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ILLINOIS

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN

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11

THE UNIVERSITY

OF ILLINOIS

LIBRARY

From the collection of
Julius Doerner, Chicago
Purchased, 1918.A SECRET QUEST

by

GEO. MANVILLE FENN

AUTHOR OF "A MINT OF MONEY," "A GOLDEN DREAM,'*
" THE MASTER OF THE CEREMONIES," ETC.

New York :
J, S. OGILVIE PUBLISHING COMPANY,
57 Rose Street.Copyright, 1892, by
JOHN A. TAYLOR AND COMPANYA SECRET QUEST.

CHAPTER I.

" How could I have been such a fool as to write
them?"

Lord Desborough was seated in his official chair
at his morocco leather covered table in Downing
Street—a table heaped with parliamentary papers
and blue books, whose perusal he had left to stare
blankly at a couple of letters, both of which were
in a formal clerkly hand, with the word " copy"
written in the top left corner of each.

441 must have been mad."

His lordship gave each letter an angry flip,
folded it, and carefully replaced it in the inner
fold of his pocket-book, which he thrust into his
breast; and then sat with puckered brow—a hand-
some man of eight-and-thirty, white-haired and
black bearded-—gazing straight before him into
space, where he was mapping out his future career.

" Yes; better take a dose and make my quietus,"
he said, half aloud. "Why the deuce doesn't
he come?"

He drew himself up, for at that moment the
5

6732206

A SECRET QUEST.

door was opened and an attendant brought in a
card.

" Show him in."

The attendant went noiselessly out over the thick
Turkey carpet, and Lord Desborough threw down
the slip of cardboard, snatched up a parliamentary
paper, and began to peruse it rapidly as the door
was again opened. A keen-looking dark man, with
peculiar puckers at the corners of his mouth, as if
he were trying to suppress a smile, was ushered in.

The new-comer advanced silently two or three
steps; the door closed behind him, and he stood
slowly swinging a new glossy hat, regarding
through his thick brows the reader of the paper.

"You miserable humbug!" said the visitor to
himself.

"Ahem!" coughed Lord Desborough; then,
with an affected start, " Ah, my dear Mr. Ander-
son, I did not hear you come in."

" Pray do not apologize, my lord. The State's
business needs no excuse."

" Thank you, Anderson; you are very good; but
they must wait for awhile. I want to consult you
about a bit of business of my own."

"Woman in the case for a fiver, "said the visitor
to himself.

"Sit down, Anderson," continued his lordship,
pointing to a chair and swinging his own round so
as to give himself room to cross one leg over his
knee and hold it with both hands.

Then the two keen men of the world sat gazing
in each other's eyes as if trying to read one an-A SECRET QUEST.

7

other's thoughts. There was a pause of quite a
minute, before Lord Desborough spoke.

"Well, Anderson,'1 he said. "I suppose I must
make a clean breast of it."

" Best way, my lord, with the social doctors."

"Social doctors? Yes, that's what you lawyers
are, confound you!"

Lord Desborough wrinkled his face as he placed
one white finger to his lips, and then began to bite
his nails, but snatched his hand away with an an-
gry ejaculation.

"I—I hardly know how to begin," he said, im-
patiently.

"It is very simple, my lord. I suppose you
trust me?"

" Of course I do, Anderson, or I should not have
sent for you; but er—but er--"

" As your confidential adviser may I venture—a
lady in the case?"

" Confound it! Yes, of course there is. They're
at the bottom of all trouble. The fact is, in an
hour of folly, Anderson, I wrote a letter or two—
to a lady; and a confounded meddlesome friend is
holding them over me in terror em."

" H'm! question of money?" said the lawyer.

" No, hang it! If it had been that I should have
snarled, written my check, and paid; but this man
threatens exposure."

"Which, seeing the position you occupy—a
minor post in the Government, and a future that
may mean perhaps the leadership—would be po-
litical ruin."8

A SECRET QUEST".

" Exactly, Anderson, exactly. Now, you see, I
want you to get those letters."

" How many are there?"

" Only two. The others are of no importance
whatever. To put it plainly—if you will bring
me my two letters, I will pay you two thousand
pounds for them: a thousand apiece to see them
burnt to ashes before my eyes."

"Well, my lord, you may command me. Now
for the particulars."

"I need tell you little. You may remember
that two years ago the Princess Lani Va was over
in England."

" I remember: to make some appeal to the Gov-
ernment about her late father's territory. Rajah
of—Rajah of--"

"Villipore. Yes, that's right," said his lord-
ship, impatiently. "Well, she was received in
society and petted as the new lioness. I was in-
troduced, and met her several times. We corre-
sponded, and I acted like an idiotic boy. The
woman took things au serieux, and finally appealed
to an old friend of her father."

"Indeed!" said the lawyer, raising his dark
brows a little.

"Yes; one Colonel Denton."

"Colonel John Barrow Denton,"said the lawyer
to himself.

"He was resident many years at her father's
court; and—confound him!—he has got the letters,
and has been writing me communications that
are maddening."A SECRET QUEST.

9

" Threatening expostt"

" Exactly; and those letters I must have."

" But he is sure to have copies."

" Hang his copies! Only let me get the origi-
nals. I could laugh at the others as forgeries—
party malice, anything."

" But you say he does not put a price on them?"

"No; he's rich enough; so is the woman. He
takes what he calls high ground—wants repara-
tion. The old scoundrel has me at his mercy,
and may spring a mine upon me at any time. No,
he will wait till I am well before the country, and
then fire his fuse. I am at his mercy, and he has
none."

" It is awkward."

"Awkward? I tell you it is utter destruction
to me. My political career will be ruined."

"Absolutely."

" Now, Anderson, for goodness sake do not take
that tone," said his lordship, impatiently. "I
sent for you to help me, not to make matters
worse."

"Not I. Look here," said the lawyer, eagerly;
"why not have set a clever detective to work.
He might have got hold of the letters."

"My dear sir!" cried his lordship, impatiently-
"don't come here and suggest all those trite
dodges. I have tried everything of that kind.
His apartments and the hotels at which he has
stayed have been searched again and again."

" Then you come to me as a fortune-teller?"

" Of course I do, and you are the right man. IfIO

A SECRET QUEST.

I had wanted shrewd clerks, or people of that class,
I could have had hundreds. Something out of
the ordinary line must be tried, and I want you
to take it up yourself."

" And my practice?"

" Hang your practice, man! Succeed in this, and
you shall not want for practice. I mean to rise—
high, Anderson; and so shall you. I will not be
ungrateful. There, I have told you what I will
pay for the letters; but money is no object. You
will charge me for your time and expenses, of
course."

" Thanks. Then what do you want me to do
first?"

"Confound it all, man! how should I know?
That's your business. I've given time to it till I
have neglected the country's affairs, and now I
relegate it all to you."

" Where is this man?"

"I don't know. He has slipped through my
fingers. That is the last card he has played
after telling me to beware."

" Let me see; there was an old Indian officer of
that name staying, three weeks ago, at the Grand
Hotel, Brighton."

"Was," said Lord Desborough, bitterly; "but
he is gone—no one knows where."

" H—m! You are sure he has the letters?"

" Perfectly. He sent me copies. Here they are."

He took the notes from his pocket-book, and the
lawyer perused them with the shadow of a grim
smile on his lip.A SECRET QUEST.

II

u Yes; they are ugly—for you," said the lawyer,
returning them.

" As if I did not know that."

" What sort of a man is he?"

"Fiery old Indian officer, great invalid and
hypochondriac."

Anderson sat with his head bent, and his eyes
fixed on the carpet, as his lordship continued:

" Travels about a great deal for his health, and
takes physic by the gallon. Ah, if he would only
poison himself some day!"

"Creaking doors hang longest, my lord," said
Anderson, dryly.

"Yes, confound him! Let me see, he has a
daughter who travels with him."

"Also a friend of your lordship's?" said Ander-
son, gazing at the handsome diplomat in a pecul-
iarly searching manner.

" Hang it, man, no! Never seen her; and don't
want to. Now, then, I'm very busy—a hundred
important things waiting. What more do you
want?"

"Let me see: I know the name—Colonel John
Barrow Denton."

" I did not say so—only Denton."

" Must be the same. Well-known man. Resi-
dent of Villipore. No, I don't think you can help
me any more. Gone away, you think, to avoid
you?"

"Yes, and because my people have been hunt-
ing him, and made him suspicious. His last letter
was posted in London; but that would be done by12

A SECRET QUEST.

some friend. Depend upon it, he has left Eng-
land for a time. You will want some money."

" Yes, but I need not trouble you yet

" And you will get me these letters?"

"If they are in existence."

" That's right. Good-morning."

" Good-morning, my lord. I will write as souii
as I have news."

"And you will devote yourself to the task?"

" Nothing else shall occupy my mind, my lord.
Good-day."

" Only one other thing and that will hold its
own," thought Lawrence Anderson, as he went
slowly out into Whitehall. "But how strange!
What a little world it is, and how curiously Fate
works her ways! Just as I was going down to try
and see her again. H'm! Left Brighton, have
they? Well, the world is not big enough for any
one to hide in these days. Try some new plan?
There it is, my lord, already shaped out. Beauti-
ful Hester once softened, it would be very strange
if I could not get hold of the letters."

He raised his umbrella to a cabman, sprang into
the vehicle, said " Charing Cross" shortly and then
sank back, musing.

"A pleasant jaunt. Gone abroad, of course.
Well, I want a holiday—to make love. Where
will it be? Scotland? The Lakes? South De-
von? Stop!" He checked the cabman. "Go to
Craig's Court."

He was driven there; for a sudden thought
had occurred to him. Colonel Denton, as an oldA SECRET QUEST.

Indian officer, would be sure to have had dealings
with an army agent and banker. So Anderson
tried first one and then another, till he found the
right one in a street close by Charing Cross.

The rest was plain, and Lawrence Anderson
smiled as he thought how easy a discovery is to
the man whose well-worked brain suggests a right
clew.

" Hester," he said more than once that night;
and his mind's eye was full of a sweet English
face—one of those which made men turn when,
they have passed it.CHAPTER II.

" It's of no use; it's all over, Hester. Just as I
have at last found a new interest in life, and can
redress the wrongs of that poor woman. Oh, my
leg, my leg!"

" Are you in so much pain, papa, dear?"

'"Pain? Don't you see I am in agony? Pain?
Pshaw!"

" Let me alter your position a little, and put
that cushion to support your back."

"What? Don't touch me; let me die in peace."

"Oh, papa!"

" Let me die in peace, I say. It's all over now;
it's the death pangs coming on. How could you
be so heartless as to drag me away from Brighton
to this dreary desolate valley? Ugh! it's horrible.
Shiver, shiver, shiver. May; and the snow and
ice up there hemming us in as if it was the North
pole."

" But, papa, dear, you know how you were com-
plaining of the heat yesterday."

"Yes; internal heat. Fever. Where's my
thermometer?'

Hester Denton ran to a side table in the pretty
room of the chalet where her father, Colonel John
Barrow Denton, a fine bronzed officer, lay back on

14A SECRET QUEST.

his couch, and returned with a tiny morocco case,
whose clasp she hastily opened.

"Mind!" cried the Colonel, "it isn't a toy.
You'll break it—give it to me. I'm dying—going
off fast. Not a doctor within five hours' walk.
Oh, why did I let you drag me here?"

" How can you be so cruel to me, papa? You
know you insisted upon coming abroad, and chose
this out-of-the-way valley yourself."

"That's right, madam. Go on."

"Well, papa, dear, you said you must come
abroad for special reasons, and yet you blame me."

" Oh, my leg—my leg!"

" Let me--"

"Ah! Don't touch me, or I shall go off like a
blown-out candle. That's right; trample on me
now I'm helpless. Of course; I was obliged to
come abroad. Do you think I was going to stop
in England and be hunted and watched by detec-
tives. Oh dear—oh dear! To die this dog's
death, out here under these mountains, with the
snow ready to crush us, and that cursed cataract
always roaring in my ears. There, give me the
thermometer."

" I did give it to you, papa," said Hester, whose
eyes were red with weeping, her face drawn and
puckered with anxiety as she bent over the in-
valid's couch, her sweet, animated face full of
sympathy.

" Ah! yes, I forgot."

The Colonel drew out the fragile thermometer,
and with trembling hands placed the little silvery16

A SECRET QUEST.

bulb beneath his tongue, and lay back with his
handsome face full of pain and anxiety, twitch-
ing, too, now and then, as some spasm shot through
him.

For a few minutes there was silence in the room,
through which came a deep-toned roar, as of some
mighty organ. The sun shone brightly; the
sweet, lemony scent of the pines floated in by the
open window, and through an opening in the trees
could be seen, in all its dazzling purity, a snow-
covered peak, glittering in the morning sun.

But Hester Denton heard and saw nothing but
her invalid father, broken and suffering from the
consequences of thirty years' residence in India;
and there was nothing droll to her in his aspect,
as he lay there with his crisp silver hair brushed
fiercely above his high forehead, apparently smok-
ing the tube of a small glass pipe.

" Now then, look quickly, my girl," he said, as he
removed the thermometer, and held it with trem-
bling fingers. " What is it? Hundred and seven,
I know. Another degree, and I shall be a dead
man."

" Papa! it's only ninety-eight; that's about blood
heat, isn't it?"

" Nonsense! I'm burnt up with the cursed old
jungle fever. Look again: hundred and seven,
I'm sure."

" It is not, dear; look."

"Then it's this wretched, cold, snowy climate
keeps the mercury down in the bulb. Put it
away."A SECRET QUEST.

17

"Yes, papa."

He threw his head back, and closed his eyes with
so deep a groan that his child bent down over him
again, her soft gray eyes wild with terror. Then
she rushed from the room, and out of the cottage,
to where, seated beneath a clump of pines, a
plump, pleasant-looking little lady of about five-
and-thirty, dressed in half mourning, was dividing
her time between stitching and placidly gazing
up at the great snow slope away above the back
of the chalet.

" Aunt—Aunt Ecclesia," cired the girl excitedly;
"come quickly: papa's dying."

"Stuff! my dear," said the little lady, smiling.
" He's always dying."

" But, aunt, he is very, very bad, indeed!"

" Of course he is, my dear. He would have that
Swiss champagne yesterday," said the lady, rising.

" I never saw him so bad before."

" Nonsense, my dear. He makes a terrible fuss
about it. I do not go on like that when I have
neuralgia so badly."

By this time they were at the door, and as they
hurried into the room—

"Well, John, dear; is your leg so bad?"

There was a deep groan, and a spasm of pain
convulsed the sufferer's countenance, making him
open his eyes for a moment before he closed them
again tightly.

" How are you now, papa? Shall I send at once
for a doctor?"

"Dying—dying—dying!" groaned the sufferer.i8

A SECRET QUEST.

"You are not, John, dear. It's all stuff and
nonsense," said the little lady, bending down and
kissing his forehead, quickly. " Why, your head's
as cool as cool."

" It'll be colder soon," said the Colonel.

"Oh, papa!" sobbed Hester, as she flung her
arms round him, and burst into a wild fit of sob-
bing, which made him draw her closely to his side.

"You ought to be ashamed of yourself, John,"
said the little lady, calmly. "You'll break poor
Hetty's heart. It's too bad making so much fuss
over a bit of pain."

" Fuss?" cried the Colonel, in anything but a
dying man's voice.

"Yes: fuss. You know how delicate you are,
and what a state your liver is in, and yet you will
persist in eating and drinking what is not good for
you. Dying? Stuff! You'll outlive me."

" Oh, if I were only strong again, madam, and
this was India instead of this wretched gash in a
hideous Swiss mountain, I would outlive you, for
I'd hand you over to the Thugs."

"No, you wouldn't, John, dear," said the little
lady, composedly, settling herself in a comfortable
lounge, one of many luxuries the Colonel had had
brought from Berne; "you're too fond of me."

"Fond of you, you miserable, smooth, plump
Persian cat of a woman!"

"Aunt, dear, pray be silent. Papa, do—do be
calm. You are making yourself worse."

"No, my dear, I shall not be silent," said the
little lady, stitching away, " I'm doing him good."A SECRET QUEST.

" Hetty," cried the Colonel, lifting himself up a
little, and shaking his fist at the pretty pink and
white fair-haired lady in her easy-chair, " look at
that woman. See how soft and smooth she is,
with her claws hidden under the fur, and her white
teeth all ready to bite. She tempted your poor
Uncle Sam into marrying her, and then she made
his life a misery, and worried him to death."

"Don't you believe him, Hetty. If I had been
such a wretch, papa wouldn't have had me here
to pet and make such a fuss over me as he does."

" She did—a false, smooth, white cat, Hetty,"
roared the Colonel.

" He was very fond of me, as you know, Hetty;
and I was very fond of him."

" Bah ! Nothing of the kind. You married him
for his money."

"No, John, dear. I married him because he
asked me to come and make his old life happy,
and I tried to do my duty by him while he
lived."

"Aunt, dear—pray, pray," whispered Hester,,
looking piteously from one to the other.

" Hetty, give me a glass of that Kirsch in a
tumbler of Apollinaris," said the Colonel.

44 Ought you to take it, papa?"

"What, are you going to rebel against me now?
Quick!"

The liqueur and mineral water were mixed, and
the "dying" man drained the tumbler, drew a
long breath, and then uttered a deep sigh.

"Yes, you were a dear good girl to him, Eccle-A SECRET QUEST.

sia," he said. " Oh, dear me! I do wish I wasn't
such a beast!"

"Papa, dear!" cried Hester, excitedly; "is the
pain better?''

" Gone, my dear. It was just like a wolf at my
leg till he gave a final shake with his teeth and
left me."

"And you will not die this time, John dear,"
said the little lady, merrily.

" I won't; I'll live to look after you; for I'm not
blind."

"John, what do you mean?" cried Aunt Eccle-
sia, changing color a little and altering her tone.

"What do I mean? Here have we been two
months in this valley, and it's having a bad effect
upon you."

"John!"

"Oh yes, I know. Read your Tennyson."

" I don't understand you, sir."

" And you too, Hetty. I tell you I'm not blind."

"Papa, dear, what are you thinking?"

" Ask your aunt."

"Oh, nonsense. I don't know, John," said the
little lady, sticking her needle into the fabric she
worked quite viciously.

" Then ask Hetty. Here have I come out to Swit-
zerland and chosen the most out-of-the-way place
in all the country to avoid one trouble, and find
myself over head and ears in another."

"Hetty, my dear, your papa's going to have
another fit."A SECRET QUEST.

21

"Not to-day, my dear. But look here: I don't
approve of these two mountaineering chaps hang-
ing about at this little hotel."

" Don't be absurd, John," said Aunt Ecclesia;
"the place is free to everybody."

"I wasn't speaking to you; but I'm going to
now. I don't approve of you making eyes at that
big, good-looking guide fellow—berg fiihrer, as he
calls himself."

"John!"

"It would be a terrible mesalliance, and I will not
have it."

"Oh, I cannot sit here to be insulted!" cried
Aunt Ecclesia, jumping up with flaming cheeks.
" It is positively disgraceful, John—that it is."

She rustled out of the room, and hurried back to
her seat under the firs.

"Look at her," said the Colonel; "just like a
white bantam hen which has seen a frog."

" Papa, you should not tease her like that."

" Then she should not come and torment me
when I am in such agony. There, I'm better now.
Come out and have a walk, Pussy, and then I'll
write my Lord Desborough such a letter as shall
make him squirm."

" Papa dear, why do you worry yourself about
that matter?"

"Eh? Because it does me good. I'm not going
to rust myself away. Oh, if this were only the
good old times!"

" They were not better than the present, dear."22

A SECRET QUEST.

" That they were. Fifty or sixty years ago, a
gentleman could call out a scoundrel and shoot
him. That's just what I should do to my lord.
There, come along and let's go and have a look at
the waterfall."CHAPTER III.

Colonel John Barrow Denton strode out of the
chalet by his daughter's side, as soon as she had
covered her rich auburn hair with a simple straw
hat; and a stranger who had encountered the slim,
handsome, upright, elderly man—quite the beau
sabreur, who had led a regiment of irregular horse
scores of times to victory—would have been hard
set to believe it was the same man who had been
groaning on his couch an hour before.

"By Jove, Hetty!" he cried; "this country
makes one feel elastic. I shall begin climbing a
mountain before long."

" Then it isn't a dreadful gash in the mountains,
papa, and horribly cold," said Hester, mischiev-
ously.

" Now, now, now!" he cried; " don't you trample
on me, Hetty; that's Aunt Ecclesia's prerogative.
My word," he continued, stopping to take off his
sun helmet and wiping his brow, " the sun does
come down hot!"

" Listen," said Hester, holding up one finger as,
from far distant, right up where the snow spread
down to the creeping fir and whortleberry bushes,
there came the sweet, melodious chiming of the
cow-bells, their wearers looking as small as goats,
while a herd of these latter in the distance, on the

*324

A SECRET QUEST.

other side of the valley, seemed to be dwarfed to
the size of rabbits.

"Lovely place, Hetty, lovely,"said the Colonel.
"One seems to live again here."

" Do you think we could climb up there, papa?"
said Hester, after a pause, during which they had
been drinking in the beauty of this lovely, retired
spot.

As Hester spoke she pointed at the piled-up
precipices behind the chalet, where the pure, white
snow lay on the slope and deep in many a couloir
—farther and farther for miles, till all was glacier,
firn, and the newly fallen snow of a few nights
before.

44 Well, I don't know, my dear. An hour ago I
felt as if I could never walk up to my bedroom
again; now I could do anything."

44 It would be very beautiful."

44 Lovely. We'll see some day. That's the way
they go to the big glacier, isn't it?"

441 think so."

They walked on over the springy heather,
amid patches of wild flowers, and then through
the tall spruce firs, from whose branches hung
heavy gray lichen, and as they went on the deep,
sonorous roar of falling water grew louder and
louder. Among the mossy rocks, tumbled down
from the valley side ages before, the tender green
of the young ferns was peeping; and a rough plank
over which they stepped crossed a stream of thick
gray milky water, the outpourings of one of the
stone-grinding glaciers far above their heads;A SECRET QUEST.

*5

while a hundred yards farther their course was
beside the waters of a spring clear as crystal, and
sparkling in the sun as the stream hurried on to
join the river which rushed down the valley. This
river tore down the narrow valley with headlong
violence, till it reached a spot where the rocks
closed in, and then made one bound into a terrific
chasm, two hundred feet in depth. A wooden
bridge crossed the gulf just where the river
dropped, carrying with it stones, roots of trees, and
often great trunks, some of which lay wedged in
among the rocks, battered, ragged, and torn, bom-
barded as they were by the furious fall.

"The sun is just right," said Hester, "and we
shall have the iris in perfection; and-"

"Confound them!" said the Colonel, gruffly.
" Look here, Hetty; if those fellows are going to
stop loafing about that little hotel any longer, I'm
going away. I believe they are spies."

"Oh, papa! you don't think so."

"Yes, I do."

" Good-morning."

" Good-morning."

The utterances of two gentlemen in the familiar
dress of young Englishmen on a mountaineering
excursion; their heavy-greased and nailed boots,
and the ice axes they carried, wearing a well-used
look that told of hard work—signs indorsed by
their brown faces.

The Colonel touched his helmet stiffly, and
marched on with his daughter, who courteously
returned the salutes.A SECRET QUEST.

"Morgen."

" Morning, morning," said the Colonel, unbend-
ing now to the salute oi a handsome, dark fellow,
whose felt hat was decorated with a cluster of
freshly-plucked edelweiss, which he quickly pulled
out and stood, hat in hand, as he offered it with a
smile to Hester.

" Danke schon" she said, taking the tribute.

The man shifted the coil of rope slung over
his shoulder as he stood smiling at them — a
fine, honest-looking specimen of a Swiss peasant
guide, while the Colonel thrust his hand into his
pocket.

