THE HOTEL DU GLACIER.
High up among the Bernese Alps stands the Hotel du Glacier. It is a
small hotel, of limited accommodations, but during the season it is
generally full of visitors. The advantage is, that a comparatively
short walk carries one to a point where he has a fine view of that
mountain scenery which is the glory of Switzerland, and draws thither
thousands of pilgrims annually.
In rustic chairs outside sat at eight o'clock in the morning our young
hero, Frank Hunter, and his temporary guardian, Colonel Sharpley. In
front a beautiful prospect spread out before the two travelers. Snowy
peaks, their rough surface softened by distance, abounding in beetling
cliffs and fearful gorges, but overlooking smiling valleys, were
plainly visible.
"Isn't it magnificent?" exclaimed Frank, with the enthusiasm of youth.
"Yes, I dare say," said Sharpley, yawning, "but I'm not romantic; I've
outlived all that."
"I don't believe I shall ever outlive my admiration for such scenery as
this," thought Frank.
"Don't you enjoy it?" he asked.
"Oh, so so; but the fact is, I came here chiefly because I thought you
would like it. I've been the regular Swiss tour more than once."
"You are very kind to take so much trouble on my account," said Frank.
"Oh, I might as well be here as anywhere," said Sharpley. "Just at
present there is nothing in particular to take up my attention. Did you
order breakfast?"
"Yes, Colonel Sharpley."
"Go and ask if it isn't ready, will you?"
Frank entered the inn, and soon returned with the information that
breakfast was ready. They entered a small dining-room, where they found
the simple meal awaiting them.
The regular Swiss breakfast consists of coffee, bread and butter, and
honey, and costs, let me add, for the gratification of my reader's
curiosity, thirty cents in gold. Dinner comprises soup, three courses
of meat, and a pudding or fruit, and costs from sixty cents to a
dollar, according to the pretensions of the hotel. In fact, so far as
hotel expenses go, two dollars a day in gold will be quite sufficient
in the majority of cases. If meat is required for breakfast, that is
additional.
"How good the coffee is," said Frank. "I never tasted it as good in
America."
"They know how to make it here, but why didn't you order breakfast?"
"I thought they would supply meat without an order."
"I always want meat; I have got beyond my bread-and-butter days," said
Sharpley, with a dash of sarcasm.
"I have not," said Frank, "especially when both are so good. What are
your plans for the day, Colonel Sharpley?"
"I think we'll take a climb after breakfast," said Sharpley. "What do
you say?"
"I should like nothing better," said Frank, eagerly. "But," he added,
"I am afraid you are going entirely on my account."
"How well the boy has guessed it," thought Sharpley. "It is on his
account I am going, but he must not know that."
"Oh, no," he said; "I feel like taking a ramble among the hills. It
would be stupid staying at the inn."
"Then," said Frank, with satisfaction, "I shall be glad to go. Shall we
take a guide?"
"Not this morning," said Sharpley. "Let us have the pleasure of
exploring independently. To-morrow we will arrange a long excursion
with guides."
"I suppose it is quite safe?"
"Oh, yes, if we don't wander too far. I shall be ready in about half an
hour."
"I will be ready," said Frank.
"And I'll smoke a cigar."
Just then a gentleman came up, whose acquaintance they had made the
previous day. It was a Mr. Abercrombie, an American gentleman, from
Chicago, who was accompanied by his son Henry, a boy about Frank's age.
"What are your plans for to-day, Mr. Sharpley?" he asked.
"I hope he isn't going to thrust himself upon us," thought Sharpley,
savagely, for he was impatient of anything that was likely to interfere
with his wicked design.
"I have none in particular," he answered.
"You are not going to remain at the inn, are you? That would be dull."
"Confound the man's curiosity!" muttered Sharpley, to himself.
"I may wander about a little, but I shall make no excursion worth
speaking of till to-morrow."
