overs a crevasse."

"But if one goes through, he'll pull down the others," cried Saxe. "Is
that wise?"

"He will not pull down the others," said Dale, "for they will pull him
out."

Melchior said nothing, but slowly unfastened his rope as they stood
there with their feet in the depth of a rigid winter and their heads in
the height of summer. When he had it ready, hanging in loops on his
left arm, he held out one end to his companions with a smile.

"Alpen rope. Good. Best," he said. "English make," and he pulled open
one end, to show them a red strand running through it. "Now!"

He fastened one end by a peculiar knot round Saxe's waist, arranging it
so that it should not slip and tighten, whatever stress was given.
Then, bidding the lad walk away till told to stop, he deliberately
counted over a certain number of rings.

"Stop! Keep the rope out of the snow."

Then, with Dale and Saxe holding the rope taut, the middle was attached
by similar knots to Dale's waist, and Melchior walked on, and on
reaching his end secured the rope to himself.

"Keep it nearly tight," he said, "holding the rope in your right hand.
If any one goes wrong in the snow, the others are to stand firm and hang
back, so as to hold him firmly. Keep to the steps of the man before you
as much as you can. Now, then. Vorwarts!"

He started off now through the snow, with Dale and Saxe following.

"Been better if you had placed him in the middle, wouldn't it,
Melchior?" said Dale.

"Yes, herr, I was thinking so. Shall I alter it?"

"No: let's go on as we are this time. Forward again!" And they went on
over the dazzling untrodden surface.

CHAPTER FOUR.

ON THE ROPE.

"I say," cried Saxe, after they had gone on crunching through the snow,
which was soft and melting fast.

"Yes: what is it?"

"Don't you feel as if we were horses haltered together for market?"

"I might answer, sir--Don't you feel like a donkey being led?"

"No. Why?"

"Because you ask such an absurd, childish question, and that at a
serious time."

Saxe was silent.

"Mr Dale needn't be so gruff," he said to himself, as he tramped on,
looking up at the rocky sides of the valley, which grew more and more
snow-clad as they went on, and giving himself greater trouble by missing
the footsteps of his leaders. Once he nearly stumbled and fell, giving
a jerk to the rope; but he recovered himself directly, and tramped on in
silence, finding the going s