"Sehr gut" said the guide, resting on his ice-
axe, whose head he used as a walking-stick.
" Fraiche pick!" as he pointed high up toward a gap
on the other side of the valley.

" He has been up the mountain and picked them,
papa," said Hester.

uJa,ja," cried the guide eagerly, who seemed
to understand her words; "pick—morgen—berg
hochste spitz."

" They have been making an ascent of the
Schnee Horn."

"And welcome," said the Colonel. " Here, get
yourself a glass."

He held out a franc; but the guide frowned,
shook his head, and strode on after the two young
Englishmen.

" You have hurt his feelings, papa," said Hester,
quickly.

" Pride of the cobbler's dog," grumbled the CojUA SECRET QUEST.

27

onel, taking out a handsome cigar case. " Here,
hi! have a cigar?"

The man turned, and his face lit up with smiles,
took the cigar offered to him, raised his hat again
to both, and turned to go; but stopped short,
tucked his ice-axe under his arm, and held out the
rope, which he untwisted a little to show a red
strand running through it.

" Anglisher," he said, smiling; " sehr gut."

"I hope so," said the Colonel, as the man
walked on after his employers; "but I pity the
poor fellow who has to hang on it over a crevice.
There, Hetty, our walk's over. Those two fel-
lows are humbugs; they've engaged the guide,
who seems an honest fellow, but they're here to
watch me. Detectives in disguise."

" Surely not, papa," said Hester, coloring a little,
and the more deeply as she tried to hide it.
"Gretchen said they were English gentlemen,
staying at the little chalet hotel. But let's go on
for our walk."

"What does Gretchen know about it? Every
foreigner with money is a gentleman to those peo-
ple. Here, let's go back."

"Back, papa?"

" Yes. 4 Diamond cut diamond.' If those scoun-
drels are going to watch me, I'm going to watch
them."

"But, papa, you are mistaken," said Hester,
uneasily.

"I never am mistaken," cried the Colonel, an-
grily, as he began to retrace his steps. " Those28

A SECRET QUEST.

fellows are dogging me. They have found their
way out here, and I am just going to see whether
they take the way back to the hotel."

"But it will look so strange," said Hester, un-
easily.

" Let it. Come along."

He drew his child's hand through his arm, and
they followed the guide slowly, seeing him hurry
on to join the two young men in front. As the
trio reached the path which led up to where the
chalet stood upon its verdant shelf, they all stopped
and stood gazing at it.

"There," said the Colonel, who was in the
shelter of a clump of pines; "what did I say?
Yes, we shall have to leave here; but I can fight
Master Desborough with his own weapons. Have
they gone up to the chalet? Then it's to question
Aunt Ecclesia, or else to make a search. Here
they think they have caught me napping; but I've
such a flank movement for them as shall be a
startler."

" But they have gone on toward the hotel, dear,"
said Hester, with a sigh of relief.

"Eh! nevermind: I'll see if they do go there
after all."

The Colonel increased his pace as well as the
rugged path would allow till they came abreast of
an opening in the side of the valley running up to
the right, and here they had to cross and meet the
little side streams. They were down now below
huge masses of rocks which shut out the rift run-A SECRET QUEST.

29

nfng up toward the great snow slopes and the gla-
cier in the chasm above, and the party in front
were some distance ahead.

" They're hiding," said the Colonel, suspiciously,
as he stopped short.

"No, no, papa; there is one of them climbing
that slope. You must, indeed, be wrong here;
let's go back and see the cascade."

"What's that? Thunder?" said the Colonel.

The day was brilliant; not a cloud to be seen;
but a terrific roar, as of many thunders, came
booming from the chasm up to their right, chill-
ing both with horror as they realized what was
upon them. The Colonel caught Hester's hand.
Then he pointed, and they set off over the rugged
path, to get beyond the opening of the little lateral
valley; but a horse at full gallop could not have
reached the place in time. The deafening roar
increased, and as they gazed wildly up, there was
what seemed to be a huge storm of spray rushing
toward them, with the shrieking of wind, the
crashing of trees, and the booming of rocks forced
on by the huge mass of ice and snow, which, with
rapidly gathering speed, swept down the ravine,
and literally leaped into the lower valley.

Hester Denton was conscious of a sudden stun-
ning blow; then all was darkness, insensibility*
and a stillness in the valley that was awful.

Three miles up in the ice fields the sun had
loosened a few frozen stones. These had fallen
and dislodged a little snow; the snow had droppedA SECRET QUEST.

on to a steep slope, where wh^seemed to be a
bed of hailstones lay, a couple of score feet deep.
These began to move, gathered impetus and speed,
and in a few minutes the mighty avalanche had
swept down the hollow, carrying before it ruin,
devastation and death.CHAPTER IV.

" Look here, old man, if you are going to carry
on these games, let's go back to the hotel, pay the
bill, shake hands and separate."

"What games?" said Adam Deane, frowning.

"Bless his innocency!" cried Aleck Frant, giv-
ing his ice-axe a swing, and cutting off the head
of a plant.

" Can't a man say a few civil words to a pretty
girl without being bullied for 'carrying on these
games,' as you call it? Besides* little Gretchen is
Valter's sweetheart."

Aleck Frant, a little Hercules of a fellow, ut-
tered a snort, tapped his black briar-wood pipe on
a rock, and began to refill it.

" Valter! Why can't you say Walter?"

"Because he calls himself the former," said
Adam Deane, quietly watching his friend as he
filled his pipe.

"Don't be an humbug, old man. You know
what I mean; and, I say, look back: there's the
brave Swiss guide presenting the lady with that
bunch of noble white we got up yonder."

"Well, ladies like flowers."

Frant laughed mockingly, as he struck a match.

"I saw how green you looked as we passed,,
Did you see the old boy's face?"

3i3*

A SECRET QUEST.

"No," said Adam, thoughtfully.

" Of course you didn't! I suppose the hunt for
the old mines will be all over now, and I may do
my climbing alone."

" Do you wish to>"

"Of course I don't; and I should be sorry to see
you going hopelessly to the bad. I did think that
out in this wilderness there would be no petticoats
to attract you."

"I'm thinking, Aleck, that we are going all
wrong."

" I'm thinking you are going all wrong."

" And that we ought to try the other side of the
valley.—Ah! here comes Valter. I say, what a
brick of a fellow he is. The more I climb with
liim, the more I like him."

"Yes, he is a thoroughly unspoiled, manly fel-
low; but I wish he wasn't quite so fond of trying
his English."

" I dare say he thinks the same about our Ger-
man. Well, to set aside all chaff, you think we
ought to try the other side up yonder. Suits me;
but it's bad for your theory."

"Why?"

" Look at the snow and ice."

"Yes," said Adam, stopping to gaze upward
through the narrow gorge; " but I am beginning
to think that it is up some thai such as that the
place lies."

" But it would be covered in by snow."

"Exactly! and that's why it has never been
found."A SECRET QUEST.

33

"Very likely; and that's why it never will be
fotmd until the snow and ice all melt away in some
great alteration-change, as the Germans would
call it. Light your pipe and sit down here; we
shall see a snow-fall."

"Without stopping to light my pipe," said
Adam, " look, there it comes."

He pointed up the gorge to what seemed to be a
cataract that was pouring down from the heights,
and a dull bellowing noise came echoing from the
mountains.

"Looks just like water," said Frant, quietly.
" Good big one, too. I should like to see a regular
bumper come down. Hullo! what is the matter
with the noble berg scaler?"

For the guide, evidently wild with excitement,
came tearing up the road after them, shouting in
German—

"Run! run!" he cried. "The snow! the
snow!"

"But it can't reach us," said Adam, incredu-
lously. Then, catching the infection from the
guide, the two young men ran some fifty yards, as
with a mighty rush the fall of snow, rocks, and
shattered trees swept on, completely burying the
rock round which their way had been, while the
roar, echoing from side to side of the valley, died
slowly away.

"Why, Valter," cried Adam, as with blanched
face he turned to the panting guide; " that was a
narrow escape."

" Herr," said the man, solemnly, as he took off
334

A SECRET QUEST.

his hat, " half a minute later, and we should all
have been in Heaven."

"Open to question," said Frant, dryly; and he
took off his hat, too, and wiped his brow. " Deane,
old man; that was a narrow squeak for us."

"Yes; thank God it did not come down near
the chalet."

His eyes were fixed on Colonel Denton's abode
as he spoke, where it stood some hundred yards or
so above the waste of snow and rock. " Great
heavens!"

"What's the matter? Hit!" cried Frant, catch-
ing his friend's arm, for he reeled as if he had
been struck by a flying stone.

"Those two!" gasped Deane; then turning to
the guide: " The lady—the gentleman?"

" Ach Himmel!" yelled the man, and turning
suddenly he waved his hand to them to follow as
he leaped from rock to rock and down on to the
snow. The two young men needed no shout, for
they were already close upon his heels, the trio
making their way down toward the spot where the
Colonel and his daughter had been last seen.

But the spot was no longer there. In place of
the path leading down to the wooden bridge which
crossed the falls there was now ice and snow in
drifts, piled up masses, and slopes full of debris.

Valter, in spite of the activity of the young men,
kept far ahead, looking sharply to right and left
as he went on, seeking for landmarks where there
existed none, save at a distance, for the face of
nature had been completely changed.A SECRET QUEST.

35

At last he stopped, and as he stood knee deep in
snow at a spot where it lay loose, though on either
hand it had been solidated by pressure, he ex-
claimed frantically in his own tongue:

" The path forked here; that way to the chalet\
this way to the hotel."

" They may have reached home, then, and are
safe," cried Deane.

"No, I looked back; they were following us to-
ward the hotel."

" Then—you think-"

Valter made a despairing gesture.

"Then the path is this way," cried Frant, ex-
citedly.

"No, no, lower down; then it went up here,
then down again into the hollow, and ascended
up among the trees."

To add to their horror, they saw two female
figures hurrying down from the chalet.

" Have you seen the master—the young lady?"
shouted the younger, a thick-set, rosy lass of
about twenty.

"Don't ask me, Gretchen," cried Valter, fran-
tically. " They were here—here."

He stamped his foot upon the snow, and the
girl uttered a piteous wail.

" Gentlemen, gentlemen," panted Aunt Ecclesia,
"for heaven's sake don't tell me that—that---"

She could say no more, but stood by with
blanched face, gazing from one to the other.

Deane made a deprecatory motion with his
hands, and then caught Valter's arm.36

A SECRET QUEST.

"Try and guess," he said, huskily, "where-
abouts would they be?"

The guide shook his head in a hopeless way,
but gazed sharply round, then sprang to one side,
fixed his, eyes on the slopes of the valley, and on
the chakt, and then turned his back.

"Yes," he said, quickly, "the path forked here.
They were following—they must have been below
the big rocks, for they were near them when I
looked back."

"Yes, I remember the big rocks where the
water trickled out of the rift," cried Deane. " But
quick, man—where was that?"

He held the guide's arm in a grip as of iron as
he spoke, but there was no reply for a few minutes.

"Come," said the latter, at last, and climbing
and sliding along for some distance, he suddenly
stopped. "The rocks should be here. Stand
back."

Throwing off his hat, the coil of rope and his
jacket, he swung his ice-axe and struck the snow,
sending the icy particles flying glittering in the
sunshine; then he began to strike down and probe
with the spike at the end of the handle.

" Yes," he cried, " the edge must be down here."
He raised the axe again high in the air and struck,
each time feeling that there was something solid
below; but at the third stroke the blade went right
down out of sight, breaking through an icy crust,
and making a hole big enough for a man to pass
through.

" He's right," cried Frant.A SECRET QUEST.

3 V

"The path is down there," cried Valter, and at
that moment there was a shout from the hotel path
beyond the snow, where a party of six or seven
men and women came rttnning, the roar of the
avalanche having given warning of the catas-
trophe.

Valter waved his hand to them to hasten, anrl
then prepared to lower himself down through the
hole, the snow below the mass of rock which shel-
tered the path like a wall being there loose
enough. The crust through which he had broken
was solid ice.

It was a vain effort, and he climbed back on to
the surface with the look of despair deepening in
his eyes.

"Can we do nothing?" cried Deane. "Great
heavens! They are here somewhere."

"If half the commune was here to dig, herr,"
said the guide, sadly, " they could not save them.
Tell me what to do."

Deane looked wildly round, and the scene fully
indorsed the man's words. Everywhere about
them was the piled-up, consolidated snow, hard
now as ice, and mingled with the debris that had
been torn from the upper valley and swept down.
Masses of rock, a hundred tons in weight, had
been carried from above like pebbles, and it
seemed impossible that any one overtaken by the
avalanche could be still living.

" Come this way, herr," cried the guide. " They
may have been swept down before the snow;" and,
leading on down among the stones and shattered3»

A SECRET QUEST.

pine trees, he descended rapidly toward where the
river ran.

It was a difficult descent, now slipping on the ice,
now falling into some hollow, and then dropping
through into a gap lightly covered by snow. But
before they had gone many yards it was to find
that the edge of the fall was reached.

"They could not have been swept down here,"
said Frant, sadly, as they paused where a clump of
firs was standing in almost their natural position,
but bent over toward the river by a great heap of
the white crystals whose course they had stayed.

At that moment Deane uttered a wild cry and
sprang to his left, the guide and Frant following,
for his action needed no explanation.

There, not ten yards away, visible above the
surface, was a man's clenched hand, with the
sleeve torn back from the wrist and arm, and lying
upon the snow.

" No, no; let me," cried the guide. " Let's see
which way he lies."

He uttered a shout for help as he began work-
ing, tearing among the snow with the ice-axe, and
indicating to the young men how they could best
help.

"Work, Frant, work," panted Deane, as he tore
away at the snow, which, providentially, was free
of the pressure which bore on other parts and
turned it into solid ice; so that before many min-
utes had passed they had thrown aside their axes
as being too dangerous, and were scooping away
the crystals with their hands.A SECRET QUEST.

39

"Mind, mind," Valter kept whispering, as the
position in which the Colonel lay was made out;
and then he uttered a triumphant shout, for an-
other arm was laid bare—thrown round the Colo-
nel's breast—and after a few more minutes' toil
Deane was able to pass his arm beneath Hester and
raise her a little. But her face was buried in her
father's breast, his left arm being about her waist.

The sufferers were hastily borne up to the cot-
tage, where all seemed to give way naturally to
the man who alone displayed a knowledge of what
ought to be done under such circumstances—a
knowledge gained in mountain accidents during
his career as guide.

" One seems so helpless in a case like this," cried
Deane, as he paced the little garden in front of
the chalet with Frant, who smoked on now com-
posedly enough.

"Well, it isn't our trade," he said.

" But Valter is wrong, and we were idiots to
listen to him and the landlord. We ought to have
sent for the doctor at first."

"Couldn't have got him here till to-morrow,
man. Valter knows what to do. Besides, the aunt
and the hotel landlady are with him."

"Yes, yes, man, I know; but they may be let-
ting them slip through their fingers. Good heav-
ens! it is unbearable. Ah—here he is."

For Valter came out of the chalet, and walked
toward them.

"Well!" cried Deane, catching his wrist; "are
they recovering?"4°

A SECRET QUEST.

The guide drew back sharply, took off his haty
placed his hand behind his ear, and sent forth a
wild musical cry, full of changes and variations.

"You idiot!" cried Deane. "Why don't you
speak?"

"That's plain enough, old man," said Frant,
smiling. " Let him shout. It's hispczan of triumph
and praise."

"Yes, herr," said Valter, joyously; "they are
both—the Herr Colonel and the young lady—bet-
ter and gone into rest-giving ease and comfort-
bestowing sleep."

"Thank God!" said Deane, turning away and
meeting Aunt Ecclesia as she came to the door
fanning her heated face.

" Oh, yes," she said, " both sleeping comfortably.
Thank you and your friend so very, very much.
My brother-in-law will thank you himself as soon
as he is well. Tell your friend how grateful we
are."

" No need, ma'am," said Frant, quietly. " I can
hear what you say. Nothing to thank us for."

" But can we be of any further assistance?" said
Deane.

"Oh no: not now. Your attendant—that Swiss
—said they ought to sleep; and—and if you will
excuse me now."

Aunt Ecclesia seemed to have become confused,
and she backed away into the house, while the
young men exchanged glances.

" I suppose we had better go," said Deane, dubi-
ously.A SECRET QUEST.

41

" Yes. I suppose no other poor creatures have
been hurt."

"Ah, here's old Valter. Come on to the hotel,
anyhow, and have a glass of Rothwein. No, hang
it, you shall have one of champagne—eh, Deane?"

"Yes, yes, of course," said the latter, as he
looked hard at the guide. "You think they can
be left, and without a doctor?"

" What good to have a doctor, herr?" said the
guide, smiling. "The Herr Colonel and the
beautiful maiden could not breathe for the snow;
now they can breathe again. They are not ill."

" What an escape!"

"Yes, herr. They were swept down, and the
snow was thin and open; but we only got to them
in time."

The three men had reached the chaos of rocks,
snow and trees, about which a few more people
had gathered; but the spot was so secluded that
there were not a dozen in all, and after Valter had
recovered his rope and axe they stood gazing at
the devastation around.

"And all so beautiful only this morning!" said
Deane, dreamily; and he glanced back toward the
chalet.

"Yes, made a pretty mess," said Frant, refilling
his pipe. " I say, Valter, how is this to be cleared
away?"

" Cleared away, herr?" said the guide, showing
his white teeth. "The snow will melt; the rocks
will be covered in time with moss; and fresh trees
will grow. That is all."4*

A SECRET QUEST.

"Look here," said Frant; "we want to go tip
there to-morrow and see where the fall began."

"Good, herr," said the guide, quietly; "we will
go."

" And I say, Deane, old fellow: this may have
uncovered your old mines."

Deane made no reply, but walked quietly on to-
ward the little hotel, where they had been staying
for the past month.CHAPTER V.

"Feel ill? Of course I do. A man can't be
buried under tons of snow for hours without feel-
ing ill."

" Papa! there was not much snow over us, and
they say we were only there a few minutes."

"Long enough, too. What's this? I knew
it. They've floored me. Why, confound them!
They contrived that snowfall to give them the
opportunity."

It was the day after the avalanche, and, very
little the worse for the accident, Colonel Denton
was seated in the parlor overlooking the snowy
chaos below. He had suddenly grown excited,
and was searching his pockets with despairing
gestures.

" Have you lost something?"

" Lost? Yes. I am right—they contrived it so
as to get an opportunity to rob me. They are on
the way to Calais by now."

" What is the matter?" cried Aunt Ecclesia, en-
tering the room.

"Those spies have robbed me and gone."

" What spies?"

"Those scoundrels who sent that snow down
upon us there. I knew it—I foresaw it all."

" Papa, what are you talking about?"

4344

A SECRET QUEST.

" Those men from the hotel. They have been
watching lis for days."

" Papa! They are gentlemen."

"Yes, I know: private detectives. It is becom-
ing an aristocratic pursuit now. Well, the police
shall soon be on their track. Gone! I knew it."

" But I saw them near the place an hour ago.'*

"What do I say?" cried the Colonel. "You
indorse my words."

"Well, John, you are the most unreasonable
man I ever knew," cried Aunt Ecclesia. "Those
gentlemen saved your lives; their man attended
you better than a doctor; and now you say they
robbed you."

Aunt Ecclesia's face was unusually red, and she
spoke excitedly—a novel thing in her—while her
eyes were flashing as they encountered those of her
niece, who also looked indignant and disturbed.

"Well, madam, I have good reason for saying
they robbed me—a pair of confounded spies!"

"And that they brought down the avalanche!"
cried Aunt Ecclesia. " For shame! Did they take
your purse as well as your watch?"

"Who said they took my purse and watch? I
said my cigar case."

"Oh! I stole that, papa," said Hester, merrily.
" It was in the coat sent out to be dried, and I put
it in that closet."

The Colonel thrust it into his pocket witU a sigh
of satisfaction.

"I wouldn't have lost that for a fortune," he
said.A SECRET QUEST.

45

" Oh! Then I think you ought to apologize—
eh, Hester."

"Certainly, aunt," replied Hester, smiling.

" Humph! Then I shall not apologize; and—
why, confound them! They'll never have the in-
solence to come here!"

He was looking fiercely through the window,
and Hester made an effort to appear composed as
Deane and Prant came up to the door.

"Oh, yes! Show them in," said the Colonel;
" but leave them to me," he continued, as the fresh-
colored maid entered with the gentlemen's cards
and left the room again. " They have delivered
their assault, and I am ready. I like it better
than being mined."

" Papa!"

A look silenced Hester, and the next minute
the two young men entered, Deane gazing anx-
iously at Hester, and drawing a breath full of relief
as he saw that she was quite recovered.

"Good-morning," said the Colonel, shortly.
"Very good of you to call, gentlemen. I ought
to make you both a long speech to thank you for er
—er—saving our lives."

"No," said Deane quickly; "we only helped.
The credit is due to our guide."

"Indeed! Well, thank you for what you did,
and if you will send him up I will give him a suit-
able reward."

"Better not," said Frant, shortly; "there's a
good deal of the gentleman in some of these Swiss,
guides."46	A SECRET QUEST.

"Indeed!" said the Colonel, looking fiercely at
the speaker, who returned the gaze not in the least
abashed.

"They are very simple, good-hearted fellows,
sir," interposed Deane, hastily; "and I honestly
believe the man's satisfaction at helping you out
of so terrible a predicament will be sufficient re-
ward. "

" Allow me to be the best judge about that," said
the Colonel, shortly. " Staying here long, gentle-
men? Just came after I had taken this place, I
think?"

" Oh, no," replied Deane. " I think we are older
inhabitants by a week."

" Humph! Like the country?"

" Oh, yes. Delightful place for a holiday. We
are making investigations."

"Oh," said the Colonel, giving a sharp glance
at each in turn; " and may I ask, without imper-
tinence, what your investigations may be?"

"Certainly," said Deane, frankly, and his eyes
met Hester's for a moment.

" I'll tell you," said Frant.

" No. Pray let the gentleman speak for himself."

"The fact is, then," said Deane, "the Romans
used to cross the pass yonder from Northern Italy,
and I find from old chronicles that there were
mining settlements in this valley."

"Coal mining settlements?" said the Colonel,
sarcastically.

" No; they worked a vein of gold, and I am try-
ing to find out the spots."A SECRET QUEST.

47

" Bah!"

"I don't say it is true," said Deane, rather
warmly, for the Colonel's dictatorial manner net-
tled him. " I give you the tradition for what it is
worth. I think it very likely, for gold is being
mined now on the Italian side "

"What, sir? where?"

"Off the Val Anzasca, I believe."

"Well, sir, have you found the old mines?"

" No. But it is a very interesting search, and
gives piquancy to one's stay in the mountains.
The gold is there, or it is not. The probability
is that it exists, for there is plenty of room for it."

" Little better than madness," said the Colonel,
in spite of a deprecating sign from his daughter.
"I never could see any wisdom in these ascents."

" Oh, they please a fellow, and give him some-
thing to do," said Frant.

" And I think it very brave," added Aunt Eccle-
sia, who colored as soon as she had spoken, and
went on rapidly with her work.

" But there is really a great deal of interest in an
ascent, Miss Denton," said Deane. coming to the
rescue; "and it calls for a good deal of patient
endurance, besides giving health and strength."

" Humph! And so you came to Switzerland to
hunt for gold," said the Colonel.

"Yes, and it would do you good, sir, to join us."

"What!" said the Colonel; and Hester and her
aunt looked terrified, while Deane gave his com-
panion a look that was not seen.

"I say it would do you good," repeated Frant,4S

A SECRET QUEST.

who in his stubborn manner and aspect resembled
a Brittany bull. " You're only about fifty-five."

The Colonel ground his teeth this time, for as
Frant's words reached his temper, a gouty pain
came in throbs and went through his agonized
nerves.