"Why can't we join company?" said Mr. Abercrombie, in a friendly
manner. "Our young people are well acquainted, and we can keep each
other company. Enlarge your plan a little, and take a guide."
"I wish the man was back in America," thought Sharpley. "Why won't he
see that he's a bore?"
"Really," he said, stiffly, "you must excuse me; I don't feel equal to
any sort of an excursion to-day."
"Then," said the other, still in a friendly way, "let your boy come
with us. I will look after him, and my son will like his company."
Frank heard this application, and as he had taken a fancy to Henry and
his father, he hoped that Sharpley would reply favorably. He felt that
he should enjoy their company better than his guardian's.
Sharpley was greatly irritated, but obliged to keep within the bounds
of politeness to avoid suspicion, when something had happened, as he
meant something should happen before the sun set.
"I hope you won't think me impolite," he said, "but I mean, by and by,
to walk a little, and would like Frank's company. To-morrow I shall be
very happy to join you."
Nothing more could be said, of course, but Henry Abercrombie whispered
to Frank:
"I'm sorry we're not going to be together to-day."
"So am I," answered Frank; "but we'll have a bully time to-morrow. I
suppose I ought to stay with Colonel Sharpley."
"He isn't any relation of yours, is he?"
"Oh, no; I am only traveling in his company."
"So I thought. You don't look much alike."
"No; I suppose not."
Half an hour passed, but the Abercrombies were still there.
"Shall we go?" asked Frank.
"Not, yet," said Sharpley, shortly.
He did not mean to start till the other travelers were gone, lest he
should be followed. For he had screwed his courage to the sticking
point, and made up his mind that he would that day do the deed which
he had covenanted with Mr. Craven to do. The sooner the better, he
thought, for it would bring him nearer the large sum of money which he
expected to realize as the price of our hero's murder.
Twenty minutes afterward the Abercrombies, equipped for a mountain
walk, swinging their alpenstocks, started off, accompanied by a guide.
"Won't you reconsider your determination and go?" asked the father.
Sharpley shook his head.
"I don't feel equal to the exertion," he answered.
"I hope you'll have a pleasant excursion, Henry," said Frank, looking
wistfully after his young friend.
"It would be pleasanter if you were going along," said Henry.
"Thank you."
Frank said no more, but waited till Sharpley had smoked another cigar.
By this time twenty minutes had elapsed.
"I think we'll go now, Frank," said Sharpley.
At the welcome intimation Frank jumped up briskly.
"Shall I order some lunch to be packed for us?" he asked.
"No; we sha'n't need it," said Sharpley.
Frank laughed.
"I think I'll get some for myself," said Frank, laughing, as he added:
"I've got a healthy appetite, Colonel Sharpley, and I am sure the
exertion of climbing these hills will make me fearfully hungry."
"I don't want to be delayed," said Sharpley, frowning. "We sha'n't be
gone long enough to need lunch."
"It won't take me a minute," said Frank, running into the inn.
"It is strange he is so much in a hurry all at once," thought our young
hero, "when he has been lounging about for an hour without appearing in
the least haste."
However, he did not spend much thought on Sharpley's wayward humor,
which he was beginning to see was regulated by no rules.
Less than five minutes afterward he appeared, provided with a tourist's
lunch-box.
"I've got enough for you, Colonel Sharpley," he said, "in case we stay
out longer than we anticipate."
The landlord closely followed him, and addressed himself to Sharpley:
"Will not monsieur have a guide?" he asked.
"No," said Sharpley.
"My son, Baptiste, is an experienced guide, and can show monsieur and
his young friend the finest prospects."
"I shall need no guide," said Sharpley, impatiently. "Frank, come
along."
"It will only be six francs," persisted the landlord, "and Baptiste--"
"I don't want Baptiste," said Sharpley, gruffly. "Plague take the man!"
he muttered to himself. "He is making himself a regular nuisance."
"I wish he would take a guide," thought Frank, no suspicion of the
importance to himself of having one entering his mind.