The task was comparatively easy, for their knowledge of the mountains in that wild neighbourhood was far greater than Melchior's. The cretin's strength and activity were prodigious, and he readily learned his lesson from his master, with the result that has been seen.

CHAPTER FORTY TWO.

CLEAR AS CRYSTAL.

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 n.o.bleman 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 princ.i.p.al 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 sh.o.r.es, to add l.u.s.tre 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 ap.r.o.n 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 n.o.bly, 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."