"You climb a great deal, do you not?" said
Hester quickly, for she read the signs of the com-
ing storm in her father's countenance.

"Oh, yes, I'm always out on the mountains."

"May I ask who called me a great invalid?"
said the Colonel with forced calmness.

" Oh, it was only a casual remark, Colonel, made
at the hotel," said Deane, hastily. "You old In-
dian officers--"

" May I ask how you know that I am an old In-
dian officer and a Colonel?"

"Eh? Oh, I'm sure I don't know how," con-
tinued Frant; " but, as I was saying, a simple regi-
men, plenty of fresh air and exercise, and such a
tramp as I could give you every day, would--"

The explosion came, and Aleck Frant stared.
In spite of an agonizing pain, the Colonel sprang
to his feet and pointed to the door.

"Papa! Pray—pray!" whispered Hester, as she
darted to his side, and laid her hand upon his
breast; but he only passed his arm round her and
pointed still to the door.

"John, dear," began Aunt Ecclesia.

"Silence!" he roared. "And you, both of you,
leave my house, and never dare enter it again. If
it had not been for yesterday's business, confoundA SECRET QUEST.

49

it! I'd have said ten times more. Do you think
I'm blind? Do you think I do not see through you
both? But it will not do, all this blundering as-
sumption of the tourist. Go back to England and
tell them what I say. No, stop at Paris, gentle-
men, and take a few lessons of the French
mouchards."

" Colonel Denton, I beg--" began Deane.

"No, no; enough. There's the door. I tell you
I am not blind. I was suspicious; now I am
certain. Good-day, gentlemen. Go at once, or I
am sure I shall lose my temper."

"The old man's mad as a March hare," said
Frant, as they strode down the path to the snow
fall.

"You blundering fool!" cried Deane, passion-
ately.

" What—have you got it, too? What is it? Re-
action from the accident yesterday?"

" Could you not see that you were touching on
delicate ground, upsetting the susceptibilities of
an eccentric invalid?"

"Rubbish!"

" But why did you speak?"

" Because I did not want him to take us for a
pair of noodles. Adam Deane, I was ashamed of
you! Sat there, you did, making eyes at the girl.
Not a word to say for yourself. Why, you looked
a regular milksop."

"Upset everything, you have," cried Deane,
without heeding him. "Suspects my object.
Well, I suppose so. I don't disown it. But fp*
4A SECRET QUEST.

you to go and upset him like that! Here, let's go
back and apologize."

"What!" cried Frant, looking more like a bull
than ever. " Apologize for saving the old pepper-
pot's life, and then giving him a bit of good
advice! Do I look like the sort of man that
would?"

He certainly did not, but Deane did not say so,
for he was thinking of Hester's eyes—how appeal-
ingly they had looked into his and how vain had
been his efforts to stay his friend's eloquence.

"My dear John, you really are insufferable!"
cried Aunt Ecclesia, who seemed to be unusually
excited.

"Hold your tongue!" cried the Colonel. "Oh,
this cursed pain! Well, what have you to say?"

"Only that it is a pity, papa," sighed Hester.
"They behaved so bravely yesterday."

"Yes," said the Colonel, wincing; "that's the
worst of it. But I believe," he added, after bend-
ing down to hold his leg, " yes, I believe it was
only to carry out their schemes. If I had been
lost under that snow they couldn't have got what
they want, and if they didn't get it they wouldn't
be paid."

" Papa! It is impossible they can be what you
say."

"Of course they cannot, Hester, my dear," said
Aunt Ecclesia.

" Deal you know about it, madam. I'm right—
I know I'm right. A pair of spies in Lord Des-A SECRET QUEST.

borough's employ. By George! I wish I had
brought a pistol with me."

" Hush, John, dear, pray!" cried Aunt Ecclesia;
"here is a gentleman coming up."

" Another of them?" cried the Colonel. " Well,
I'm up now, and I'd face a dozen if it were neces-
sary. Oh, my leg—my leg!"

He stamped to the door, threw it open, and strode
out—to face a well-dressed gentleman standing,
stick in hand, on the veranda, while he swung
an ivory-tubed field-glass by his left side. The
new-comer started slightly, for the encounter had
come upon him suddenly.

" I beg your pardon," he said, quickly. " I ought
to have known better; but I thought this was a
peasant's chalet."

" Pardon granted, sir," said the Colonel, shortly,
as his eye took in the stranger's appearance. " It
is a peasant's chalet, but my residence for the
moment."	x

"My porter is behind with my portmanteau,"
said the stranger. " I was walking on. There is
a little hotel somewhere here, is there not?"

" Yes, a mile on up the valley, across that snow-
fall."

" I thank you. Good-day. But—may I ask for
a glass of water—it is very hot."

"Of course," said the Colonel, who had now
grown calm as the shooting pains in his leg died
out. "Come in. Ecclesia, my dear," he shouted,
"a glass or two, and the sherry."

" No, no, I beg--"A SECRET QUEST.

" No apology, sir. If ever Englishmen ought to
be hospitable it is when they meet abroad."

"Hetty," whispered Aunt Ecclesia; "it is that
gentleman who used to stare at you down at
Brighton."

But Hester had already recognized him, and a
sensation of dread which she could not master
made her shrink toward the inner door.

But she was too late. The Colonel was asking
the visitor into the room.

" My daughter—my sister-in-law. Mr.-1 beg

your pardon?"

"Anderson," said the visitor, quietly. "Law-
rence Anderson, of Bedford Row."4

CHAPTER VI.

"What! Does he know them?" said Deane,
wonderingly, as he stood at the side of the little
hotel with Frant and the guide.

They were just about to start for a long climb
in the gorge down which the avalanche had rushed,
when Frant drew attention to a party coming along
the path, and Deane had involuntarily drawn back
to let them pass, hesitating about showing himself
after the angry scene with the Colonel. The party
consisted of the little family from the chalet, the
ladies on mules, and the Colonel upon a stout cob,
the animals being in charge of two guides. As
they came nearer, Valter said, " The English mili-
tary herr says he shall not leave the chalet, for the
snow has all come down from the gletscher, and
there is nothing to fear."

"How do you know he said that?" cried Deane.

Valter's handsome rustic face turned red as a
blushing girl's, and he said in a confused way:

" I happened to be there last night—Gretchen
told me. Ah, look," he added, hastily; " the beau-
tiful maiden is riding Fritz's mule, Beelzebub.
He is a demon."

" Is he dangerous?" said Deane, anxiously, as he
gazed through the trees at the little advancing
party.

S354

A SECRET QUEST.

" Dangerous for the lady? Oh, no; but danger-
ous to go near. He bites and kicks. He is a
demon.,,

Just then the new visitor to the hotel—the quiet,
keen-looking Englishman who had arrived on the
previous evening—appeared, lighting his cigar in
the broad veranda; and then, catching sight of
the mounted party, hastily threw his Havana away
and walked down toward the path, hat in hand.

" Seems like it," said Frant. " Ah! the old man
is treating him more civilly than he did us."

For the Colonel seemed to receive the new-comer
pleasantly enough as he checked his cob. The
ladies entered into conversation, and Deane winced
as he saw the stranger raise his hand to pat the
great sleek mule upon which Hester was mounted.
A grim smile crossed his face as the mule swung
round his head and gave a vicious snap at the new-
comer, making him leap back in alarm. There
was a burst of conversation then, the new-comer
drew back bowing, and the little party went on.

" They are going up the high path by the zig-
zag," said Valter, "to see down into the little thai
where the snow fell."

"But that's taking a leaf out of our book," cried
Frant.

"No," said the guide, smiling; "they keep to
the mule path; we take to the mountain."
. "Yes," said Frant, "it would bother them to
keep with us."

Just then Anderson came slowly toward them*
smiling with satisfaction and lighting a fresh cigar,A SECRET QUEST.

55

" A fine morning, gentlemen.—Climbing?'*

"Yes," said Deane, carelessly, "just for a few
hours. Going on to the Rhone Valley ?"

"I? well, no; not at present. To a man seeking
health this place seems inviting for a stay. You
have had an accident, it seems, there wher" 1
crossed the debris of the snowfall. The landlord
tells me that a lady and gentleman were buried."

"Yes, a narrow escape," said Deane.

" No more risk—no more danger?" inquired An-
derson.

"Oh, I don't know," interposed Frant, dryly.
" Rather an avalanchy place."

"Well, I'll risk it," said Anderson, smiling;
" at all events, for a few days. And so you are
going to climb?" he continued, looking curiously
at their ice-axes and the guide's rope. " Are any
of the ascents dangerous?"

" Tidy," said Frant. " Come and see."

"I? Oh, dear, no. Quite an invalid, my dear
sir. I'll sit outside here and smoke and see you
climb. I dare say I can follow you with my glass."

" Au revoir, then," cried Frant.

"I hope not," said Deane to himself, as he
bowed and then made a sign to Valter to lead on.

" Staying here," said Anderson, as he stood with
his head a little bent, gazing at the departing
climbers through his thick brows. " Rather good-
looking for neighbors; but they don't seem to know
them. Hah! Things shape well. Fate is propi-
tious. Right in the camp at once!"

He paused and looked at the glittering snow-56

A SECRET QUEST.

peaks through the thin blue cloud of smoke as-
cending from his lips.

" Beautiful as ever," he mused. " How strange
that at my time of life I should be so moved.
Well, the passion was only waiting. It was there.
Love—the business of the idle, the idleness of the
"busy. Let me be idle for a while. Yes, and busy
too. I wonder where he keeps those letters. At
home! Not he. He has them with him in some
pocket-book or belt."

He threw himself into one of the wooden chairs
out in the sunshine, and sat back to watch the
route Deane and his companions had taken.
"There they go," he muttered. "Young fools
engaged in their break-neck work. One of these
days both of them will perhaps slip and drag down
that sturdy guide—the whole party hurled by a
false step to destruction. Well, serve the young
idiots right. What business have they to be young
and good-looking, and strong. Bah! they are
nothing to me. Let them live. They will not
cross my path; they had better not. Hester—
Hester Denton; beautiful and heart-whole as yet.
Well, the sweeter task to teach her to conjugate
the verb 4to love.' But how? I must get the let-
ters—I must win her. The old man is as fierce as
a watch-dog, and I'll be bound to say as suspicious
—and as blundering. I must be careful. Pooh!
I can finesse this little affair when I have thought
it out more."

He lay back, smoking and watching, as DeaneA SECRET QUEST.

57

and his companions appeared and disappeared,
always rising.

"It does not look high," he continued, turning
as he saw the three young men passing along a
mere ledge of precipice; "but it is. If they had
taken the same route as the Colonel, I should have
followed. How long will it be before she returns?
Shall I go after them? No, it would be unwise.
I must play the retiring role of the invalid, and let
the Colonel draw me out. Festina lente. Bah!
what an execrable cigar."CHAPTER VII.

Meanwhile, of course perfectly ignorant of the
planning going on below, Deane was trudging
slowly up the steep slope, last of the trio, thinking
of the new-comer to the hotel, and not pleasantly,
for the man seemed to repel him.

Young men who have formed attachments, and
before they have fettered the lady with a promise,
look upon every stranger who approaches La Belle
as a possible rival.

Deane dismissed the thought merrily, but it re-
fused to be cast aside, coming back with the most
extreme pertinacity—perhaps from the fact that
Lawrence Anderson, down by the hotel, was think-
ing of him. People laugh at these things, and
call them accidental coincidences; but judging
from the singular facts constantly brought to notice
it seems as if one mind, irrespective of distance,
does imfluence another.

44Take care, herr, take care!" shouted Valter,
reproachfully, for Deane was brought from the
land of day-dreams back to the present by an ugly
slip, consequent upon placing one foot where he
ought never to have stepped.

"What's the matter with the herr?" whispered
Valter to Frant as they climbed higher.

44 Eh?"

58A SECRET QUEST.

59

"The herr. He always did go dreaming on
about those old gold pits that we have not found;
but now he thinks of other things so much that I
shall be afraid to guide without the rope."

" Got your complaint, Valter, my lad."

" My complaint, herr—the aches from my old
fall down the crevasse?"

"No," said Frant, with a peculiar look.
" Gretchen."

The guide started as if he had been stung, and
turned red as a school-boy.

44 What fools fellows are when they've got lady
on the brain," said Frant, beginning to whistle.

A minute or two later Valter reached a perpen-
dicular stone, threw up his ice-axe, clambered up,
and then lay down on the top to extend his hand
to help Frant. His face was bright and smiling
now, and as he drew the young man up he whis-
pered :

441 see, now, herr—the beautiful young lady at
the chalet."

44 Hush," said Frant, sternly; 44 a still tongue
maketh a wise head. English proverb, man of
muscles."

441 think so, herr—yes, I do."

" Right. Come along, Adam, old man. Rather
steep here: how am I to get up?"

" Give me your hand, herr," said the guide; " put
your foot on that piece that stands out. Now."

He exerted his great strength as he spoke, and
aided by the active efforts of the young English-
man, landed him safely by his side.6o

A SECRET QUEST.

"There!" he cried the next minute, as he led
the friends to the edge of a precipice, where the
rock went down sheer for a couple of thousand feet;
"the herr can see now where the snow fell."

He pointed along the terrible chasm below, to
where, piled tip, slope beyond slope, lay the snow
of ages glistening in its purity—patches miles
across, looking like soft white cushions. They
stood gazing at the magnificent spectacle before
them, the point they had won being isolated so that
it afforded a view of a perfect panorama of peak
and ice-field, ridge and hollow, dazzling white in
the clear sunshine, in shadow, of the most perfect
blue.

" Pity the poor beggar who can't climb," cried
Frant, suddenly. " Makes me feel as religious as
a saint."

"Glorious, glorious!" said Deane, softly; but
this exultation passed away and a feeling of dis-
appointment came over him because some one was
not with him to share the wonders of that scene. .

" I think your gold mines are down there, Adam,"
cried Frant, pointing to where the rocks had been
swept bare by the passing of the avalanche.

" Possibly. We'll go down and see. How shall
we go, Valter!"

The guide was silent for a few minutes, and
stood shading his eyes with his hand. Then, in a
quick decisive way—

" Will the herr be careful?"

" Of course."

"Then we'll go down yonder, cross the glet-A SECRET QUEST.

6r

scher, and after getting down to the thai, go round
home by the mule path."

"But it will not be there," said Deane, hastily,
and looking to see if Frant was watching; but he
was not, for he was pushing stones over the edge,
to watch them go thundering down, leaping and
bounding from rock to rock, striking fire some-
times, and disappearing at last in the gloomy gorge..

" Yes, a good hour farther. We can easily reach
it from there."

"Go on, then."

The guide started at a good pace right along the
edge of the gorge, till at the end of an hour he
stopped again where they could gaze down a steep
slope at one of those wonders of nature—a glacier
—a frozen river, winding down between two slopes,
and crossed and riven in all directions by crev-
ices, down one of which a torrent rushed with a
roar that sounded musical as it rose to where they
stood, and reappearing a small distance from the
end of the glacier, making its outlet through a
cavern of celestial blue.

" Shall we rope together?" said Deane.

" Not necessary," cried Frant.

"Better, herr," said the guide, who was already
uncoiling the stout cord, wound across his chest;,
and as soon as this was secured from one to the
other he set off, picking his way over the ice, zig-
zagging among the cracks that were too wide to
leap, till they reached at last the great crevice
down which the snow water poured with a heavy
metallic roar.62

A SECRET QUEST.

"Not too near, herr," said Valter, as, attracted
by the terrible place, Deane peered down through
the transparent blue to where all was absolutely
black.

"Terrible!" said Deane, with a shudder. "Get
that piece of ice loose and let it go down."

The guide nodded, the piece toppled over, and
seemed to fall slowly down.

For a space during which one might have
counted forty there was nothing heard but the roar
of the falling wiater; then came a dull echoing
crash, followed by a sharp ringing sound and a
repetition of the crash, fainter and fainter, till the
sound died away in a whisper.

"Here, come along, old fellow," said Frant;
.and, mounting a spur of the ridge beyond them,
Valter led them panting and breathless to where
they could descend into the Schneethal and reach
the mule path.

It was a stiff descent, but there was plenty of
foothold on the many stream beds which scored
the rocky sides; and as the guide leaped at length
on the path, closely followed by the two young
men, he uttered a triumphant shout, which was
answered from beyond a curve of the valley some
fifty yards away.

They were not long kept in doubt as to who had
responded, for a hanger-on at the hotel, whom
Deane recognized at once as one of the mule driv-
ers who had accompanied the Colonel that morn-
ing, suddenly appeared before them and shouted
to them to come on.A SECRET QUEST,

"There has been some accident," said Deane;
and setting off at a sharp run, closely followed by
his companions, he came the next minute upon
the party he had seen set off just before they them-
selves had started.

Deane was about to check himself; as far as he
could see nothing was wrong. The Colonel, Aunt
Ecclesia, and Hester were mounted on their re-
spective steeds, the second guide holding Hester's
mule by the head; but this animal suddenly uttered
a doleful sound, half neigh, half bray, and began
to struggle vigorously.

The Colonel frowned as Deane stopped short.

"Is there anything the matter, sir?" he said*
distantly; "do you want help?"

" My good sir, can you not see?" cried the Col-
onel, testily. " That mule has wedged its hoof in
a crack of the rock, and we cannot get it free."

" Had not the lady better dismount?"

"No," said the Colonel, fiercely. "At the first
attempt the brute kicks and plunges frightfully,
and we are on the edge of a precipice."

"It is madness to let her stay where she is,"
said Deane, firmly. "Excuse me, madam."

As he spoke, he stepped up to the side of the
mule, took Hester by the waist, and lifted her off;
the girl, after a frightened glance at her father,
letting herself drop into Deane's arms.

"How dare you!" roared the Colonel. Then
changing his tone: "Thank you, sir; you were
quite right. The brute plunged furiously when
it was tried before. There—you see."A SECRET QUEST.

The animal now threw out its heels viciously,
snorting and squealing as it literally thrashed the
air with savage kicks.

"Son of Beelzebub!" muttered Valter; "what a
demon he is."

"Mind—mind!" cried the Colonel, catching
Hester's hand. " The brute will scare the others.
We shall be over the precipice directly."

The path was too wide for there to be any real
danger; being guarded, too, on the side of the
precipice by sturdy pine trees, which had somehow
managed to strike root in the mountain side.

" I thank you, sir—good-day," said the Colonel,
haughtily, as he raised his hat after dismounting.

" Don't mention it, pray," replied Deane, coldly;
and he turned away to examine the crevice in
which the mule's hoof was fast.

"Let me help you down, Ecclesia," continued
the Colonel. " We must walk back."

" Oh! dear me," said the lady addressed, making
a grimace. " Walk back? This terrible path. "

" If you wait a few minutes, sir," said Deane,
quietly, "it may not be necessary. Let's see,"
said Deane, going down on one knee by the pin-
ioned hoof—a liberty resented by the mule, which
tried to kick with the near hind leg, failed, and
made up for the failure by a vicious attempt to
bite.

"Quiet!" shouted Frant, and he gave the brute
a rap on the nose with the handle of his ice-axe.
Then he seized one end of the bit and held the
animal's head fast.A SECRET QUEST.

65

It was risky work; but Deane seized the leg,
and taking his geological hammer and chisel from
his pocket, he began to split off great flakes of the
laminated rock, widening the crevice rapidly, with
such good effect that at the end of a few minutes
the mule dragged his hoof out with no more harm
than a few scratches and a loosened shoe.

" Ach himmel! " ejaculated one of the men. " The
English are a wonderful race."

"Stop a moment," said Deane, replacing his
chisel, and lifting the mule's hoof. " Keep a tight
hold of his head, you fellows," and with a few
smart taps he tightened the nails of the shoe, set
the mule's leg down, and drew back as the animal
kicked, plunged, squealed, and then began to
munch greedily at some grass on the side of the
path.

"There, sir," said Deane, coldly; "you have na
occasion to walk back."

" I thank you," said the Colonel, raising his hat;
" but the brute is not fit for my daughter to mount."

"But he is like a lamb now, herr," cried the
owner, plaintively; " he will not kick again. That
was his joy at being free."

The Colonel hesitated, and looked at Deane in-
quiringly, and against his will.

"I think the man is right, sir," said Deane.
" Good-day;" and without trusting himself to look
at Hester, he raised his hat and passed on with
his companions.

"Confound him!" muttered the Colonel, gnaw-
ing at a bit of his gray mustache.

566

A SECRET QUEST.

" They might have offered to help us on to the
things again," said Aunt Ecclesia, pettishly.

"Nonsense! Here, Hester, my child, mount up
on this piece of stone. Yes, that's right," he con-
tinued, as the man led the mule alongside. " You
are not afraid to ride?"	^

"Oh! no," cried the girl, smiling.

"There is no need to fear; he will go like a
lamb now, herr."

And so it proved, the mule finding its way down
the mountain path, and all going well save with
the Colonel, who fidgeted his horse by tugging
at the bit as he thought over the scene again.

"Confound him! Behaved like a gentleman,
after all. But no; I can't be wrong. If I were
sure, I'd go at once; but I don't quite like to on
suspicion. Oh, it's all a trick. Too much of the
mechanic to be a gentleman."

J ust then a thought struck the Colonel, and he
behaved as men do who have something about
them they wish to keep secret: his hand went in-
voluntarily to his breast, as if he doubted. But
he drew a long breath full of relief; and feeling
free from pain, he chatted merrily with Hester
about their adventure till they reached the little
hotel where Anderson was still seated outside in
the sun, Baedeker in hand.CHAPTER VIII.

" Really, Hester, my dear, I cannot understand
your papa."

"You ought to by this time, aunt," replied the
girl, looking up ingenuously. " You know how
he suffers—what agony he is in sometimes. Of
course, he does speak petulantly then."

"Petulantly? Oh, my dear child; if you call
that petulance, what would it be if he were in a
passion. Ah, there he is talking to that invalid
gentleman about mineral waters and baths. Do
you like this Mr. Anderson?"

"No, aunt, not at all."

" That's right, my dear. Really, I quite detest
him. He is too smooth and polite. I wonder at
your father taking to him so."

"Yes, I have been surprised," said Hester,
"seeing how averse he is to strangers."

"Well, I can tell you why. It is because he
flattered your father by asking his advice about
his health. There, they are coming in."

"Didn't you say you would like a walk, aunt?"
said Hester, rather hastily.

"Yes; but we cannot go now. It would look
so rude, my dear."

" Oh, no, aunt; they will be talking together.
Let's go at once."

6768

A SECRET QUEST.

"I'm quite willing, my dear; only let me get
my pressing boards and the Alpenstock."

" They are here, aunt, dear. We can slip out
through the window."

Hester caught the little strapped-up boards, with
their botanical paper inside; their hats were on
the little table, and as Anderson and the Colonel
came up to the door, they passed out of the window,
stepping at once on to the mountain pathway, and
in among the trees, so that they were hidden from
any one in the cottage.

"Come in," said the Colonel. "Here, Hester,
my dear, I have brought you in a visitor. Eh?
not here! Upstairs, I suppose. You will take a
cigar, Mr. Anderson?" he continued, as he drew
out a handsome Russia-leather case.

" Thanks; no, not in-doors. But you were say-
ing that you have derived great benefit from the
air in this place."

"Very great, I can assure you; and—let me see,
you have been here nearly a fortnight."

"Almost," replied Anderson, smiling. "The
time glides away very rapidly when one is upon a
holiday excursion."

"Yes, I suppose so. I never take holidays, and
never did. But you certainly are stronger and
better than when you came."

" Do you think so?"

" Decidedly. Your walk is firmer, and I notice
that you go farther."^

"Oh, I didn't know."A SECRET QUEST.

69

" I think I do. Where did you say you were
going?"

" To Andermatt; and from thence I shall make
my way to the Engadine."

"Ah, yes! Very highly praised place; but I
don't think it is any better than this Schnee-
thal."

