to be so stupid." For what could he say, save that the man
stared at him in a dull, heavy way? Dale would reply that there was no
harm in that, and he would look weak. But all the same the man's stare
worried him and spoiled his breakfast, making him feel irritable and
morose all the way back, till they reached Andregg's home in the valley,
where Dale announced that they would have a few days' rest.

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE.

SAXE SEES A KOBOLD.

"I don't approve of our hunt for crystals to turn out such a failure,"
said Saxe one day, after they had had their rest and spent another
fortnight in the valley, making short excursions in various directions.

"It is disappointing," replied Dale; "but we did succeed, though we have
lost the fruit of our success."

"Well, that's the part of it that I don't like," said Saxe. "It seems
so precious hard. But you will not give up yet!"

"No: I propose staying another month, or till the weather breaks up. If
we begin to have rain and snow, we shall soon want to get down to the
lower grounds."

"That is what always puzzles me," said Saxe; "for with the mountains
rising up all round us, we seemed to be on the low grounds here--down in
this valley."

"You forget that we are between five and six thousand feet above
sea-level here."

"Between five and six thousand!" said Saxe thoughtfully. "Six thousand;
and the cross of Saint Paul's is only four hundred and four. Why, this
valley here is nearly fifteen times as high, and it does not seem high a
bit!"

"But it is my lad, all the same."

There was a few minutes' silence, and then Saxe began again:

"You win not give up the crystal hunting?" he said.

"Yes, I think I shall--at all events, for this year. You see it is such
a matter of accident. You found that partly--well, by accident."

"No," said Saxe sharply, "not by accident: I was looking for it."

"Yes; but it was by mere accident that we were in the right spot.
There--never mind the crystals. We have had a delightful trip, made an
excellent collection of Alpine plants, and you have had a good early
apprenticeship to mountaineering. Better still, we have escaped unhurt,
in spite of the one or two rather serious accidents."

"Yes," said Saxe thoughtfully, "that's true. How soon are we going up
another mountain?"

"What! have you not had enough climbing?"

"No: I should like to go up a dozen more."

"Then you will be disappointed for this season, Sax