jumped against one
of the snow soldiers, and over they went together. After that he
seemed to be afraid of the soldiers and would not go near the fort, but
ran around it, barking loudly.
[Illustration: _The Overall Boys and the dog enjoying the snow_]
Next morning the boys were out early to take a look at things.
"Oh, Jack," shouted Joe, "it froze in the night! There is a hard crust
over everything!"
"So there is!" said Jack. "We don't need snowshoes now. We can go down
the mountain on the crust."
And that is what they did. With the St. Bernard dog to show them the
way, the party hurried down over the snow before the warm sun had time
to soften the crust.
As they went lower, the snow rapidly grew less. Soon the boys saw
lovely bluebells and alpine roses and other flowers holding their heads
bravely up through the thin, white blanket.
A few moments later their own trail came in sight. It was no longer
hidden by the snow. The St. Bernard dog gave a loud bark, wagged his
tail, and bounded back up the mountain. His work for that party was
done.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: EXPLORING A GLACIER.]
[Illustration]