" I wonder whether we are alone," thought An-
derson, as he sat back and watched his host through
half-closed eyes. " The letters are in that pocket-
book, for a wager. If we were quite alone, how
easily one might give him a stunning blow and be
off down the valley. But I am not quite sure
about the notes in the pocket-book. Bah! It is
only his cigar-case. He must have an inner pocket
somewhere. Perhaps sewed up in a belt."

The Colonel walked to the door in happy igno-
rance of the fact that he was being attentively
watched, and called up the stairs—

" Hester! Ecclesia! are you coming down?"

"The ladies have gone out to pick flowers, sir,"
cried a maid.

"Hah!" ejaculated Anderson, as if relieved;
and he wiped his dewy brow, for the temptation
had been strong upon him, and he had not felt
sanguine of success. But he felt annoyed; for it
flashed across his mind that he had been asked in
twice before, to find Hester absent.

"Surely it is not to avoid me," he thought.

"They are always collecting," said the Colonel,
peevishly. " I cannot think what pleasure womenA SECRET QUEST.

can find in picking and drying the wretched weeds
they find about here."

"Still, if it affords them pleasure, it gives a
zest to their walks."

"Yes; but they are too fond of going out," said
the Colonel, crossing to the window and looking
up the mountain side. " Here, let's go and see if
we can find them."

"Certainly," replied Anderson, rising. "But
really," he continued, in a hesitating tone; " I—
perhaps you would prefer being alone."

" If I did, sir, I should not have proposed our
going together."

Anderson made a deprecating gesture.

" I beg your pardon. A little touch of my com-
plaint; it makes me speak irritably. Come along;
the fresh air may do us good."

"Pray, do no.t apologize," said Anderson, sigh-
ing. " I know too well what it is to be in pain.
Why, my dear sir, that is one reason why I came
out here. The irritation I have displayed has, I
know, annoyed my friends, but not one hundredth
part so much as it has vexed me."

" Exactly; that is it," cried the Colonel, hastily.
" I find myself speaking to my child and sister-in-
law in a way that I am sure hurts their feelings.
Then why do I speak so, you may say. I cannot
help it. But come along; don't let's talk about
our ailments on a day like this."

In the mean time, Hester had hurried her aunt
along through the pine wood, and up and up till
they reached the shelf-like path along the side ofA SECRET QUEST.

71

the valley, and neared the spot where the acci-
dent had befallen the mule. Here Aunt Ecclesia
plumped herself down upon a rock.

"Not a step farther, my dear," she said, pant-
ing, and wiping her scarlet face. " The way you
have raced me up here is terrible. Why, one
would have thought that the geological gentleman
from the hotel was pursuing you."

"Aunt, how absurd!" cried Hester, flushing
more deeply than the occasion warranted.

"Oh, I am not blind, my dear; and certainly I
have seen him looking at you in a very particular
way."

"If I thought what you say was true," cried
Hester, with spirit, " I should beg papa to leave
here at once."

"And if you did, my dear, what good would
that do? Of course, he would follow us."

"Aunt!" cried Hester, with a stamp of the foot,
and her eyes flashed.

" Gracious! Why, child, you are getting as pas-
sionate as your father. I only spoke the truth."

"It is not the truth, aunt. It cannot be the
truth. We have hardly spoken to each other. I
might—I might just as well say that I have seen
that other gentleman looking particularly at you."

"Hester, my child! Oh, this is too shocking!
Really, I must request that you never address me
in such a way as that again."

Hester did not reply, but began culling the wild
flowers that abounded up the slope, while her
aunt took the other side of the path, where the72

A SECRET QUEST.

mountain descended gently for some distance, and
then dropped sheer down to the valley, forming a
cliff many hundred feet in height.

44 Be careful, aunt dear; the grass is rather slip-
pery in places."

"Oh, yes, I'll take care," was the reply; and
specimen after specimen was picked and laid be-
tween the leaves. Aunt Ecclesia was tempted on
and on, till a cluster of gentians just beyond a
young pine caught her eye.

"I must have them," she said to herself; "they
are the best I have seen."

The task of picking them was easy enough, and
passing her arm round the pine, she stooped down,
stretching out her right hand to reach them. ' But
as she bent forward, she suddenly realized that she
had descended right to the edge of the precipice,
close where the water took its leap; and as she
gazed over the flowers she sought, her eyes swept
down to where, seven or eight hundred feet below,
the chalets looked like so many wooden bee hives.

She was in no danger. All she had to do was
to quietly retrace her steps, passing between the
pines till she reached the path, some fifty feet
above her head. But the power to move was
gone; her eyes dilated and grew fixed, and all she
could do was to breathe hard and cling tightly to
the pine trunk, listening all the while to the whis-
per of the falling water.

"It is drawing me down," she whispered to
herself; "it is drawing me down!"

For Aunt Ecclesia's nerve was gone.CHAPTER IX.

"Aunt! aunt! where are you?"

As she spoke she caught a glimpse of a white
dress through the trees, and stepped off the path
to descend.

"Oh! aunt; is that not too near the edge?" she
said, merrily. "Come back, madam. It is my
turn to scold now."

As Hester spoke she descended slowly from
pine to pine, and then stopped short as she came
fully in sight of her aunt, clinging to the tree and
staring with a peculiar fixed expression down into
the valley.

" Aunt, what is the matter? Come back from
there."

But there was no reply. It was as if the figure
before her were paralyzed, or suffering from some
terrible attack of nightmare, so motionless and
fixed did it seem.

For a few moments the strange nervous affec-
tion seemed to have attacked Hester; but she
mastered it, and, fully realizing the danger, now
began to descend cautiously toward where the
paralyzed woman clung. But she had not gone
many yards before a voice from above roared
"Stop!" and Deane and Frant came hurrying
down from where they had been perched, some
eighty or a hundred yards away.

7374

A SECRET QUEST.

Hester obeyed the call to stop, and looked back
in a frightened way from where she stood on the
steep grassy slope down which Deane rapidly
came.

"You don't know how dangerous this place is,"
he cried. "Pray come back."

For answer Hester pointed to her aunt.

"Good heavens!" exclaimed Deane; "she must
be mad!" and seizing Hester's wrist he pressed
her toward a tree. " Hold that," he cried, "till I
comeback."

" Take her up, man, yourself," said Frant, who
brushed by him, and the pair stood watching ex-
citedly as the sturdy little fellow descended to
where Aunt Ecclesia clung to the pine.

The spell was broken as Frant caught her arm
and drew her back. She closed her eyes, uttered
a sob, and her legs gave way beneath her.

"No, no," said Frant, roughly, "don't faint."
There was no reply, the frightened woman being
for the moment utterly helpless. "Look here,"
continued Frant, " put your arm round my neck
and hold tight; I'll carry you back to the path."

Aunt Ecclesia uttered another low sigh, shiv-
ered, and then obeyed, Frant taking tight hold of
the pine with his right hand and lifting the lady
by passing his left arm round her waist.

"Steady a moment, herr," cried Valter. "I'm
coming down."

"No need," said Frant, and drawing a long
breath, he loosened his hold of the pine and
climbed back steadily with his load to where Hes-A SECRET QUEST.

75

ter and Deane stood, the former half hysterical
with emotion.

" One minute's rest," said Frant, quietly. " Hold
tight, please, ma'am. Now, then, all together."

The rest of the way was climbed, and the group
had just gathered upon the mule-path, where
Aunt Ecclesia had burst into a passionate flood of
tears, when the Colonel and Anderson appeared
on the scene, the former starting angrily and in-
creasing his pace, while Anderson followed, frown-
ing heavily.

" What is the meaning of all this?* cried the
Colonel, fiercely. " Was this planned in advance?"

" The ladies are ignorant of the dangers of these
mountains, sir," said Deane, coldly.

"Oh, thank you," sobbed out Aunt Ecclesia,
extending her hand. "You have saved my life."

"Oh, nonsense!" said Frant, bluffly. "But I
wouldn't go down like that again. Good-day."

He nodded to the Colonel, and followed Deane,
saying, " Come on, old fellow, I want to finish my
pipe."

"Here," said the Colonel, making a sign to
Valter; "come on and see me to-night; I want a
few words with you."

Valter touched his hat and walked away after
his employers.

" I shall not go," he said to himself. " I don't
want to be paid for getting them out of the snow.
How can he be the father of such a maiden as
that? No! I will not go. Yes, I will,"he added,
after a pause; " Gretchen is there."CHAPTER X.

That same evening, Colonel Denton walked up
to the hotel where Anderson was seated in the
veranda, sipping his coffee. Deane and Frant
were perched tipon a mass of rock, watching the
v Alpenglow on the snowy peaks.

Anderson rose as the Colonel passed him with a
short nod, and then subsided in his chair.

" Have I offended him?" he wondered.

But surprise changed to annoyance as he saw
the Colonel continue his way toward the group on
the rocks. Deane and Frant saw the old officer's
approach with surprise, and the latter whispered:
"We're in for it, Adam. Old man's going to
challenge us for daring to meddle with his house-
hold."

"Be quiet; he'll hear," said Deane, uneasily.

"Good-evening, gentlemen," said the Colonel,
shortly. " Ahem. That is the Alpen glow, is it
not?"

"Yes," replied Deane, gravely; "you wished
to speak to me?"

" Yes, thank you. That is precise and military,
sir. I do want to speak to you, but the matter is
a delicate one, and out of my way. I did not
know how to begin."

" I cannot offer you a seat," said Deane.

7 6A SECRET QUEST.

77

" Eh—no—of course not," said the Colonel, tak-
ing out his cigar case. " Excuse me, gentlemen,
but you smoke frightful tobacco; will you take a
cigar?"

"Thanks, no," said Deane, quietly; "I prefer
my pipe."

" And the frightful tobacco," added Frant.

" As you will, gentlemen," said the Colonel, un-
easily. He lit his own cigar and smoked in si-
lence for a few minutes, gazing at the wondrous
crimson tints upon the mountains.

. "Yes," he said at last, "glorious."

"You wished to speak to me, sir, I think you
said."

"Well, yes," said the Colonel, "I do. The fact
is, gentlemen, I have to ask your pardon."

" It is not necessary, sir."

" I differ from you, sir. It is. You and your
friend have done me and mine two or three very
excellent services, and I am afraid I have met
them with a good deal of ingratitude."

" Colonel Denton is at liberty to select his own
acquaintances," said Deane, coldly; and his dis-
tant manner seemed to please the Colonel, who
exclaimed, quickly:

" Gentlemen, I apologize for my rudeness, and
I am greatly obliged for all that you have done."

"Oh!" said Frant, "that's it. Very well then,,
I'll take one of those cigars."

The Colonel frowned, then smiled as he held
out his case.

"Would you mind telling me your name again?"878

A SECRET QUEST.

"Frant."

" And you are the son of--"

" Admiral Frant, R. N."

" And yours, sir?" continued the Colonel. " Far
be it from me to act churlishly toward my fellow-
countrymen ; but, frankly—the fact is, I have been
sadly pestered of late by spies."

" Old man has a crack," said Frant to himself.

"Indeed!" said Deane, more genially. "I am
afraid my father thinks me an unworthy son, as
I did not select the army for a profession; but I
have not disgraced him by being a spy."

"Was your father in the army, sir?" said the
Colonel, eagerly.

" My father, General Deane, is in the army,
sir."

"General Deane is in India," said the Colonel,
sharply.

" He was at Calcutta a month ago," said Deane,
quietly.

" My dear Mr. Deane, I beg your pardon, "cried
the Colonel, shaking hands warmly, happily un-
conscious of the fact that Anderson was watch-
ing them through his overhanging brows. " The
fact is, gentlemen, I have been under a great
misapprehension. Circumstances have made me
suspicious, and—there, as a gentleman, I ask you
to forgive me."

"There is no need to say another word, sir,"
said Deane, whose face lit up. " I must confess
that I was puzzled."

" Puzzled, sir! I behaved like a boor."A SECRET QUEST.

79

"I think I will follow my friend's example,
sir," said Deane, smiling: "I will take one of
your cigars."

"Many a one, I hope," cried the Colonel,
eagerly, handing his case. "Take one, too, my
lad," he continued, passing the case in turn to the
guide, who smiled, took one of the rolls of to-
bacco, and raised his hat.

"You are a connoisseur in cigars, I see," said
Deane.

"Ah! you appreciate a good one," said the Col-
onel, watching Deane narrowly. "By the way,
we generally have coffee about this time; will
you walk with me to the cottage, and join us?"

Deane hesitated and glanced at Frant.

" Of course we will," said Frant, rising. " Come
along, Adam. We look disreputable enough, in
our rough tweeds and greased boots, to be--"

"Not swell mobsmen," said Deane, smiling.

"No," said Frant, dryly; "spies—detectives in
very plain clothes indeed. I say, sir, you asked a
pretty blunt question; it's our turn now. Pray,
what have you been doing to have detectives hunt-
ing you?"

" Humph! You're a plain-spoken young gentle-
man," said the Colonel, stiffly.

" I am," said Frant. " My father is a sailor, and
more plain-spoken still."

"Well, I don't like you any the worse for it;
but I can't answer your question. Let me tell
you, however, that it was nothing unworthy of an
officer and a gentleman."So

A SECRET QUEST.

"I am sure of that, sir," cried Deane, warmly. .
u I apologize for my friend's words."

"There is no need, Mr. Deane," said the old
officer, with stately courtesy, and there was some-
thing very winning about his stern countenance.
" But come along, and we will finish our cigars in
the little veranda. Hah!" he continued, taking
a long breath as they passed the little hotel where
Anderson was seated with his coffee and book;
u this is a delicious country, is it not? One mo-
ment—our guide. Oh, I see, he is following us.
I was about to ask him to go into the hotel and
have some wine."

"He's all right, sir," said Frant, dryly; "you
need not trouble about him."

It was quite true. Valter was following at a
distance, with his mental gaze upon the kitchen
at the chalet; but he started and looked round
sharply, for in a low, suppressed whisper, some
one uttered an oath full of malignant passion.
But Valter did not see who it was, for the invalid
visitor who had lately come to the hotel was bend-
ing over his book, the print of which was small,
and the light was beginning to fail in the valley;
but there was light in more than one heart, as,
talking loudly, the Colonel walked slowly on with
his companions toward the chalet, pausing a while
as they reached the debris of the avalanche.

"Yes," said the Colonel, "that fall, and the un-
pleasant suspicions I had, made me think of
changing my camp; but we are quite safe where
we are, and I dare say I shall stay here forA SECRET QUEST.

8l

months. Ah, Hester, my dear—Ecclesia—our
friends here have come for a cup of coffee."

The Alpenglow seemed to be lingering still on
Hester's sweet, fair face; and there was a vestige,
too, on Aunt EccTesia's cheeks. Perhaps there
was more shadow in the hotel veranda, for there
Lawrence Anderson's countenance was ghastly
pale as he said to himself: "Yes, it's deeper than
I thought; but nothing shall stay me there."

6CHAPTER XI.

"Going to give up the hunt for the old gold
mine now ?" said Frant the next morning.

"Give tip," cried Deane; "no, why should I?"

" Thought you were going to turn lap-dog, per-
haps. I say, old fellow, you'll have the old man
asking your intentions before long."

" My dear Aleck, you had better give up chaff-
ing. Your wit is as blunt as the point of my al-
penstock."

"Possibly," said Frant; "my appetite is not—
pass that honey."

"Where are we going this morning?" said
Deane, hurriedly, to change the conversation.

" Where you like, old fellow; but I thought you
would like to be off to the chalet directly after you
had made so bad a breakfast."

" I shj^ll go to the chalet again when I am asked.
What do you say to crossing the glacier and hav-
ing a look over the other side of the ridge?"

" The very thing. There'll be a nice bit of a
climb first."

" I have an idea that the old workings lie some-
where over in that direction."

" Very likely. I wish they would make coffee
like this at home. Hullo: here's the invalid."

" Good-morning, gentlemen," said Anderson, en-
82A SECRET QUEST.

83

tering the veranda where the young men were
breakfasting. " You begin meals early."

"Want 'em in this fresh air."

" Yes, it is wonderful; my appetite is not like
the same since I have been here."

He took his seat at the next table, looking long-
ingly toward theirs.

"Plenty of room here," said Frant with his
mouth full.

"Thank you, if I should not be incommoding
you," said Anderson, looking at Deane to indorse
his friend's invitation. "It is dull for an in-
valid."

"Not at all," said Deane, quietly. "Have you
been ill long?"

"During the past year," said Anderson, seating
himself. " Over-work. My physician said I
should be all right if I gave up everything and
had a good brain rest, and exercised my limbs
well in the mountains. Thanks, yes," he con-
tinued to the maid who attended; "coffee and
fish."

"Nothing like climbing to put a fellow right,"
said Frant.

"Ah, yes, I should like to," said Anderson,
commencing his breakfast and looking timidly
from one to the other.

The meal went on in silence for a few minutes.

" Should I be rude if I asked in which direction
you make your excursion this morning?"

"By no means," replied Deane; while Frant
made so peculiar a grimace—with his face averted84

A SECRET QUEST.

from the table—that the maid stared at him open-
mouthed ; then, catching his eye, she turned scar-
let, and rushed into the salle-h-manger.

" We were thinking of going up the narrow rift
you see yonder beyond the pines; then over a ridge
to the valley that runs into this at right angles,
and crossing the glacier."

"Indeed?"

" Then we ascend this ridge, and go down into
a gorge on the other side."

" Ah! then there is a large glacier so near?"

"Thumper!" said Frant, "with some rattling
great crevasses and a good fall as well."

"How interesting," said Anderson, sitting bal-
ancing the spoon on the edge of his coffee cup.
" But it requires a trained mountaineer to climb to
such an elevation as that?"

"Oh no," replied Deane. "You could easily
do it if you took time."

"Because I was thinking I might try and go
part of the way, and see you as you came back."

"Oh, we'll see you up to the glacier," said
Deane, good-humoredly. " If you took a sand-
wich with you, there would be plenty to interest
you while we crossed, and we'd come back the
same way and pick you up. Eh, Aleck?"

"All right, I'm open to anything, so long as it's
a climb."

" A climb? Yes," said Anderson; " but surely I
should be giving you too much trouble. I am
such a bad walker."

" Make yourself a better one. Our guide shallA SECRET QUEST.

85

help you over the rough bits. It will be easier
coming back."

" But, really—if you think I should not incom-
mode you!"

" Not a bit. Pray come."

"Really, I cannot find words to express my
gratitude."

"Don't try," said Frant, bluntly. "Save your
wind; you'll want it all going up there."

" Then, if you will not mind, I think I will avail
myself of your kindness; but only on' one condi-
tion. "

" And what is that?" said Frant.

" That if my company proves irksome, or hinders
you, I am to be left behind."

"Agreed," said Deane.

"Yet another stipulation, gentlemen."

"We're making big bones of a very small mat-
ter," said Frant, taking out his pipe.

"I stipulate that you shall be my guests this
evening at dinner."

"Oh, nonsense!" said Frant.

"But--"

" And Mr. Anderson will pay us the same com-
pliment to-morrow."

"With the greatest pleasure," cried their com-
panion. " How soon do you start?"

"As soon as you have finished breakfast and
ordered your sandwich," replied Deane. "Get
your flask filled, too."

"Yes, of course. I will not be long. I ought
to wear thick boots, ought I not?"86

A SECRET QUEST.

"Well, if you went out in those patent leather
things you'd come back barefoot," said Frant,
laughing. " Put on the stoutest pair you have,
and bring an alpenstock."

Anderson nodded and went into the house, while
Frant turned to his companion. " Look here, old
chap, I'm such a good young man that I can't
swear—I mean I won't; but this is too bad. I'd
rather give a fiver than have that chap with us.
I don't like him."

" Well, really, Aleck," said Deane, thoughtfully,
"I don't think I do."

" And yet you've done the civil to him. I don't
like his eyes; there's a shiftiness about them that
isn't nice."

"Nonsense, man, prejudice!"

" Oh, no, it isn't. My father always said that I
was more like a bulldog than a boy; and I believe
he was right, for I feel as if I want to sniff round
that chap, and the more I sniffed the less I should
like him. Hush, here he is."

Anderson re-entered the veranda, looking very
eager and pale with excitement, to announce that
he would not be five minutes, and disappeared
again.

"No; I'm sure I don't like him."

"Ah, well," said Deane, who felt in the humor
to be friendly with all the world, " you need not
like him. We can be civil to the poor fellow as
he is so lonely."

" All right, and if he becomes much of a bore
we can take him up some tough bits and soonA SECRET QUEST.

87

sicken him of wanting to come with us—walk him
off his legs, eh?"

Deane laughed, and shouted to Valter that they
were ready to start. Then walking carelessly out
of the veranda he began to ascend the slope at
the back.

" Gone to look whether he can see the goddess
at the chalet window," muttered Frant. "Poor
old man! he's gone there. Wonder whether the
old man will stand it. Hallo! you there?" Frant
started, for Anderson had returned quietly and
was standing at his elbow, accoutred for the climb.

"Yes, I am quite ready now. Where is your
friend?"

" Up yonder," and he indicated the spot where
Deane stood. " Confound him," he added to him-
self ; " why did he steal upon me like that?"

Anderson's face was like marble, but there was
a peculiar look in his eyes which Frant did not see.
If he had seen it he would have liked his new
friend less.

" He has gone up there," thought Anderson, as
if inspired byFrant's own thoughts, "to see if she
is at the window."CHAPTER XII.

"Why, you're not half a bad hand as a climber,"
said Frant, a couple of hours later, as they stood
beside the dirty gray water which came roaring
from a low arched ice grotto at the foot of the
glacier.

"It is not so difficult as I thought it would
be."

" We brought you farther round, and up the lit-
tle side valley," said Deane, smiling.

"I see. And then there is the air. It is so
crisp and invigorating."

"To be sure it is," cried Frant. "Why, in six
months I could make you as strong here as Valter."

Anderson sighed and shook his head as he be-
gan to inspect the low grotto from which the water
roared, peering in to a soft bluish twilight which
grew darker into purple and then black.

" What an awful-looking place," he said. " From
where does all this water come?"

" Up above, miles away," said Frant, amused by
his curiosity. " Melting of the snow and ice from
the mountains."

" Where are we going now?"

" To climb up the side of the gorge here, and
get on the glacier," replied Deane, pointing up to
the right. " We shall leave you yonder, on that

88A SECRET QUEST.

89

sunny slope, where you will be able to see the
great glacier at your feet. You will have enough
to look at till we return."

" Is there any danger?"

"Not the slightest, unless you wilfully walk
into it. Now Valter, vomits!'1

The guide led the way to where the glacier
touched the side of the gorge. And so they
climbed on over the rocks, alternating their course
by taking at times to the glacier, which descended
for miles like a vast frozen waterfall wrhose foam
and waves had suddenly congealed. Every now
and then they were stopped by a huge crack, where
the ice had split across. These crevasses had a
strange fascination for Anderson, who peered down
into their blue depths and listened to the whis-
pering gurgle of the water that trickled down from
the surface melted with the heat of the sun. It
was the prevalence of these great rifts which forced
the party to take to the rocks at the side from time
to time; but as soon as the crevasse was passed
they dropped on to the ice again; for with all its
ruggedness, it was easier going than the precipi-
tous side of the gorge.

For quite two hours they climbed on, up and up,
very slowly, Anderson pausing from time to time
to express his delight at the wonderful tints of the
ice. Ever and again they threaded their way in
and out among blocks, crags, and pinnacles which
had fallen from above, and some of which were so
lightly poised that Valter urged caution, and spoke
in whispers.9°

A SECRET QUEST.

" Is he not making a needless fuss?" said Ander-
son. " Surely there is no danger."

Almost as he spoke there was a terrific crash—
a splintering, rending sound—and hundreds of tons
of ice-crag went gliding down some hundred yards
or so to their left.

