ore us."

They had made a turn into a desolate and dismal ravine, where the snow
lay deep below them, deep above them, deep on every side. While
speaking, Obenreizer stood pointing at the Bridge, and observing
Vendale's face, with a very singular expression on his own.

"If I, as Guide, had sent you over there, in advance, and encouraged you
to give a shout or two, you might have brought down upon yourself tons
and tons and tons of snow, that would not only have struck you dead, but
buried you deep, at a blow."

"No doubt," said Vendale.

"No doubt. But that is not what I have to do, as Guide. So pass
silently. Or, going as we go, our indiscretion might else crush and bury
_me_. Let us get on!"

There was a great accumulation of snow on the Bridge; and such enormous
accumulations of snow overhung them from protecting masses of rock, that
they might have been making their way through a stormy sky of white
clouds. Using his staff skilfully, sounding as he went, and looking
upward, with bent shoulders, as it were to resist the mere idea of a fall
from above, Obenreizer softly led. Vendale closely followed. They were
yet in the midst of their dangerous way, when there came a mighty rush,
followed by a sound as of thunder. Obenreizer clapped his hand on
Vendale's mouth and pointed to the track behind them. Its aspect had
been wholly changed in a moment. An avalanche had swept over it, and
plunged into the torrent at the bottom of the gulf below.

Their appearance at the solitary Inn not far beyond this terrible Bridge,
elicited many expressions of astonishment from the people shut up in the
house. "We stay but to rest," said Obenreizer, shaking the snow from his
dress at the fire. "This gentleman has very pressing occasion to get
across; tell them, Vendale."

"Assuredly, I have very pressing occasion. I must cross."

"You hear, all of you. My friend has very pressing occasion to get
across, and we want no advice and no help. I am as good a guide, my
fellow-countrymen, as any of you. Now, give us to eat and drink."

In exactly the same way, and in nearly the same words, when it was coming
on dark and they had struggled through the greatly increased difficulties
of the road, and had at last reached their destination for the night,
Obenreizer said to the astonished people of the Hospice, gathering about
them at the fire, while they were yet in the act of getting their wet
shoes off, and shaking the sn