"Bit dangerous that," said Frant, dryly.

" Never try that side of the gletscher, gentle-
men," said Valter, quietly. "The ice is always
rotten there."

Anderson said nothing, but toiled on, perspiring
profusely, till at last they came to where the ice
towered up, rugged and splintered, thawed by
many mid-day suns into jagged forms ready to
topple down at a touch. Here Valter pointed to
the rock at the side.

"Here is your stiffest bit of climbing," said
Deane. "Valter and I will go up first, and lower
down the rope for you to have fastened round your
waist. We'll pull you up if you do not care to
venture and climb."

"Let me see you go up first," said Anderson,
quietly.

"Look here, you know," said Frant, "perhaps
you've had enough of it; would you like to go
back now?"

"Oh, no. Let me see you climb."

Valter attained the rugged slope, and went
easily up, seizing the different projections, and
mounting about sixty feet, to where the rock was
split into a broad opening forming a gully, easy
of ascent. Deane was after him directly, but heA SECRET QUEST.

9*

used his ice-axe as a hook, inserting the pointed
end of the head in horizontal crevices and easily
joining the guide.

"Wait a minute," he said; "we'll send down
the end of the rope."

" There is no necessity, I think, "said Anderson;
and without hesitation he began to climb, varying
a little from Deane's course, and taking more time,
but reaching the others in safety, and not realizing
till he was by them that Frant had followed close
behind.

"Only going to spread-eagle you if you had lost
your nerve," he said, laughing. " I say, that's not
so very bad for an invalid. Why, you'll be ready
to do one of the peaks directly."

"Oh, perhaps with practice I might in time,"
said Anderson, hastily. " By the way, are you
going to climb one of the important mountains?"

"Done the lot," said Frant, coolly: "Jung-
frau, Wetterhorn, Eiger, Monch, Mischebelhorn,
Weisshorn, Rosa, Matterhorn, and most of the
little ones about here. Try 'em again if you're
on."

Anderson shook his head and set his teeth, for
the climb was stiff now; but it was only over a
huge buttress which jutted out over the chaos of
ice-masses below, and as they carefully descended
on the other side it was to where the glacier wound
round comparatively smoothly, and a deep roar
cattie to their ear$.

"Are you going down on the ice again?" asked
Anderson.92

A SECRET QUEST.

"Yes; to show you the great crevasse yonder
where there is a moulin."

"A moulin—a mill?"

" They call it so where a big* stream of water
passes down. It is one of the streams which helps
to make the torrent you saw coming out of the ice
cavern at the foot of the glacier."

The lawyer nodded at Deane.

" Yes," he said, " I should like to see that."J

A quarter of a mile upward along the glacier,
and they were at the edge of the terrific crack
which the friends had examined the day after the
avalanche, and as they approached, Anderson in-
voluntarily shrank back and listened, awe-stricken,
to the deep musical roar of the falling water.

" Take my hand," said Deane, smilingly. " You
will soon master that shrinking. Mind where you
place your feet. It is worth seeing."

Anderson set his teeth, declined the proffered
hand, and advanced slowly to the very edge. Frant
gave a sharp glance, and the guide nodded and
crept closer, thrusting his ice-axe behind in his
belt, so as to have his hands at liberty, and stood
watchfully near while Anderson gazed down into
the awful chasm whose sides were of a deep blue
where the spray of the falling water did not hide
them as in a mist.

"Where does this water come from?" asked
Anderson, after a few minutes, in a husky voice.

Deane pointed to a gully in the mountain-side a
hundred yards away.

" I see. Is this crevasse deep?"A SECRET QUEST.

93

" Hundreds of feet, eh, Valter?"

" More than five," was the reply. " Right down
through the ice to the rock."

"Now then," said Deane, "we propose that you
climb up that sunny slope, and you can rest or
have a nap if you like."

" There are no wild beasts—no bears," said An-
derson.

"By George, no!" cried Frant; "I only wish
there were."

" There's nothing whatever to fear," said Deane.
"You will rest there while we cross the glacier,
and go over the ridge on the other side to descend
into a deep valley there."

"Gold hunting!" said Frant, merrily. "And
look here, sir. You see that point with the ice on
it?—that sharp pyramid?"

"Yes."

"Well, in two hours' time I'm going to wave
my hat to you from there. Valter and I mean to
go on while friend Deane here grubs after Roman
remains. Won't come, I suppose."

"I? Not this time," replied Anderson. "I
must confess to feeling tired. But you will return
to me. I fear that I should be in difficulties if I
went back alone."

"My word's my bond," said Frant, quietly.
" Now then, have you got your sandwiches, flask,
cigars and matches?"

"Yes; all safe."

" Then off you go; and don't come too close to
this crevasse while we are away;" and they went94

A SECRET QUEST.

off along the lower lip of the crevasse, while
Anderson slowly climbed the side of the gorge
through which the frozen river ran. In half an
hour the two young men and the guide had
crossed the glacier and mounted rapidly to the
ridge above it, whence they looked back to see
Anderson snugly ensconced in a nook, full in the
bright sunshine.

" Eating his lunch," said Frant, and they went
on and began to descend into the deep gorge which
had attracted Deane before.

" Take care of yourself, old man," cried Frant,
as they reached a gully up which he and Valter
were to climb to the peak.

" Never fear," was the reply.

" Mind the kobolds and goblins who guard the
gold, and don't go mad if you find too much."

"I'll take care," said Deane, who was thinking
of the glint of gold in Hester's luxuriant hair.

" Better get back to him as soon as you've had
your squint round, and we'll drop down on to the
glacier higher up. Save time."

"Very well," replied Deane, and they parted—
he to go down a tremendous slope where all was
black and bare; Frant and the guide to ascend
higher and higher till, within five minutes of the
time foretold, he stuck his hat on the top of his
ice-axe, and waved it from the snow on the peak.

"See him, Valter?"

"Yes, herr; he is waving his handkerchief.
No, it is the sun shining on a patch of slate. I
cannot see him."A SECRET QUEST.

95

" Never mind," said Frant, looking at his watch.
"We did it Come on down."

They plunged at once into a deep gully, which
led them at last by many a zig-zag to where the
tiny stream at the bottom flowed on the glacier
far above the gully; crossing this they climbed
along the side of the gorge, and in four hours from
setting out reached Anderson, stretched out on a
patch of heather apparently fast asleep.

" Yo-ho-ho-ho!" shouted Frant; and Anderson
started up as if alarmed. " Back again, you see.
Where's Deane?"

"Deane? Your friend? I have not seen him.
Is he not with you?"

Frant glanced sharply at Valter, who responded
with a peculiarly wild look in his dark eyes.

"Something has happened, herr," he said,
" Back at once."CHAPTER XIII.

"Happened?" cried Anderson, excitedly; "you
don't think-"

He did not finish his sentence, but stared at
Frant..

"No, I don't think," said the latter, peevishly,
"I try to act," and he started off down the slope
once more to reach the glacier.

"Shall I come with you?" cried Anderson after
them.

"No," shouted back Frant; "we can go twice
as fast without you. Stay there. We nfay come
back by another way."

Anderson drew his breath between his teeth
with a hissing sound. Taking a step or two along
the slope to where he could rest one hand upon a
rugged stone, he shaded his eyes with the other,
and leaned forward, gazing eagerly over the great
frozen river that swept by him, and searching the
piled-up masses, his eyes noting the pitfall-like
cracks and chasm in the ice—slippery portals to
the great unknown land.

There was a strange expression on the man's
thin, keen face. It was not anxiety, but a pecul-
iar look of eagerness and joy. For an obstacle of
great power had sprung up in his path; difficulties

96A SECRET QUEST.

97

had risen that had seemed insurmountable, and he
had even begun to make plans for ridding himself
of them; when now it was as if fate was playing
into his hand.

" It is too good to believe," he said with a cyn-
ical smile. " But why not? These venturesome
fools come to grief sooner or later. Why not
sooner—now?"

He leaned back against the rock in the glowing
sunshine and closed his eyes. Not to shut out a
terrible picture of one who had left him, some
three or four hours before, full of youthful life and
strength, now perhaps lying broken and disfig-
ured at the bottom of a precipice; but to keep in
the vision that rose up before him of Hester Den-
ton, bright in her girlish grace—the woman who
had first stirred the pulses of the middle-aged man
whose existence had been one long fostering of
ambition.

"Yes, why not?" he said, aloud; and at last he
opened his eyes again, to see that Frant and the
guide had disappeared: " I have nothing against
him but that," said Anderson, smiling.. "The
world is wide enough. He might have lived on
but for that; but in the path I have marked out
there is not room for us both. Why should it be
too good to be true? "

The sun was getting well now toward the west,
and he knew that he had two hours' walk back to
the hotel. They said there was another way; but
he doubted his ability to find it, and a slight shiver
ran through him as he recalled the steep precipice
798

A SECRET QUEST.

he had climbed that morning—one he would have
to descend alone.

" How long had I better stop?" he asked him-
self at the end of an hour. " I cannot be expected
to stay here till the evening is close at hand. It
would be madness to stay longer! What's that?"

A curious sound had come from a distance,
seeming for a moment to dominate the deep-toned
roar of the torrent. It was the guide's jodel, and
turning his eyes to the left he saw three figures
coming down the opposite side of the gorge.

" Bah! I need not break my heart about him,"
he said, mockingly. "Not even hurt," he mut-
tered. " Well, perhaps it is better so."

As he stood watching the little party come
across the glacier, crossing the various obstacles
with a display of activity that excited his envy,
he took off his hat and waved it to them, and
went down part of the way to meet them with a
smile.

" You quite startled me," he said; " I was afraid
something terrible had happened."

" So there had," cried Frant, pettishly; " Deane
had found a round stone with a hole in it, and if
we had not shouted at him he would have been
dreaming over it till dark."

" A round stone?"

"Don't take any notice of him, Mr. Anderson,"
said Deane, merrily; " I am looking for some of
the old mine workings, and I think I have come
upon traces over yonder."

"Gammon!" cried Frant. "Come, push on>A SECRET QUEST.

99

old chap; I want some of our friend's dinner. Go
ahead, Valter."

They began the return journey, and Anderson,
who was close behind Deane, asked what the
traces were.

" Show him," shouted Frant from the front.

"Oh, there is nothing to show but this," said
Deane, and he produced a heavy stone about the
size and shape of a small cocoanut, perforated as if
it had once had a stick thrust through it as a handle.

" But that might have accidentally been formed
in that shape," remarked Anderson.

"Oh, dear me, no," cried Frant, banteringly.
"Ask him, and he'll tell you it was a crusher
used by some old barbarian laborer working for
our friends, the Romans."

" Why not?" said Deane, quietly.

"Ah, to be sure; why not? You come again,
old man, and see if you can't find Mr. Barbarian's
bones!"

As they walked back Anderson continued the
conversation with Deane apropos of the Roman re-
mains ; but his eyes were wandering from side to
side, and he realized how he might have rambled
about for hours without freeing himself from the
wilderness of ice and frozen snow, with the proba-
bility that he would have stepped inadvertently
into one of the crevices as the darkness fell.

" I wonder what my clients in town would say
if they had seen me hanging at the end of that
rope, or stumbling and slipping about here in this
wintry chaos," he said, at last, laughingly.IOO

A SECRET QUEST.

" Only that you had got a touch of the Alpine
fever," said Deane. "We all catch it out here."

"Yes, I must have some more trips like this,"
cried Anderson, enthusiastically. " It is grand."

" Dinner's a grander subject to my mind now,"
cried Frant. "Mr. Anderson, in anticipation, I
drink your health, and muscularity to your legs."

Anderson laughed merrily, but he was scanning
the way carefully, and trying to impress it on his
memory ready for future use.

" This is the longer way back, though, is it not?"
he said, at last, as they were nearing the main
valley.

"Yes; but it's getting dark," replied Deane,
"and we felt that this would be safer."CHAPTER XIV.

"Now, really, John, I am surprised at you—■
and before Hester, too."

Colonel Denton sat back in his chair and
laughed. It was reaction day, after a very severe
fit of pain, during which he had sent Hester out
of the room in tears after declaring a dozen times
over that his last day had really come. Then he
had had a severe encounter with Aunt Ecclesia,
who had not found herself able to stand her ground
so well as in general; in fact, it had been a stormy
day. Deane and Frant had been up to the chalet,
but had been delicately warned off by Hester, who
apologetically suggested that as papa was so un-
well it would be better for them to call again.
And when, later on, Anderson had strolled up to
the place to ask the Colonel whether he had rec-
ommended the use of Sprudel salts twice or four
times a week, the sound of the old officer's voice
roaring furiously warned him that it would be
better if he deferred his call.

The storm having passed, the Colonel's guilty
conscience needed no accuser. He was trying
hard to efface the recollections of the previous day,
and after bringing smiles once more to Hester's
pale face, he was bantering his sister-in-law till
she grew quite ruffled.

IOI102

A SECRET QUEST.

"Well," he said; "I suppose it's natural, and
I don't see why you should not marry again,
Ecclesia."

"John, will you be quiet!" cried the little lady,
whose face was now scarlet.

"No—why should I? Not blind, my dear!
What I was going to say is——1"

" Nothing at all. Hester, my dear, if your papa
persists in going on like this I shall think seriously
of going back to England."

"Not you. Wouldn't have the heart. What
I was going to say is that I am not surprised at
your feeling disposed to marry again. But I am
surprised that you should contemplate such a
mesalliance."

"John, how dare you?"

"For the honor of our family—for Hester's
sake."

"Really you are too dreadful, John. What do
you mean?"

" Of course, I know that he is well built, sturdy,
good looking, and evidently very healthy. Then,
I suppose he is about your own age?"-

"Oh, Hester, this is dreadful," cried Aunt Ec-
clesia, springing up and looking hot as well as red.

"Ah! If you attempt to leave the room,
madam, I'll lock the door."

" Then I insist upon your being silent. When
Hester is not here, John, I will talk to you."

" Sit still, Hetty, my dear. Your aunt must be
brought to see this contemplated folly as other
people see it."A SECRET QUEST.

103

" I tell you I don't contemplate any folly," cried
the little lady with a stamp of the foot.

"Oh, come, come!" cried the Colonel, "it's as
plain as a pike-staff. Of course, you are your own
mistress, and have your fortune at your command.
But—shall you settle here, in the valley?"

"What do you mean, John?"

"And keep cows?"

Aunt Ecclesia took up some work and began to
stitch viciously.

" Of course, you could cultivate the cheese trade,
and let apartments in the season."

" Is your papa going mad, Hester?" said Aunt
Ecclesia.

" Not a bit of it—I am only sorry. But you are
such a good, patient, dear little woman, Ecclesia,
that we will not throw you over. Hetty and I
will come and take lodgings with you every
summer."

" I declare, John, it is too bad."

" But though I grant the necessity for a woman
of your years to have a guide, I am surprised that
you should have chosen a Swiss of his class."

"Oh, this is getting beyond a joke," cried Aunt
Ecclesia, who was now angry. "John, what do
you mean?"

" I mean about your carryings on with that fel-
low Valter."

" John!"

" Oh, come, it's of no use to deny it! You know
it was all nonsense when you were holding on to
that tree."104

A SECRET QUEST.

"It was not nonsense, John. I was utterly
unnerved."

"Stuff! You could have walked back easily-
enough, only you wanted Master Valter to come
and help!"

"John, it is not true."

"What!" cried the Colonel. "Why, you had
better deny that he took you in his arms and waded
with you across the stream."

" I don't deny it, sir; but he carried Hester over
afterward; and then he carried you—and—very
ridiculous you looked."

" I did, my dear, very. A man of my years
does not look well carried pick-aback; but I did
not want to wet my feet. There; I hear that Mr.
Anderson came up yesterday when I was ill, so I
think I will walk up to the hotel and have a chat
with him. Are we going for a walk this after-
noon? You'll come, of course, Ecclesia?"

" I shall stay here," said the lady, shortly.

"Nonsense! you must come with us. There was
some talk of going as far as the glacier, and the
guides will be with us."

Aunt Ecclesia frowned.

" I don't suppose I shall be very long," continued
the Colonel, and he went out.

"Oh, Hester, my child," cried Aunt Ecclesia,
" it is too dreadful. Can your father really believe
sudh a thing of me?"

"Why, of course not, auntie; he was teasing:
you all the time. But---"

"But what?"A SECRET QUEST.

"I was only thinking, dear, that all the time
papa meant some one else."

Aunt Ecclesia started up indignantly, then sank
back into her chair and burst into tears.

" Auntie, auntie!" cried Hester, tenderly, " what
have I done? I can't help seeing that you like
him."

" And if I do, dear, I never let him see it; and
I never reproach you for liking Mr. Deane."

"Aunt, dear, for shame!" cried Hester, flushing,
and rising from where she had been kneeling with
her arms about her aunt's waist. She went to the
window, but only to start back, for Deane and
Frant were just crossing the debris of the avalanche.

"Aunt, dear," said Hester, "are we not talking^
in a very foolish, unprofitable way?"

" I don't know, my dear. I must speak to you,,
though."

" What about, aunt?"

" Hetty, I will never give my consent to your
accepting Mr. Anderson!"

" How absurd, aunt! Surely you do not think
he means that?"

" I hope not. He is far too old for me; for you,
it would be absurd."

"Yes, aunt," said Hester, with a sigh of relief;
"absurd!"

" I am relieved to hear that, my dear."CHAPTER XV.

It was a full month now since Anderson had
come, and he had not been able to blind himself to
the fact that Hester had been warm and cool by
turns, while there was not room for a doubt as to
the lawyer's intentions. He had gradually wound
himself more and more into the Colonel's confi-
dence, asking his advice on questions of health,
and treating the said advice with the greatest def-
erence. And now they had reached a point when
he was the Colonel's constant companion in his
walks. He was daily in Hester's society, and it
seemed as if Deane's love affair had met with a
severe check, and the lady was ready to accept the
middle-aged visitor as her suitor.

All this had soured Deane. One day he was
hopeful, hanging on a smile or a look; the next
despondent, and ready to take his ice-axe and dash
off into some out-of-the-way thai where he could
be alone with nature in her most savage moods.
But not for long; Frant and Valter invariably
hunted him out, the former to speak to him cheer-
ily, and the latter to lecture him on the danger of
making such venturous expeditions without a
guide.

On this day, after the morning's disappointment
106A SECRET QUEST.

regarding an expedition that had been half prom-
ised during a whist party at the Col one? s, Deane
had htirried off, with the sun blazing down, and
was overtaken a couple of hours later by Frant.

After that they had plunged into a wilder spot
than usual, in opposition to Valter's advice; he
had detected signs of a storm in the distance cross-
ing the great peaks of the Oberland, till at last
the threatenings became so ominous that they
were obliged to make for the shelter of the hotel;
but only to find that they had turned too late.
The distance was greater than Deane, in his ex-
citement, had realized, and before they were half
way back down came the storm, covering every-
thing in a few minutes with a wintry mantle.

The two young men trudged on in silence, Frant
hoping that before long, as they got lower, the
snow would become rain. On the contrary, the
weather grew worse, and it seemed as if they
would never get down into the main valley or
reach the hotel.

" Schneethal," grumbled Frant at last, after a few
minutes' shelter in a hollow, while they had a sip
of brandy and lit their pipes; " why this ought to
be the snow valley, Valter."

"Yes, herr."

"Talk about June—why it's December/'

" The herr forgets that it is always December in
the mountains if he goes high enough up."

"Let's get on," said Deane, and they proceeded
with their walk, which became almost perilous,
for the evening was near at hand. A quarter ofio8

A SECRET QUEST.

an hour passed, and they were walking abreast
now, crunch, crunch through the snow, which
emitted a creaking sound as it was compressed.
Deane had been silent, and Frant had tried to en-
liven the way by whistling and shouting a word
from time to time at Valter, who was leading,
when Deane, after making several efforts to bring
himself to speak, suddenly said—

" You do not honestly think that they were going
for a walk to-day, Aleck?"

"Come, that's more like you," was the reply.
"Yes, old fallow, I honestly do."

There wets a pause of some minutes' duration,
and it required a greater effort before Deane spoke
again.

" Why do you think so?"

" Because Mrs. Lindley said she was sure they
would, and suggested that we should stay."

Deane drew his breath hard and there was si-
lence. The wind shrieked and roared above their
heads, while the snow came in blinding puffs in
their faces.

"Are we going right, Valter?" shouted Frant.

"Right, herr? Oh, yes," said the guide, in a
tone which inspired confidence.

" Toddle along, then. We'll keep close behind.
It all seems new ground to me in this snow. I
say, Adam—not very nice to sleep in a snow hovel
to-night."

Deane did not answer; he felt on fire with jeal-
ousy.

" I should look out for a sehn hutte, and ask theA SECRET QUEST.

IO9:

hospitality of some cow. It would be warm, and
one might get some milk."

" They surely would have seen signs of the com-
ing storm," said Deane, at length, "and have
stayed back."

"Oh, yes, I should think so," replied Frant.

"How much farther is it, Valter?" shouted
Deane, after a long interval of battling with the
snow.

"A half hour, herr—not more," was the cheer-
ing reply. " Can you walk faster?"

"Yes, yes—go on," said Deane, hoarsely.

Still they did not go faster, but more slowly, for
the snow grew deeper in the narrow path they had
now reached; but in an interval of the raging wind
there came up from below the deep-toned roar of
the falls just beyond the hotel, and at last the
bridge was reached. They passed over to where,
on its broad platform, the Chalet Hotel stood—that
they had left a few hours before in the midst of
summer, and had returned to find in a complete
wintry garb.

"Hurrah! lights!" cried Frant, as there was a
gleam from one of the windows, dimly seen through
the fast-falling snow.

Deane gazed up to the right to try and make out
the lights in the Colonel's cottage, but in vain.

Just then Valter sent forth the familiar Swiss
jodel, which was answered from a little way before
them, and in a few minutes the three white figures
reached the open doorway of the hotel.

Quite a little group was ready to welcome them,*no

A SECRET QUEST.

and, amid, an eager burst of inquiry, Mrs. Lindley
came hurriedly from the dining-room.

"Oh, I am so glad you are both safe," she cried,
and then stopped short, panted, and exclaimed:
u Where are the others?"

" The others?" cried Deane, excitedly. " They
are not out."

" Yes, yes. I thought you would see them."

" Good heavens! Which way did they go?"

" Up toward the pass."

" Miss Denton?"

" Yes, and Mr. Anderson."

"Alone!" shouted Deane.

"No, no; my brother-in-law was with them.
They went at twelve."

Deane turned from her toward the door, but
Frant darted at him and caught his arm.

"Don't—don't do that!" cried Deane, shaking
himself free.

"But listen, man," said Frant, hoarsely, as a
burst of exclamation arose from the landlord, his
wife, and those around. " Here, I say: has any
one gone to meet them?"

"No, herr," cried the landlord. "We have ex-
pected them moment by moment."

"Valter, lad," cried Frant, "what have you to
say?"

" It is like walking to one's death to go up the
pass to-night, herr," he said, gravely. " The path
is covered with snow."

"Do you hear, Adam?" whispered Frant.A SECRET QUEST.

Ill

" Hear!" he replied. " It is as if a trumpet had
blared it in my ears. Are you my friend ?"

Frant gripped his hand firmly.

" Then come on."

"Mr. Frant!" cried Aunt Ecclesia, wildly; but
he was already out in the snow, where Adam
Deane's dimly-seen figure was disappearing be-
yond the narrow range of the lights; and, after a
moment's hesitation, Valter caught up the lan-
tern standing ready lit, and dashed off after them,
shouting them to stay,CHAPTER XVI.

Frant laid his hand on Deane's shoulder as he
overtook him.

" What are you going to do?" he said.

" Can you ask?"

"You know, I suppose, that up the pass the
snow will be very deep?"

"Yes. Don't waste time with questions."

"You hardly know the way. The path will be
covered."

" Yes."

" And the risk will be terrible."

"Man, I know all that," cried Deane. "Come
on; or go back, if you like. We are losing time."

"One minute. You know there is the old hos-
pice up in the pass—hotel now."

" Yes."

" And that there are several refuges where they
may be in safety."

" I know, too, that they may not have reached
the hospice or refuges, and are perhaps helpless
in the snow. Are you coming, or going to stay?"

" Coming," said Frant, quietly. " Ah," he added
joyously, as there was a glow of light close to
them, "here is Valter."

"Are you going up the pass, herrs?" he said,
sharply.

112A SECRET QUEST.

ll3

"Yes," cried Frant. "We must find these peo-
ple. Are you going to venture too!"

"I am your guide, gentlemen," said the man,
simply. " What would they say about here if I
let my herrs go alone?"

" Ten pounds for to-night's work, Valter, if we
find them," cried Deane.

" Twenty pounds would not make me go, herr,"
said the man, quietly. " I am going to help save
those poor souls."

Deane caught the guide's hand in his, gripped
it hard for a moment, and then pointed forward.

" One minute, herr," said Valter. " Your flask?"

"Three parts full of brandy."

"And mine half," cried Frant.

Without another word the guide opened the lan-
tern, trimmed the light a little, closed the snow-
flecked glass with a snap, and started up the valley
along by the swift torrent, which came roaring
down, black now as ink by contrast with the snow.

"Quicker," said Deane, who was next, after
they had gone some distance.

" No, herr," said Valter, quietly, his voice being
swept away as the snow-laden wind rushed down
the thai. " Slow and steady. We shall want all
our strength. Quicker means breaking down be-
fore we are half way up the pass."

Deane drew a deep breath, for he recalled how
they had been tramping all day, and felt the truth
of the man's words.

"Can you hear me," shouted Valter.

" Yes; go on."

8H4

A SECRET QUEST.

" The path, as you know, keeps on all the way
by the river, sometimes on one side, sometimes on
the other."

" Yes."

" They cannot very well have strayed from it
except where it forks and runs up into the moun-
tains. "

" And there are only two places between here
and the coif*

"Four, herr," said the guide, quietly. "There
is the eastern path up to the Schwartz grat, and
the western which leads up to the Ewigesfirn."

"Yes, I had forgotten those," said Deane.

" But they are not likely to have gone up there.
If they had strayed away in the blinding snow,
they would know they, were wrong because it is
so steep, and have come back to the path."

" If they could," muttered Deane, as he tramped
heavily on through the snow.

"Oh, my poor dinner!" said Frant to himself;
" and not had time to light a pipe. Seems a hard
thing to do—this. But there, one always feels at
one's best when trying to do something hard.
Can't talk to poor old Deane now, so must talk to
myself. Wish I could light my pipe."

They pressed on, with the snow seeming to
blind them as it swept down; but the spirit within
their breasts kept them sternly bent to their task,
and the trio went a mile of their way without in-
cident, listening to the rush of the waters deep
down on their left. At times the rocky path was
fairly clear, but in the hollows the snow was fastA SECRET QUEST.

XI5

growing deeper, and as every step carried them
higher tip the gorge, beyond the growth of pine
and shrub, to the desolate wilderness of barren
rocks, they knew that their difficulties would
increase.

They forgot their weariness, however, in the
excitement, and Frant, still last, went on musing
with his head bent, rather liking the parts of
their walk where there was a difficulty to sur-
mount.

"Poor girl!" he said to himself. "Poor little
darling! I am sorry I called her a coquette.
Some disagreeable people would say this served
me right, and was a judgment on me. Well, I
can't do that. She's too nice. But I am wild
with her for taking to that lean-faced 'Stopheles
instead of poor old Deane."

"Poor old Adam!" he continued, after ridding
his boot-soles of two rounded masses of ice; "he's
too good for her. Women are so silly."

Then he began thinking about Mrs. Lindley.

"So am I," he mused, "to get thinking about
that round, pleasant little woman; but how can a
fellow help it when he has carried her in his arms
and had hers tight round his neck? What a cry
she gave, too, as I ran out. It was as if she was
afraid I should get into danger, and wanted me to
stay. Enough to make any man run away. No,"
he continued, after a pause, during which the
wind came with terrific force, driving the snow-
drift in his teeth; " that sort of thing won't do.
I'm not a marrying man. Make the poor littleii6

A SECRET QUEST.

thing a widow again by breaking my miserable
neck, as they say I shall some day. Break her
heart if she was growing to care for me. By
George! I hope we shall find these poor creatures.
It's cold enough to kill a horse. Hullo! anything
the matter?"

"No, sir," shouted Valter, who had halted and
was holding the light above his head, " I was only
thinking. There's one of the turnings up into
the mountains; but they could hardly have strayed
up there."

"No," said Deane, "forward!"

The tramp, tramp, over the creaking snow con-
tinued.

For the next half-hour not a word was spoken.
The toilsome nature of the walking and the depth
of the drifts through which now and then they
had to struggle, took away the disposition to con-
verse, more especially as the wind smote them so
heavily that they had to pant for breath.

At last, the agony Deane had suppressed so far,
as he pictured a hundred perils for the woman he
dearly loved, would seek some alleviation, and he
pressed near to the guide as he trudged on with
head bent and eyes wandering from side to side
where the snow was faintly illumined by the mov-
ing lamp.

"Valter!" he cried.

" Herr?"

"No, no, don't stop. I'll try and make you
hear me. I've been thinking. They must have
been a long way up the pass here. The ColonelA SECRET QUEST.

117

$aid he should go up to the top some day, so as to
see the view in the Rhone Valley; and as they
-saw the storm coming on—you remember a few
flakes were falling for quite an hour before the
wind descended so fiercely?"

"Yes, herr, I remember."

" So they must have gone on to the old hospice
to take shelter till the snow had ceased."

Valter tramped on in silence, and his dimly
seen figure looked weird and strange, the lantern
-shedding a halo round the guide against which his
dark figure was seen.

"Well," shouted Deane, "why don't you speak?"
But he was trembling with dread at the man's
manner, for Valter was no pessimist, and always
took a cheerful view of their troubles when they
were climbing.

"Speak, herr?"

"Yes. You think they have taken shelter
there?"

"No, herr, I do not," said the man, gravely.

" But why not? What'could be more likely?"

" It is likely that they would go there hoping
for shelter; but it is early in the season, herr.
The hospice hotel does not open for a fortnight
yet. It has been shut up all the winter."

" And no one there?" groaned Deane. " I ought
to have known."

There was an interval of toilsome labor now, as
they tramped on, the despair Deane felt chilling
him more than the icy blast. But he took heart
again.n8

A SECRET QUEST.

"They must have gone up there," he said*
"Look here, Valter."

"I am listening, herr."

" They would have found the place closed, but
there are stables and out-buildings that would
have given them shelter."

"No, herr. Everything would have been
tightly closed up, and I was told last week that the
snow lay many feet deep about the place—the
snow of February's storm."

" Then they would have gone on over the pass
and down into the Rhone Valley. They would
soon get shelter there."

" No people like those three could have climbed
up the col in the face of this storm. It would take
strong men to do it, and they must be people who
know the way. I should have thought it madness
to go up there. You know what a savage place
it is."

Deane was silent. He remembered well how
they had been overtaken on a fine day by a mist,
and how difficult they had found it to avoid a fall
in the labyrinth of mighty rocks and hollows be-
wildering in the extreme at such a time.

" But you have some idea, man. You think
they have taken shelter?"

"There's 110 shelter except in the refuges, sir.
Perhaps they are in one of them. Stop!"

He started back, for all at once, high upon their
right, there was a roar as of thunder strangely
muffled by the wind and snow.

"The good God spare our lives!" he whispered,,A SECRET QUEST.

119

with prayerful simplicity and faith, as the trio
stood awe-stricken, knowing that the weight of
the newly-fallen snow higher had set some of the
firn in motion, and that it was sweeping down
toward them. They felt as one man that to move
might be to rush right into the peril they sought
to avoid.

The roar increased till it was one deep over-
powering boom, which died off in a smothered
groan; and then the wind seemed to rise again
with a triumphant shriek.

"A fall from the Etzlifirn, herr," shouted Val-
ter. " There is no danger now. Forward."

For three hours more they plodded on, with in-
creasing difficulty; for as they rose higher—from
four to five, and thence to six thousand feet above
the sea level—it was more and more into the
region of furious wintry storm, and there was yet
another thousand feet of slow tedious climb be-
fore they would reach the first refuge. It was ap-
proaching midnight when, panting and exhausted,
the little rescue party struggled up the slope to a
narrow platform, a hundred feet from the track,
where a stone tent was built into a niche in a per-
pendicular wall of rock.

"Courage, herr, courage!" panted Valter, as,
with the lantern swaying, he waded through a
drift of snow whose surface was level with his
waist. "Keep to my steps; mayhap they are
here."

"No," groaned Deane, "they could never have
found this place in the face of the storm."120

A SECRET QUEST.

Frant said nothing, but he thought the same as
he stooped and entered the rugged hut, whose
floor was covered with drifted snow.

The place looked ghastly and strange by the
light of the lantern. Chilly as it was. it felt
comparatively warm, and the light ceased to flicker
as the guide shook off the snow from his garb.

" Forward to the next," said Deane.

"In five minutes, herr," said the guide.

"Yes, we must get breath. You will break
down, old man," said Frant, producing his flask.
" Here, have a drop."

"For heaven's sake, no," said Deane, passion-
ately; "save every drop. That may mean the
saving of their lives."

"I have more here," said Valter, tapping his
breast, " than we dare give them. Drink, gentle-
men; we want all our strength."

Deane tossed off the portion handed to him, and
started again to the door, to stand gazing out at
the black solidity that spread before him, flecked
•with the huge flakes of snow which swept by.

" Shall I?" said Frant, inquiringly, of the guide,
as he took out his pipe and pouch.

" Yes. We must have rest and strength, herr.
Make him smoke, too."

Frant nodded, took out his pocket-book, and
drew from its folds an excellent cigar.

"Here, Deane," he said; "take this."

"What? No—no. Man!—man! Don't stay
trifling here. Come on."

" We are a quarter hour from the next refuge^A SECRET QUEST.

121

herr, and the snow will be deeper. You must
gain strength. Smoke and drink again," said
Valter. " I say you should. I am your guide."

Deane drank again; the door of the lantern
was opened, and directly after the pungent smoke
from cigar and pipe began to fill the hut.

Deane smoked on furiously, tramping up and
down the narrow place, while the wind that
rushed wildly along among the piled-up rocks
about them, and smote heavily upon the face of
the precipice, gave forth shrieks which sounded
like those of human beings in distress, followed
by exulting roars and yells as from a pack of
demons of the storm.

"Yes," said Valter, as if in answer to a ques-
tion asked by Frant, just as one of these wild
choruses died away in the distance, "the poor
people in the mountains say that the tempest fiends
raise these storms, and ride down the valleys
among the sehne hutte and tear up the pines. It
is not so; but it sounds as if they were all loose
from hades on a night like this."

Once more out into the wild night, the wind tear-
ing at them as it rushed snow-laden down the rap-
idly narrowing gorge, forcing the little party to-
shelter behind a mass of stone tumbled down from
above. Growing exhausted now with their many
hours of battling with the elements, everything
about them seemed to be unreal and strange, and
as they staggered on toward the second refuge,
Deane looked in vain for objects that would recall
previous visits to the pass.122

A SECRET QUEST.

All appeared changed; and growing minute by
minute more confused, and stunned by the buffet-
ing of the storm and the constant exhausting effort
at plodding through the snow, he was in nowise
surprised at Valter stopping short at the first place
where they could get a little shelter and wiping
the snow from his eyes.

"Tired?" panted Frant.

"No, herr; but I fear I have lost my way!"

"Impossible!" cried Frant. "We can't have
gone off the path. The only way is along there."

He pointed as he spoke to where the torrent
foamed along, a couple of hundred feet beneath
the path.

" I mean, I'm afraid I have passed the second
snow hut."

"I have been thinking so, too," said Deane,
bitterly; " but I trusted you."

The guide started as if he had been stung.

"Come along, herrs," he said; "perhaps we
have not passed it. We had to fight so hard
against the snow and wind that it may have
seemed longer. It ought to be near here."

"What's that heap of snow there?" said Frant,
as he tried to peer through the darkness.

"That?" cried Valter, dubiously. "Ah!" he
added, joyously, the next moment, " I am right.
Behold the place."

He hurried up, stumbled twice in his weariness,
and then they saw him tearing at the snow, which
gave way and fell inward, while as the man thrust
in the lantern he uttered a shout of joy.A SECRET QUEST.

123

"They are there!" cried Deane, following
quickly into the hut, whose entrance was half
"blocked by the drift.

"It is the Herr Colonel/' cried Valter, ex-
citedly; and the old officer struggled up from a
corner into a half recumbent position, to stare
with half closed eyes at the light.

"Where am—Ah, my child! Help! help!" he
gasped.

"Yes, we are come," cried Deane, excitedly.
"Where is she?"

"Hester? Hester?" said the Colonel, with a
blank look indicative of the stupor brought on by
cold and exhaustion.

"Yes. Where is she, sir? For God's sake,
speak."

"She—they were here—just now—I could go
no further—I don't know—I must have slept.
Brandy."

Frant's flask was already at his lips, and he
drank eagerly, but only to sink back afterward with
a sigh, and they could not extract another word.

"Listen," said Deane, as he took off the rolled-
up cape he bore swung from a strap—for in spite
of the storm he had remained uncovered so as to
leave himself free to walk—" he said he could go
no farther. They must have left him in shelter
while they went on for help."

"Upward?" said the guide. "We must have
seen them if they had come down."

" Unless," thought Deane, "they clipped and
were carried away by the torrent."124

A SECRET QUEST.

"Unless," thought Frant, "we have passed
them, or perhaps trampled over them lying buried
in the snow."

"Vorwarts!" shouted Valter, excitedly. "We
shall find them yetand after covering the Colo-
nel with the macintosh cape he had unrolled,
Deane stepped out once more to resume the battle
with the raging storm and try to beat down the
agonizing thought that tortured him—the thought
of Hester alone with this man away here in the
mountains.

"But if I can only save her life," he groaned;
and then staggered with exhaustion.

"Hold up, man," shouted Frant, as he gripped
his arm. "Another inch and you would have
fallen headlong into the stream."

"And been swept away to be at rest," thought
Deane, as he bent once mote to his task to save
Hester—for another,CHAPTER XVII.

" Say no," said the Colonel.

"But, papa, the little expedition was arranged
for," pleaded Hester, and Aunt Ecclesia looked at
her brother-in-law and tightened her lips*

"I don't care if a dozen were arranged for, Pitt
general in command here. Hang it all, if orders
are given for an advance, the officer has a perfect
right to alter it into a retreat. We won't go."

"But, papa!"

"There, it's coming on," said the Colonel,
fiercely. "I've another attack threatening, and
if you begin to oppose me I shall be in agony
directly."

"Really, though, John dear, it would be like
insulting Mr. Deane to draw back now."

" Hear that, Hetty. Your aunt wants to go
climbing, with the Swiss mesalliance to keep o-
pulling her up the steep bits."

"John! How can you?"

" Papa, dear, do reconsider your determination.
You quite led Mr. Frant to think that we expected
them; and it is such a fine morning."

" I don't care if it's the finest morning the sunt
ever warmed; and besides, it was not Frant I.
promised to go, but Deane."

12 5£26

A SECRET QUEST.

"Then you ought not to break your promise,
John."

" I'm out here for a change, madam, and I shall
do as I please. It's horrible going for walks with
those fellows. I shan't have any legs left soon.
What with Deane and his long shanks, and that
dumpy fellow with his miserably short ones, every
walk is spoiled."

Aunt Ecclesia uttered a sound that was un-
commonly like a snort, and stabbed her sewing
viciously as she bent over it. The Colonel noticed
her annoyance, and after a mischievous look at
Hester, continued:

"That fellow Frant's tremendously strong—
strong as that kicking mule of yours, Hetty; but
liis legs are ridiculous."

" But you will go, papa?"

"No, I shall not. Let them go and walk the
soles of their greasy boots off, and climb and bal-
ance themselves on the highest point. I'm going
to have a quiet stroll up toward the old hospice
with Mr. Anderson."

Hester's brow wrinkled a little, but she said
nothing. Aunt Ecclesia was not so reticent.

" Really, John; if we are abroad, we ought to
retain our politeness."

* What, and be dragged up the side of the moun-
tain to see views that are always smothered by
clouds, or have that Frant trotting by one's side
like a two-legged bull-dog, droning into my ears
accounts of the different mountains he has climbed!
Hang him and his mountains! I wished last timeA SECRET QUEST.

12f

that there was not a single mountain left on the
face of the earth, or else that he'd slip into some
hole and be smothered."

"Ugh!" ejaculated Aunt Ecclesia. Then aloud,
" You are not obliged to walk with Mr. Frant."

"With whom then, pray? That Deane? Bah!
I haven't patience with his absurdities about the
Romans working for gold. Humbug. They never
worked for anything. Only waited till they saw
some one had found what was worth having, and
then they went and knocked him on the head.
Deane is a perfect bore."

It was Hester's turn now to look conscious, and
glancing at her aunt, she found Aunt Ecclesia was
looking at her, and she blushed.

" No. I'm shaky, and disposed to have another
of my fits—jungle fever this time, I expect. They
may go and climb and find gold if they like; I'm
for a quiet walk with Anderson."

Aunt Ecclesia half rose, but at an imploring
glance from Hester she sank back, just as Deane
and Frant came up the path to remind them of
the proposed ramble—which was declined, Hester
having the task of informing them of the change.
The Colonel had retired to his room.

It was not a pleasant task, and- Hester sent
them both away with the impression that the
change was entirely her own doing, making Deane
smart with jealousy, and Frant bluntly declare
later on that the girl was a heartless coquette.

"Oh, Hester, what have you done?" cried her
aunt, as soon as they were alone.128

A SECRET QUEST.

" Done, aunt?" faltered the girl, who looked pale.

"Yes. You've made Mr. Deane go away think-
ing that you preferred a walk up the pass with Mr.
Anderson."

"Oh, aunt!"

" And if it wanted indorsing, here comes Mr.
Anderson. Ah, there he is bowing to them and
smiling, as if he knew there was something wrong,
and they have gone on almost without speaking."

Hester's brow grew wrinkled, and a look of
misery contracted her eyes.

" Oh, how I dislike that man, my dear, and we
shall have him and his smooth oily politeness all
day. There, I can't meet him now, or I shall say
something rude."

"Aunt, aunt!" cried Hester, catching her arm;
"you must not go."

" Why not?"

" I wouldn't be alone with him for all the world."

"And why not, pray?"

"Because I am sure, aunt, he wants to say some-
thing to me that I should not like."

"He had better," said Aunt Ecclesia, ruffling
up like a soft white dove. " I wish he'd say it to
me."

"Aunt!"

" I do indeed, my child; I'd take the conceit out
of him."

"You will stay?"

" Oh, well, if you feel like that, I suppose I had
better. Oh, dear me, why were such men as he
«ever made?"A SECRET QUEST.

129

The object of her remark was close to the window
now, and directly after tapped with his stick on
one of the veranda posts.

"Come in," shouted the Colonel from his room;
"down directly/'

Anderson entered smiling. He ignored the cool
reception he received from Aunt Ecclesia, and
Hester's conscious and distant manners.

" Ah, ladies," he said, " it is a sin against nature
to be at home on a morning like this. You ought
to be out breathing the delicious air. I seem to
gain new life every day."

" I wonder you do not go for a long walk, Mr.
Anderson."

"I am longing for one," said the lawyer, smil-
ing; "but there is something wanting—compan-
ionship. "

"Morning, Anderson," said the Colonel enter-
ing; "ready for a walk?"

"Yes, I was just suggesting it. Will you go?"

" To be sure. Come, Ecclesia, get on your hat
and big boots."

" Not this morning, John, dear. I am not quite
well."

"Indigestion — too much breakfast," said the
Colonel, banteringly.

"Oh, aunt!" exclaimed Hester to herself, in
agony, as she foresaw what was to come.

"Go and lie down for an hour or two," con-
tinued the Colonel. " Come, Hetty, my dear, get
ready, and be smart."

" I think I will stay with aunt, papa."

9130

A SECRET QUEST.

" Eh? Nonsense!—she is best alone."

" But, papa, it will be unkind."

" To stop and worry her when she has one of
her attacks of indigestion. You know how irri-
table it makes her when she is like that."

"Really, my dear John!" cried Aunt Ecclesia,
warmly.

" There, you see," cried the Colonel. " Now, no
nonsense; go and get ready."

There was a great deal of his old military deci-
sion in his voice as he spoke, and, not venturing
to disobey, Hester left the room to prepare for the
journey.

" Lovely morning," said the Colonel. " Let me
see, I may as well take my flask and some cigars."

" I have mine," said Anderson.

" So much the better; but I will be independent,"
said the Colonel.

"Perhaps, after all, a walk would do me good,"
said Aunt Ecclesia, rising. " I'll go and get ready."

" My dear Ecclesia, you will do nothing of the
sort," cried the Colonel, shortly. " I am not going
to have you taken ill up in the mountains."

" Oh, there is no fear of that."

" Isn't there? My dear Ecclesia, ill-health has
forced me to study human nature a good deal.
You know the proverb, Anderson: 'A man is
either a fool or a physician at forty.' "

"Yes, I remember."

" Well, I do not profess too much as to the ab-
sence of folly in my nature, but I have picked up
a little medical lore."A SECRET QUEST.

"I don't want to flatter," said Anderson, smil-
ing, " but your advice certainly has benefited me
largely."

" Well, a little, perhaps," said the Colonel. " As
for yoti, Ecclesia, you will be far better at home;
in other words, I shall not allow you to go."

Aunt Ecclesia's countenance was a study, and
she looked daggers at Anderson, who watched the
Colonel as he went to a case upon a side table and
took out a few cigars, with which he filled up his
case. From thence he crossed to where a tin dis-
patch box was standing, opened it with one of a
small bunch of keys, and Anderson's half-closed
eyes glittered as the Colonel stood with his back to
him talking about the weather, perfectly uncon-
scious of how his actions were watched.

"There," said the Colonel, "I'm ready. Noth-
ing like being prepared for one's campaign. Hah!
a box of lights. Where are the matches, Ec-
clesia?"

4< Here are some, dear; and really I think I will
go. Hester will be so dull."

" I'll take care she is not dull. Quite out of the
question. Stop at home. I dare say we shall go
farther than you would be able to walk. Ah, here
is Hester. Which way shall we go, Anderson?"

" That I leave to you—or rather to Miss Denton.
Shall we take one of the narrow valleys, to-day?"

" What do you say, my dear?"

" I would rather leave the choice to yqji, papa."

" Nonsense, my dear. We wish you to choose."

" Then straight up the valley toward the pass,132

A SECRET QUEST.

papa," said Hester, hastily, as she dashed at the
most frequented of the little traversed roads.

"To be sure!—excellent!" said Anderson. "A
delightful walk up toward the source of the river.
We might perhaps reach the glacier or the hospice.
It is a good road all the way, I believe, and we
shall want no guide/'

" Oh, aunt, how could you hang back like this!"
whispered Hester, as the gentlemen moved to the
door.

" I didn't, my dear; I've tried so hard to go, but
you know what your father is."

"Come, my dear," cried the Colonel from out-
side.

The next minute they were descending to the
snow, over which a good track had now been
trampled, and on past the hotel, along the narrow
shelf-like path formed above the torrent, which
came rushing and foaming down from the glaciers,
gray with stony mud ground off by the intense
pressure of the ice upon the limestone rocks.

It was a glorious walk, rising higher by slow
degrees up into the clear keen air which came
down from the everlasting snow. The Colonel
forgot to grow tired as hour after hour passed, and
Anderson, who was as wiry and as active as a
goat, led them on.

In spite of herself, Hester could not help being
interested in the walk, for Anderson talked well.
He was full of apt allusions, and seemed to be a
keen admirer of Nature. There was much to con-
sider, too, in the differences in plant life as theyA SECRET QUEST.

133

gradually rose, leaving behind the spreading pines,
and getting into a region where vegetation began
to be represented by mosses, which found a pre-
carious existence among the stones. Then the
traces along the sides of the vast gorge took An-
derson's attention, and he proved that he knew
enough of geology to show his companions how
the smoothly ground rocks, right up to a hundred
feet above their heads, had been formed by the
vast glacier which in earlier ages had filled the
pass they were ascending.

To Hester his manner was all that was gentle-
manly. There was a quiet deference in his words
that was never impressive enough to make her re-
tire within herself, and by degrees she began to
tell herself that her alarm was needless, and that
their companion was only treating her in the
fatherly way adopted by so many middle-aged
men toward young girls.

With the Colonel his management was perfect.
Every remark made was listened to with the
greatest respect, and the old officer had so much
to say that they were far up toward the head of
the col when he pulled out his watch and ex-
claimed :

"Good heavens!—so late. No wonder I feel
hungry. I say, Anderson, how far is it to the
next inn?"

" Oh, not far. There is the old hospice—a small
hotel now. Suppose we make that the extreme
point of the journey, lunch, and then return leis-
urely? It will be all down-hill, teu*134

A SECRET QUEST.

Almost as he spoke, there came an icy blast of
wind, laden with tiny flakes of snow.

"Better httrry on,"said Anderson, quietly, "and
get into shelter. Bit of a shower. It will not be
much."

" Yes; too far to go back," assented the Colonel,
and they pressed on; but the storm came sweep-
ing down with magical swiftness, and in ten
minutes they were panting and struggling on
against the furious gusts which battered and buf-
feted them. The blinding snow came in clouds, the
path was obliterated, and for an hour they toiled
on steadily, with the Colonel's strength visibly
failing and a horrible dread of danger attacking
Hester as they struggled on.

The confusion engendered by the shrieking of
the hurricane, the great drain upon the strength,
and the curious sensation of faintness and sickness,
all tended to render the little party more and more
helpless; and at last Hester, after fighting her
best, was fain to accept Anderson's arm; and
though she shrank when he supported her more
and more, and finally held her up as they won
their way step by step, she was at last unable to
resist, and was glad to lean upon him more and
more, as his arm was passed round her, and she
was drawn to his side.

The snow grew rapidly deeper, and then to her
horror the Colonel slipped and fell, struggled up
and fell again and again, to realize at last that
he could go no further.

"For heaven's sake try, sir," cried Anderson,A SECRET QUEST,

135

who was now alarmed. " The hospice cannot be
far. And—yes, I know, the guide-book says there
are four refuge huts along here. Come."

His words were hardly heard in the wild shriek-
ing of the storm, but the Colonel made an effort;
but again he fell, and Hester knelt by him in the
snow. The courage was there, but strength failed,
and he was at last about to drop for what would
in all probability have been the last time, when
Anderson uttered a shout of joy, for they were
close to an open doorway, through which, with
Hester's help, the fainting man was dragged,
almost too much exhausted to drink the brandy
pressed upon him, after which, with his child
kneeling by him, and supporting his head, he
dropped into a stupor like sleep.

" My chance," thought Anderson as he gazed at
the insensible man. 44 He has those papers on
him, and-"

He stopped short as his eyes rested in the faint
light on Hester, and the papers were forgotten in
a stronger passion. He felt giddy, and he drank
heavily of the brandy in his flask.

The effect was instantaneous, for his veins were
already throbbing. He repeated to himself the
words of his guide-book concerning the other ref-
uges, and the hospice farther on. A curious feel-
ing of madness came over him, and bending over
Hester, he held the flask to her.

" Drink," he said.

" No, no," she cried, shrinking away.136

A SECRET QUEST.

"Drink!" he said again, firmly. "The cold
here may mean your death."

"No, Mr. Anderson."

" I insist," he said. " It is life where all around
is death."

He pressed the flask to her lips, and in spite of
her resistance she swallowed a little of the burn-
ing liquid.

" Now," he said, raising her and holding her in
his arms.

She shrank from him, but was as helpless as a
child, faint and exhausted as she felt from the
struggle that had been going on. "Now," he
said, as the tempest raged on, and the drifting
snow made the entrance seem almost black in its
darkness: "now, come."

"Come?" she said. " He cannot stir, so I must
wait."

" For him to die?" said Anderson, huskily. " No,
we must struggle on to the hospice and get help.""

"It is impossible," said Hester, faintly.

" No, it is possible. It is to save his life. We
must have help. Come."

Faint, bewildered, and with her head throbbing
with agony at the idea of her father perishing
where he lay, Hester resisted no longer, but
yielded to her companion as he drew her toward
the door.

The next minute they were out again in the
blinding snow, with the wind shrieking in their
ears; and Anderson's arm was round the trem-
bling girl's waist as he half bore her on.CHAPTER XVIII.

Possibly Lawrence Anderson could not have
analyzed his own thoughts and feelings at that
time, when a tempest as wild as that sweeping
down the pass was raging in his heart. Hereto-
fore a calm, scheming, clear-headed man, whose
help and counsel had been sought by those known
as "the world" in all kinds of social entangle-
ments, he had grown to middle age feeling a kind
of pitiful contempt for his ordinary fellow-creat-
ures, and looking upon woman generally as a
poor, weak object, born to be man's victim. Love
was something to be thought of with scorn. He
laughed at the idea of his ever being touched by
what he contemptuously called the "fools' mea-
sles," till he saw Hester Denton, and suddenly
found that measles, though a trivial fever to the
young, is a dangerous disease to those well ad-
vanced in life.

Now, carried away by a fit of madness, he dared
all the perils of the storm in the wild idea that his
opportunity had come. Hester had seemed more
gentle and confiding with him that day, and he
felt that she knew Jie loved her. During their
struggle up to the refuge, he had hugged himself
with the belief that what was really weakness and
exhaustion was trust and confidence in him—a

137A SECRET QUEST.

kind of abandon on Hester's part, as she rested
more and more on his arm, yielded to him as he
passed his arm around her, and let him assist her
till they were in the shelter.

After the Colonel had sunk down in the stupor
of exhaustion, he had told himself that all was
fair in love and war, and that he must seize the
opportunity. He was deceiving her, for there was
no help to be obtained; but there were the other
refuges, and there was the hospice. He would
get her there, that they might be alone—that,
utterly helpless, she might rest in his arms, shel-
tered, protected from the destroying snow, retain-
ing life from the warmth he gave, and waking at
last when the storm was past to know that she
owed everything to him. Then, alone there in
that wild pass—shut in, perhaps, for days by the
snow drifts—she could not do otherwise than ac-
cept him, even if she were disposed to fight against
it. Her position, from a social point of view,
would be sufficient to make her look upon the ac-
ceptation of the man who had saved her life as a
necessity. But she was not made of such stern
metal, he told himself; and, wild with excitement,
he uttered his lying words as he hurried her along,
and observed Hester growing weaker moment by
moment, while for the time being he felt himself
endued with almost superhuman strength.

Once only he thought of the Colonel lying help-
less in the refuge, and of the possibility that he
might die. 'Well, if he did, the position would
not be complicated. He was a soldier, and hadA SECRET QUEST.

139

escaped so far. If he died, Hester would be the
more helpless—thrown the more in his power; and
with an exulting laugh he lifted the nearly insen-
sible girl in his arms and struggled on with her
against the blinding snow.

How long this took he never knew, for it was
like some feverish dream in which from time to
time he had to stop and rest, sheltered by the rock
wall or by some mass of stone that had fallen from
above; and here, as he panted with exhaustion,
there was a joyous exultation in his breast, to
which he tightly held his now unconscious burden.

Then on again, with the storm shrieking in his
-ears and at times forcing him to stop breathless.
He passed each of the refuges in turn, so buried
and covered in with snow as to be unrecognizable
to a stranger. But he hardly gave them a thought.
He had the woman he worshipped closely held in
his arms, and he staggered on and on. Sooner or
later he knew that he would find shelter, and in
spite of his exhaustion he was not eager to reach
one and end the wild sensation of delight that
made him glow. For he felt that Hester was half
insensible—that she no longer suffered; and,
clasped tightly to his breast, he had no fear of the
cold proving dangerous.

But at last his strange accession of strength be-
gan to fail. There was more effort required to
stagger on, and once he would have fallen if he
had not been close under the great wall of rock
which rose upon his right, and against which he
supported himself while he recovered breath140

A SECRET QUEST.

Again and again he nearly lost his footing, and
was within an ace of falling headlong into the tor-
rent that roared on his left. But still he strug-
gled on, dimly conscious of the path suddenly
turning at.right angles, and that he had to sink
down upon his knees as a resistless blast came
down the narrow gorge and nearly hurled him
into the torrent. It was only after the wind had
ceased for a few moments, and he had contrived
to get a few yards further, that he fully realized
the peril through which they had passed; for he
had been crossing a narrow stone bridge, and his
way upward was now with the great wall of rock
on his left, the path running on the opposite side
of the stream.

The rest of his struggle onward was a wild con-
fused effort through the fierce, hissing snow and
the beating blasts, till, utterly exhausted, he stood
ready to sink down with his burden, listening ta
a sharp sound which kept coming from somewhere
on his left. He was too much stunned now to
realize what the sound could be, and with the
dreamy sensation that attacked him increasing
fast, his next act was almost as much mechanical
as the result of mind. It was, however, the sav-
ing of their lives. By a great effort he managed
to get the flask he carried from his breast, and
hold the top in his teeth as he screwed the vessel
round till a portion of the potent spirit gurgled
between his lips and gave him power to think as
the sound came again, apparently close at hand.

It was a door banging heavily as it was caughtA SECRET QUEST.

*4*

by the blast. Struggling on once more in the
coming darkness, he found himself sheltered fully
from the furious blast, and wading along knee
deep in snow. Another sharp sound, as he stum-
bled close up to some building and received a
sharp blow; but not from the door. , A shutter
had been torn loose from its fastenings, and was
swinging to and fro.

Now, for the first time, he let Hester sink from
his arms -down into the soft snow, then pressed on
and wildly dashed his hands through the window,,
thrust in his arm, succeeded in finding the fasten-
ing, and pressed the casement open.

He had just strength enough to get back to
where Hester lay, to carry her to the window, to
let her glide through, and to climb in before a
curious sensation of giddiness attacked him; and
he fell heavily on the floor.

It was some minutes after he came to before he
could make out where he w^s. Instinctively he
sought the flask to drink a few of its invigorating
drops, every one of which seemed to send life
through his exhausted frame. Then came the
reality like a flash. Groping about through the
darkness, he felt for the window, and closed it
against the snow, which had drifted in, and which
still came floating through the broken pane.

His next thought was to obtain light, and his
wet, half-frozen hands fumbled for his match-box;
but he wasted several matches before one blazed
up, when he saw that they were in a low, bare
dining-room, with roughly frescoed walls. A142

A SECRET QUEST.

long table ran down the centre on which were
piled bent wood chairs.

But something else caught his eye; as the match
died out he felt his way toward it, and then ran
his hand over the icy sides of a huge earthenware
stove till he found the doorway. He threw it
open, and to his delight found it full of wood and
ready for lighting.

Fortunately the wood was dry, and the pine
twigs rapidly caught from the next match he lit,
blazed up, and shed a long glare along one side of
the room as they burned with a humming roar.

His next task was to tear down a curtain and
stuff it through the broken pane. Then bending
over Hester, he lifted her up and placed her in an
arm-chair by the stove, where he let her head fall
back over his arm. He trickled a few drops of
brandy between her lips, tenderly laid her head
back against the chair back, and began to shake
away the clinging snow, which fell around, melted
slowly, and sank into the white boards to form
dark patches.

He took off her hat and scarf, to lay them on
the stove, where they began to steam; and the
fire sending forth now an enlivening glow, he
spread her dress wide, stopping from time to time
to gaze rapturously at the beautiful face. With
loving reverence he loosened her hair, which fell
in clusters heavily clogged with snow.

" My darling!" he whispered; "my own, now—
my very own!" and he caught up first one cold
hand and then another to break away the buttonsA SECRET QUEST.

M3

and slip off the clinging wet gloves, holding the
benumbed fingers between his palms, and chafing
them and kissing them by turns.

"How beautiful!" he said, hoarsely, as he bent
over her; then drew aside, lest he should inter-
cept any of the warmth, for the glow from the
humming stove seemed to send a flush to the pal-
lid cheeks. " Yes, mine now!" he whispered again,
"my very own."

The tempest roared round the place, and from
time to time strange sounds as of thunder boomed
close at hand, while the shutters rattled and the
place literally quivered and seemed threatened
with destruction at every blast. Every now and
then it was as if the spirits of the air had swooped
down from the mountain and were careering
round and round the building, yelling and shriek-
ing, _ the sounds dying slowly away, as if the rout
had swept on down the valley. But Anderson
heard nothing, saw nothing but the face with the
warm glowing light about it as it lay silent before
him, till he came back from his wild dream of
adoration to the reality of their position; and a
sensation of dread assailed him.

For she was so long insensible. Was there dan-
ger? He took one of her hands in his again, and
held it to his lips. It was cold; but it ^yas not the
clammy coldness of approaching death, and he
took heart again. He turned to the stove, and,
with the steam rising from his garments, picked
up from a great basket piece after piece of pine
root to throw into the centre, each piece as it144

A SECRET QUEST.

caught sending forth a fresh glow of light into
the long, blank room.

Turning to Hester, once more he rearranged
her wet dress and shook out her long hair, now
drying fast and glistening in the golden light.

As he bent over her, the recollection of his mis-
sion came to him for a moment, but he laughed as
he thought that it would prove easy now. Hester
would be his, and once recovered, he cared little
for the Colonel's anger should he discover the
truth. *

At last he began to grow uneasy at the long-
continued stupor in which Hester was plunged.
He took her hands in his once more, to be re-
assured directly; for they were now warm, and,
unable to resist the temptation any longer, he
knelt beside her and pressed them to his lips.

"Hester, dearest," he whispered, and at the
-sound of his voice she moved uneasily and made
an effort to sit up, but sank back with a sigh of
uneasiness.

"Look up," he whispered; "Hester, dearest;
the danger is past."

She opened her eyes wildly and gazed at him,
as if unable to comprehend the meaning of her
position there. Then she glanced at the stove,
with its glowing interior, and drew her hands
from his grasp to hold them to her aching fore-
head.

"Do not be alarmed," he said, tenderly. "We
are in safety now. Hester--"

He ceased speaking, for there was a fiercer blastA SECRET QUEST.

than ever as the wind seemed to seize the build-
ing and shake it, while, as it passed on, shrieking
and moaning, the window was shaken in turn, and
then came a sharp tapping on one of the snow-
covered panes.

Anderson sprang to his feet, startled for the
moment, but attributing the sound to a drift of
snow being driven sharply against the window.
He was turning away again when the tapping
was repeated, and a voice shouted, "Open!" the
cry sounding smothered in the rushing wind.

Anderson muttered an oath and stepped angrily
to the window, which looked black to him till he
was close up, when he could make out a white
face indistinctly through the blurred pane.

"Quick, man, open!" was shouted. "Open the
door."

As if forced by the imperative nature of the
tones, Anderson unfastened the window.

"What is it? Who are you?" he cried. "Mr.
Deane?"

"Yes, Mr. Deane," said Adam, hoarsely. "Do
you want us to perish in the snow?" he added as
his eyes seemed to glow in the light cast by the
stove.

"Get in quickly," came from behind him.
Deane clambered in, covered with snow; and as
Anderson drew back he was followed by Frant and
the guide.

"You are safe, then?" said Frant, shortly, for
Deane was silent, gazing from Anderson to Hes-
ter and back, while his breath seemed to come
10146

A SECRET QUEST.

heavily, as if he were still suffering from some
great exertion.

"Yes," said Anderson; "we had a terrible
struggle; but we reached here at last."

"That's right," said Frant, cynically. "Shut
that window, Valter, my lad," he continued.
" Hope you are none the worse for this terrible
storm, Miss Denton."

Hester sat back in her chair, gazing at him as
if she had not heard his words. Frant looked
sharply at Anderson and then at Deane.

" I think she hardly understands you yet," said
Anderson. "We had a terrible adventure."

" So had we," said Frant, gruffly. " Here, Val-
ter, ring the bell and order some food and brandy.
Heavens! what a night! Come, Deane, man, get
nearer the stove, for we are fast."

"And the Colonel?" said Deane, gravely.

" God help him!" replied Frant. " I'm a strong-
ish fellow, but I can't go back yet. What do you
say, Valter?"

" It is impossible, herr; we should fall and be
buried in the snow."

"Of course we should; but ring, man—ring for
the people—or we shall be having murder done,"
he added to himself as he saw his companion's
wild looks.

"There is no one here, herr," replied Valter.

" No; I had to break in," said Anderson, hastily,
and resuming his customary suave way of speak-
ing; "how, I cannot tell, but I succeeded in strug-A SECRET QUEST.

147

gling tip here. At one time I thought we must
have perished."

"Well, you found good quarters," said Frant,
gruffly.

"Yes; there was the stove and firewood."*

44 But, Miss Denton, do you feel ill?" continued
Frant.

She did not reply, but looked from one to the
other in a strangely confused way.

"And the Colonel," said Anderson, eagerly;
"have you seen him?"

" We left him in the hut yonder, and came on to
search for you," said Frant; " and you are both safe.
Cold, Adam, lad?"

Deane made no reply. He could not speak; his
brain swam with the agony he felt. A wild desire
to fling himself on Anderson, seize him by the
throat and strangle him, had nearly mastered.

"Come up to the stove, man," said Frant,
sharply. "You, too, Valter, my lad; come and
smoke. We shall be here for hours yet. Come,
let's have some brandy. I'd give anything for
food. Miss Denton, I want to behave like a
gentleman, but this is a case when breaches of
etiquette might be forgiven. Would you mind
if I lit my pipe?"

Hester looked at him wildly again, shivered,
and cowered toward the open stove.

"I don't understand all this," muttered Frant,
who crossed to where Deane was standing and took
him by the arm. " Come up to the fire, man," he148

A SECRET QUEST.

whispered, " and for heaven's sake contain your-
self. You look as if you were going mad."

Deane drew a long breath and then gazed pite-
ously in his friend's eyes.

4 "I feel so,"he said, softly; "but it's over now."

"Miss Denton—pray sit still," cried Anderson
just then, for Hester had risen from the seat and
was looking wildly about the place.

As Anderson spoke she turned upon him sharply,
her face deeply flushed, and a curious light in her
eyes. But she looked from him to Frant directly,
and gave her head a sharp twitch.

"Open the window and look out," she said,
quickly. "We must be going very fast. Where
do we stop next?"

"Are you unwell?" said Frant, taking a step
forward and holding out his hand.

" No," she said, quietly; "but I don't like—such
a terrible speed, it—it--"

She stopped, held her hand to her forehead and
closed her eyes.

" I think she is a little overcome by the exertion
and excitement," said Anderson, quietly. "My
dear Miss Denton, will you sit down again near
the fire?"

She looked at him quickly, her hand falling to
her side as he spoke, but she turned away from
him again and looked inquiringly at Frant.

"Is papa in the smoking carriage?" she said.
" He is so fond of a cigar. And-"

She reeled suddenly and would have fallen but
for Frant's ready hands.A SECRET QUEST.

149

"Poor little lady; she is half delirious," he said.
"Here, Valter—Deane—this must be the hotel;
see if there's a couch or a mattress and some
blankets."

"Yes, of course, of course," cried Anderson.
*" Allow me, Mr. Frant."

"Thanks, no," said the latter; "she's all right,"
and lifting her lightly he replaced her in the chair.
" Perhaps you would not mind helping our man.
Valter, can you get a light? And, for goodness'
sake, try and find some wood."

Valter nodded. Signing to Anderson to follow
him, he went to the door.

Anderson hesitated, glanced from one to the
other, and then followed the guide into the open
hall.

" Pull yourself together, man, and don't glower
like that," said Frant, in a quick whisper. " Help,
and act like a human being. It's very ugly; but
what can we do?"

" Kill him!" said Deane, as if speaking to himself.

"What for—something you fancy? Come, act
like a man."

"Candles, herr," cried Valter, eagerly, as he
hurried in with a couple. " And there is an ample
supply of wood."

" But, confound you! a couch—a mattress—any-
thing. Valter, man, see what you can find. Here,
Deane, lad, stop here and mind Miss Denton does
not fall forward! I don't think it will last. I've
seen men so after a struggle in the snow before
now."150

A SECRET QUEST.

Deane took his place and stood by Hester's
chair, hard and stern-looking as if frozen, neither
speaking nor moving, but listening to the faintly
whispered mutterings which passed the insensible
girl's lips from time to time. The noises made
by the coming and going of the men seemed to
rouse her a little, but only to sink into a state of
stupor as the room became silent again.

In a few minutes a couch had been found and
carried into the room, to be placed by the stove.
This was supplemented by an armful of blankets
which Valter had brought. Many visits to the
place had made him acquainted with its interior.
In a few minutes Hester was gently covered by
Frant, laid down totally unconscious, and fell into
a heavy sleep.

Valter made a couple more excursions, brought
more blankets, glasses, and water, which he heated,
so that hot liquor was mixed and drunk with
avidity; after whicli the little party settled them-
selves close to the stove and commenced their vigil.

A few words were spoken, but it was in a con-
strained way, and soon all were listening to the
rushing of the wind, Anderson, in spite of his ef-
forts to preserve a calm exterior, starting and dart-
ing a jealous look at Frant every time he moved
to see if Hester was sleeping.

Valter rose from time to time to gaze out at the
night, returning directly with a significant shrug
of the shoulders, and ending by rolling himself
in a blanket upon the floor.

The wind howled and shrieked. There wasA SECRET QUEST.

from time to time a heavy thud, as of falling snow,
and Frant and Deane whispered together concern-
ing the Colonel's fate, the latter feeling full of
self-reproach that they had made no effort to bring
him on. But the guide declared it would have
been throwing away their lives to try.

At last all was silent, and a heavy breathing
told that Anderson had yielded to the warmth and
the hot brandy he had taken, his exhaustion mak-
ing him the more susceptible. Deane looked at
him with angry contempt, and then found, from
the deep breathing close by, that the guide also
was sleeping. In another minute Frant had sunk
sidewise in his seat.

It was a bitter vigil for Deane. He thought of
all that had passed, and of the scene that night,
till his brow throbbed and then seemed to refuse
to think. His ideas became mixed up with the
struggles of the day. He was fighting to get the
Colonel on there from the hut, and then telling
Frant that he should end by killing Anderson,
though his love was now eternally at an end.

But it did not seem to be Frant, but Valter who
was pressing his shoulder.

"Hist! don't speak, herr; the lady is sleeping
peacefully now. The storm is gone, and the
morning is lovely."

Deane started from his seat, feeling stiff and
cold, to see that it was broad daylight, the snow
sending in a bright, cold glare.

" Have I been asleep?" he whispered, excitedly.

"We have all been asleep, herr. But come, I*5*

A SECRET QUEST.

have some brandy; perhaps we can reach the herr
Colonel and bring him on."

Deane glanced at Hester and Anderson as the
guide roused Frant, who rose at once.

" I cannot go," he said, in a hoarse whisper.

"You must, lad," said Frant. "The old man
will have nearly perished. Bah!—they will be
both sleeping when we get back. Come on."

Deane obeyed, and they left the house by one
of the windows, stepping down into three feet of
snow.

" No," he said, suddenly. " Go on; I shall stay."

" And leave that old fellow to his fate?"

" You are going to his help," said Deane, quietly.
"If he had to judge between us, he would say:
* Leave me, and watch over my child.' "

With these words Deane turned, went back to
the desolate-looking hotel, and after silently re-
plenishing the stove, sat down to wait.CHAPTER XIX.

From where he sat, he could just see Hester's
rounded cheek, partly shaded by her dishevelled
hair. An intense longing came over him to go to
the couch, bend down and press his lips to it once
by way of farewell—for it was all over, he felt,
between them now.

He had conceived an overpowering passion for
this gentle girl, who had been everything that was
perfect in his eyes; and he had found her weak,
coquettish—an ordinary type of frivolous woman,
eager for admiration and ready to accept the at-
tentions of this middle-aged man who was always
at her heels. It was a miserable disillusionizing,
and he sighed as he gazed at the couch. He told
himself mockingly that men were fools, and he
but little better than the rest.

Then he turned his eyes upon Anderson,
wrapped in his blanket, near the stove; and a hot
feeling of rage flushed up into his temples, while
his fingers clenchecj till the nails were pressed
into his palms.

That they had been overtaken by the storm was
plain; but he could not believe but that Anderson
had planned to leave the Colonel and hurry Hester
on there. She could not have been a consenting
153154

A SECRET QUEST.

party, he told himself. She was too gentle and
true to forsake her father in such a time of peril.
It was all that scoundrel's work; and she, poor
girl, had been half delirious with fear, shame, and
exhaustion at being found in so compromising a
position.

Deane's love for her was stronger than ever,
though he was telling himself that all was over
now. He had no right to reproach her. She had
chosen between them, and preferred this man—
ignorant, poor girl, of the fact that he himself
would, in his manly chivalry, have died sooner
than have compromised her in the slightest degree.

Once more telling himself that he would play ,
the part of guardian till the Colonel returned, he
sat up again and glanced at where the lawyer was
apparently fast asleep. Then, religiously avoid-
ing the part of the room where Hester lay, he
gazed out through the window at the dazzling
slope of snow, now ablaze with the gold of the
morning sun. The sky was of the most intense
blue; not a breath of air was stirring, and the si-
lence was profound.

"There must be a search party up here soon,"
he thought; and then he began wondering about
the Colonel. The cold had been intense, and un-
less, the entrance were covered by the drifting snow
it was possible that he might have succumbed. If
Frant and the guide returned with that news, what
a terrible awakening it would be for her who lay
there sleeping so profoundly.

" Poor girl!" he thought. " Better have listenedA SECRET QUEST.

to me—better have kept to my engagement of
yesterday."

His eyes were fixed upon the half-seen face again
and again, and the longing to press his lips to the
wild dishevelled hair came stronger and stronger,
till he found himself planning excuses for going
across the room. She was evidently very ill the
previous night, and nothing had been done; for
help was impossible. But surely it was his duty
now to go to her side—to touch her brow to see if
she was feverish—to speak to her and ask if he
could be of any service. It struck him, too, that
he ought on his first awaking to have gone off and
tried to find medical aid.

But so sure as this idea came round, he drew a
heavy breath and glanced at where Anderson lay,
and felt that he could not leave her then.

The intense silence continued, and thoughts
came now as to their position. Help was not likely
to come from the south, for no one would attempt
to cross the pass after such a fall. Besides, it was
known that the hotel was not yet opened. Only
the people below, where they were staying, could
send aid, and the pass might be so blocked that it
would very likely be days before help could reach
them; so that, unless by chance there was food in
the place, starvation stared them in the face.

" No," he said to himself directly after; " Frant
and Valter will find a way out somehow over the
mountain. You shall live and be happy in your
choice."

As he spoke, the desire to see that Hester was156	A SECRET QUEST.

not suffering, and touch her hand lovingly for the
last time, became uncontrollable. He rose from
his seat in perfect ignorance of the fact that he
was being watched. For Anderson had started
into wakefulness at a slight sound, and then had
half covered his eyes with his arm, so that every
gesture made by Deane had been seen.

Anderson did not move as the young man crossed
the room, stepping carefully over the bare boards,
which creaked beneath his heavy mountaineering
boots, till he paused by the couch and gazed down
sadly but passionately in the sleeping face. He
could see now that she was flushed, but a slight
dew was glistening upon her white forehead. And
as he gazed down at her, the feeling of bitterness
passed away, and he knew that in spite of all that
had passed he was her slave. The desire was,
strong upon him still to raise one of her hands and
press it to his lips, but to him then such an act
woud have been desecration of his idol;—the taking
advantage of her helplessness. As she rested there
in her youth and trust, there was a halo of sanctity
about her which made him draw back softly and
walk to the window, where he stood gazing out
for some minutes trying to calm the beating at
his temples.

A curious feeling of rage had suddenly taken
possession of him as he thought of what might
have been. He had condemned the woman he
loved unheard, and without the right; for he had
never spoken. He had won no confession or
promise from her. His acts, he knew, had beeaA SECRET QUEST.

l57

those of some green and simple boy in his rever-
ence for her whom he had worshipped. But for
this man, who lay sleeping there, how different
all might have been; and in the mad passion which
had come upon him he dared not look at his recum-
bent form, lest he should be tempted to some folly.

The cool air by the window calmed him at length,
as he stood gazing out at the wondrous wintry
scene; but he saw nothing but Hester's face—her
eyes seeming to look appealingly and full of re-
proach, as if to ask him why he had condemned
her almost upon his companion's words.

"They say it is a madness," he muttered; "and
I must battle with it and try to see things as a
sane man should."

He closed his eyes and stood there in dreamy
thought, seeing Hester's face still, and leaned his
burning forehead against the icy glass, till there
was a faint sigh from the couch which made his
pulses bound again. Turning softly, he went
back, to stand bending over her, and to see that
she had turned her head slightly, so that the morn-
ing light shone full upon it; but she was still
heavily asleep.

Bending lower, and eagerly scanning her face
as he sought to read her state—whether she would
awake fevered and strange as on the previous
night—he stretched forth his hand to lay it ten-
derly upon her brow, when there was a sharp rus-
tling sound behind him.

Deane turned quickly just as Anderson sprang
to his feet, and the two men stood face to face.CHAPTER XX.

"The strongest wins!" was the thought that
flashed through Deane's mind. His nerves
thrilled, and an intense feeling of satisfaction ran
through him as he measured his adversary with
liis eyes and thought of how easily he could crush
him down.

There was something, too, in Anderson's gaze
which suggested that they two were enemies to
the death.

But Deane's rage gave way instantly to some-
thing approaching confusion, so utterly disarmed
was he by his rival's next look and the accom-
panying words.

" Good heavens!" Anderson cried; " you startled
me, Mr. Deane. I have been asleep, and for the
moment I could not understand where I was. I—
I—am I awake now? Of course," he continued
hurriedly; " I remember now. But Miss Denton?"

Deane held up his hand.

"Asleep!" whispered Anderson, giving a shud-
der. "Oh, how cold I am! But stop," he con-
tinued excitedly; "she was ill last night; and
where are the others?"

"Gone to bring up the Colonel," said Deane,
feeling puzzled and confused. " Miss Denton
seems to be sleeping calmly though."

158A SECRET QUEST.

Anderson took a step or two toward her, and
after a quick glance turned back and signed to
Deane to follow him to the window.

" She does not look ill," he whispered: " it must
have been from fear and exhaustion. I had a
horrible struggle to get her here. I did not think it
possible that such a storm could have come on so
late in the year."

" It is always winter in the mountains," replied
Deane.

"Yes, of course; I had forgotten," continued
Anderson, with a shiver. " Have you—oh, all
right. I am not a brandy drinker, but it is life
to one at a time like this. Here, take a nip."

"Thanks, no."

"Ah well, I must," said Anderson. "Fancy
my sleeping through that horrible storm. Utterly
done up, I suppose. But, look here; we ought to
go and seek for Colonel Denton. Let's go at once.
Miss Denton will perhaps not wake for hours."

" Come, then," said Deane quietly; and they
went out into the hall, then stepped out of the
open window into the snow.

"Ugh!" ejaculated Anderson, "what a place!
And at this time of the year! But I oughtn't to
complain. It saved our lives last night, for I was
pretty well at my last gasp when I reached here."

Deane made no reply, but struggled on through
the snow, which was terribly deep. Farther on
their task became more toilsome, and it was only
by following the track left by Frant and Valter,
whose experience had led them to take the easiestA SECRET QUEST.

Way, that they were able to get along at all-, so
that it was a full hour before they came in sight
of the last refuge. A cheery shout from high up
came ringing and echoing along the rocky walls.

"What's that?" cried Anderson. "It does not
sound like trouble."

"The guide," replied Deane, pointing. "He
has been up the side of the pass."

They met close to the entrance to the refuge,
from which the snow had been torn away and
trampled down. Here Frant had shown himself
as soon as Valter's shout was heard.

"How is he?" cried Deane and Anderson almost
together—the former in a voice full of anxiety, as
he thought of the question being asked again up
at the hospice.

" Better. We were going to make a start as
soon as Valter came back. Well, can we get
down the pass?"

"No! There is only one way, and that is over
the mountains by the col of the Schneeberg."

"And the lady can't do that," said Deane,
shortly. " I don't know that any lady could climb
that. Ah, here is Colonel Denton. I hope--"

" Where is my child?" cried the Colonel. " Why
have you left her?"

" She is quite safe, sir; we left her sleeping."

"Alone, up there in the mountains?" cried the
Colonel, angrily; and Anderson, who had pressed
forward to speak, remained silent, preferring that
Deane should bear the brunt of the old man's
anger.A SECRET QUEST.

161

" We were anxious about you, sir, and she could
come to no harm/' pleaded Deane.

" Anxious about me—an old worn-out soldier!
Bah! absurd! You have deserted your colors,
man; and you, Mr. Anderson, why was she taken
from here?"

"Don't blame me, Colonel Denton," said An-
derson, deprecatingly. " I took her away for two
reasons—to obtain help, and because I did not
think her life would be safe in this place."

The Colonel glanced at him sharply, but the
words had disarmed him.

"Well," he said, sternly, "she is safe. Now,
Mr. Frant, what does the guide say?"

" Impossible to get down the pass yet. We had
better get up to the hospice, and see what can be
done."

"See what can be done, man! I'll tell you
what to do. Set to work and knock up a coffin
for me. I shall never recover last night's work.
Perished, sir, perished. Here, get on back," he
cried, as he stumbled through the deep snow.
" That poor girl will be in agony till she knows
the worst."

" I believe we shall find her still sleeping," said
Anderson.

" And pray why do you believe that?" cried the
Colonel, irritably. " Do you take my daughter
for a marmot, sir, or some other creature accus-
tomed to hibernate. Look here, Mr. Deane—oh,
great heavens!—rheumatism! I shall be racked,
Mr. Deane?"

n162

A SECRET QUEST.

"I am listening, sir."

" Humph—didn't seem to be. I woke tip again
and again in the night—hot and fevered in spite
of the snow—dreaming and confused. I seemed
to be in the retreat from Moscow, and before I
could convince myself that I was safe from an
attack of the Cossacks—I say before I could con-
vince myself that all was the result of a disordered
brain, I dropped off to sleep, and was dreaming
the same thing again. Ah!"

He slipped, and in trying to recover his footing
loosened a great drift of snow overhanging the
torrent, down to which he was fast gliding when
Deane caught his hand and dragged him up to
the track they had made that morning.
: "Thanks," he said, coolly, glancing back at the
fierce torrent, which was dashing on, carrying
heavy stones, and sweeping masses of ice and
snow from where they .had fallen during the
night. "I'm a bit stiff this morning. By the
way, some one covered me with a macintosh last
night. You, Mr. Frant?"

" No. You must thank Mr. Deane for that"

" Humph! Thank -you, Mr. Deane. I believe
that saved my life. Wonderful resister of the
cold; but I would rather have had a blanket."

"I am sorry I did not come provided," said
Deane, smiling.

"Ah; no one anticipated this. By Jove! what
terrible walking; but make haste, gentlemen,
make haste. We are forgetting that some one has
been left entirely alone up yonder. No possibilityA SECRET QUEST.

of any one getting there from the other side,
guide?" added the Colonel in German.

The guide shook his head; and now, evidently
more at rest, the Colonel trudged on bravely; but
the contraction of his brow and his compressed
lips showed from time to time that he was in no
little pain.

For the most part the track made through the
snow followed the regular path, but every here
and there, in some sheltered spot where a ridge of
the rock projected, the snow lay so deeply that a
deviation had been made; and this proved to be
such ro;ugh climbing that Anderson on one occa-
sion, as he saw the Colonel totter, offered his
arm.

But the civility was resented.

"Thank you, Mr. Anderson," said the Colonel
sarcastically; " but I was thinking of helping you.
Here, guide, give me a hand."

Anderson smiled; but it was not a pleasant
smile; and he gave way to Valter.

" Ah, that's better," cried the Colonel. " Lucky
fellow! I'd give something to be as young and
strong as you are."

Anderson followed close behind them, and
Prant stopped to fill and light his pipe, giving
Deane a meaning look.

" Breakfast," he said. " Why don't you join'in?"

Deane shook his head, and those in front passed
round one of the rocky buttresses that jutted from
the side of the path.

"I say, old man," continued Frant in a low164

A SECRET QUEST.

voice; "what is your real opinion of friend
'Stopheles?"

" I detest him!" said Deane, with energy.

"Same here," said Frant, puffing at his pipe.
u No opinion of him at all. See what an ugly look
he gave the old man."

"I saw him smile."

"Yes; come along. What does the cockolorum
say in Shakespeare about smile and smile and
smile and still be a villain? Old man won't have
a very nice son-in-law."

Deane started as if he had been stung, and gave
his companion an angry look.

"Can't help it, old man. You may as well
look the thing fairly in the face. It's a rough
ridge full of loose stones you've got to climb, so
you'd better tackle it like a man, not go on blind
to the danger, and some time or other find your-
self going headlong down into the valley of de-
spair. I say, poetical, that—for me. Result of a
morning pipe on an empty inside. Come, be a
man."

"You mean well, Alick," said Deane, slowly;
" but it is nox kindness to lay rough hands on a
hurt."

"Let's lay a tender one on it then, old chap,"
said Frant, holding out his big muscular hand,
which was quietly taken; and then they passed
round the rocky buttress to see that the Colonel
and the others were well on ahead.

As they drew nearer to the hospice, both the
young men wondered that they had succeeded inA SECRET QUEST.

165

reaching it the night before. Setting aside the
perils of the snow-laden wind, and the risk where
the path ran close along by the edge of a preci-
pice, with the wind tearing down in its tremendous
strength, they constantly came -upon places where
the snow had gathered htindreds of feet above
them, clinging on the shelves and slopes of the
pass till too heavy, and then thundering down
in minor avalanches, sweeping everything before
them.

" Little short of a miracle how we all escaped,"
said Frant, coolly; "and you may as well keep an
eye upward, old fellow, for there'll be plenty of
snowfalls along here for days to come. I don't
want to be covered and then washed clear down
below. Lookout!" he yelled.

As he spoke a quantity of snow dropped with a
thud far above on to a ledge and then came down,
gathering in strength just where there was a rift
in the wall of the pass. Valter heard the warning
thud at the same moment, and dragged the Colo-
nel close in against the rocky wall, Anderson in-
stinctively following suit.

" Ah," said Frant as they went on, " that sort of
thing will be going on for days under this hot sun,
and as long as no one is touched, so much the
better."

The open space where the hospice stood was
reached soon after, and Deane had hard work to
refrain from hurrying on first and entering the
place.

Valter was the first to climb in at the window166

A SECRET QUEST.

by which they had left, and then lean out to help
the Colonel.

"Confound it!" muttered the latter, querulous-
ly; "and me so stiff. Can't you open the door?"

"Locked up, herr," said the guide quietly.
"Your hand."

Anderson stepped close up and followed actively
enough, as soon as the Colonel had passed through
the opening; and Frant drew back for his friend
to go next. They crossed the stony floor and en-
tered the dining-room, hat in hand, just as the
Colonel was speaking.

" Gone upstairs, perhaps," he said. " Not here,
Mr. Deane," he continued, passing the two young
men, and going back into the hall to shout at the
foot of the stairs. " Hester, Hester, my dear,
where are you?"

There was a dull echoing sound in the blank
house, and then he called again.

" No one here, you say?" he continued, as the
rest followed into the hall, looking curiously from
one to the other.

"No, herr," said Valter, speaking in German,
but perfectly comprehending the Colonel's words;
" and every room is locked up except these two
down here."

"Very strange," cried the Colonel, uneasily, as
he hurried back to where the stove still glowed.
The blankets which had been used lay tossed here
and there. " You say you left her here."

"Yes," cried Deane and Anderson together,
" asleep on that couch."A SECRET QUEST.

167

"Search the house," cried the Colonel, as if he
were giving an order to the men of his regiment.

This was soon done; for on ascending to the
top floors, every door was found locked, while be-
low it was as Valter had said—only two rooms
were open.

" She must have gone out," cried Deane.

" Madness," said the Colonel. " She would not
have ventured through that snow. Mr. Ander-
son, how could you leave her alone?"

Anderson made a deprecating gesture, but was
silent. Deane spoke.

"We were to blame, sir; but as your daughter
was in safety, our first thoughts were for you."

"Bah, man! What am I to a tender girl?
Somebody must have been while you were away.
Outside, and search for footprints."

"No one could have come, herr, without our
seeing him," said Valter, quietly. "I know this
pass from a boy. The upper part—the highest
point—is closed; no man could have come down."

" But are there wild animals?"

" Not here, herr. A few bears far away in the
^ast."

"Out, and search for fresh footmarks in the
snow," cried the Colonel; and Deane hurried out,
followed by Valter. The latter uttered a cry at
the end of a few moments, and pointed to some-
thing they had not noticed as they came back.

For there, plain enough now they were sought,
showed the footprints of a woman in the deep
snow. The traces were distinct close to the hos-168

A SECRET QUEST.

pice, but were lost directly after in the trampled
snow of the track made by the men in going and
returning. Here and there they reappeared till
the wind-swept path was reached, where they once
more disappeared, not a trace being seen in the
patches of snow that lay all around.

The Colonel seemed to have forgotten his pain
and weariness in his anxiety, and, forcing himself
to the front, he hurried on close to the guide,
Anderson keeping up behind, while, thanks to his
activity, Deane kept abreast of the excited leader,
making a new track for himself.

"I ought to have seen the new track, herr,"
Valter kept on saying in self-reproach. The
Colonel was about to turn upon him, but repressed
himself on seeing how eagerly the man sprang on,
bent half double and noting every footprint.

Twice more these disappeared, either from the
rock being bare or through the crumbling down
of snow from above; but by patient search they
were picked up again and the quest went on.

"My poor child!—my poor child!" groaned the
Colonel, who was rapidly growing exhausted.

"Keep a good heart, sir, for heaven's sake,"
cried Deane, "we shall find her. It's all plain
enough."

"Plain enough?" groaned the Colonel.

"Yes. She awoke, fancied herself deserted,
and tried to find her way back to the refuge in
search of you. We must have passed her."

"Don't speak, man," said the Colonel hoarsely,.
" I know."A SECRET QUEST..

169

He pointed to the torrent that rushed on faster
than they conld walk, quite a hundred feet below.
" She has slipped and fallen there."

"No," said Deane vehemently. "I have
watched every step, and they are still going on.
We should have seen the marks in the snow where
she slipped."

At that moment the Colonel staggered, and
Anderson tried to save him; but Deane was first,
caught the old man in his arms, and helped him
to a wind-swept rock.

" Quick, Alick! your flask."

Frant already had it in his hand.

"Precious little left," he whispered; but the
tiny dram within revived the exhausted man a
little, and he drew himself up.

" Forward!" he said, but the guide shook his head.

" I have been looking carefully," he said. " For
the last quarter hour there has been no trace."

" Nonsense, man!" cried Anderson. " She must
have gone on. You don't half look."

"Will the herr lead?" asked Valter coldly.

"No, sir, go on!" roared Anderson.

"The herr is not my master," replied Valter,
turning his back to Anderson and addressing the
Colonel. " The snow is only marked by our feet,"
he said respectfully. " The lady cannot have gone
further. Look."

He pointed onward down the pass, where there
was stretch after stretch of soft white snow in
which, plain and deeply marked, were their own
footsteps.170

A SECRET QUEST.

"He's right enough," said Frant, gravely;
" there isn't a trace of her. She has not gone so
far as this."

The Colonel glanced at Deane, whose eyes gave
confirmation of the words.

" Then you think-" groaned the Colonel.

He did not finish, but pointed down at the
torrent.

" No, no!" cried Valter. " Impossible, herr. I
should have seen."

"Ah," the Colonel added, quickly, "you think
something—quick, tell me at once."

The young men were exchanging glances of
such meaning that it was evident the same thought
had occurred to all.

" It is a painful thing to say, sir," began Frant.

"Speak, man," cried the Colonel; "you cannot
torture me so much by telling me the truth as you
torture me now."

" They—we have all noticed," said Deane, in a
voice trembling with emotion, " that the footsteps
have not reappeared since we passed that great
fall of snow which we saw an hour or so ago."

"My God!" groaned the Colonel, turning
ghastly pale; and he stood gasping for a few mo-
ments. "Back!" he cried, wildly; "at once!"

The order was not needed, for Deane had taken
the lead. Closely followed by Frant and Valter,
he was ploughing his way through the deep snow.

Not a footprint was visible till they had reached
the spot where the snow came down so heavily
that morning. There were no marks till theyA SECRET QUEST.

171

were some twenty yards beyond, when they met
the first.

It was plain enough. They continued up to
where a ridge rose across the path. Deane
stopped and passed his hand across his dripping
forehead as he gazed down at the river, and then
turned to follow Valter, who was already climb-
ing over the newly-fallen snow.

It seemed madness to go; for high above them
drift after drift was wreathed and curved like
waves ready to fall at a sound. In fact, here and
there it was almost in motion. But thete was a
chance, and to test it the young men went on for
a few yards. Then Deane uttered a joyous cry,
sprang forward, and leaped into a hollow, where
he had caught a glimpse of a dark dress.

That cry was quite sufficient to loosen one of
the impending curves of snow, which dropped
with a heavy thud.

"Are you hurt, herr?" cried the guide, strug-
gling out and offering Frant his hand to extricate
himself.

" Half stunned. But Mr. Deane—why did he
shout?"

"Hist!" whispered Valter, who was creeping
closer to the rocky scarp of the huge niche in the
pass. "Here—quick—Mr. Frant," he cried, for-
getting caution as he "plunged on to where some
of the loose snow was in motion; and with his
help Deane struggled out, lifting the insensible
form of her they sought.CHAPTER XXI.

No time was lost in bearing Hester tip to the
hospice, before reaching which shelter she gave
signs of returning consciousness. She told them
she had been toiling on through the snow to try
and find the refuge where the Colonel had been
left. She must almost have been in sight of the
returning party when she sank down exhausted
just before the warning shout was uttered by
Frant, sufficient snow remaining before her to hide
her from those who passed. Providentially the
heap of snow which fell at the shout given by
Deane was only light, and sufficient only to cover
them till Deane struggled out.

"111?" said Hester, wonderingly, about an hour
after, as she lay on the couch in the great blank
room, with her father seated by her, holding her
hand. "No, not ill; but confused and strange.
My head aches."

"Lie still and sleep," whispered the old man,
tenderly; and she smiled at him trustfully and
closed her eyes.

Satisfied at last that she was asleep, the Colonel
rose softly and went across to the other room,
where the four companions of his imprisonment
had gathered round a stove.

" Is she better?" cried Deane, eagerly.

172A SECRET QUEST.

173

"Yes, and sleeping peacefully," said the Colo-
nel, with a sigh of relief. "There is no fever.
All she wants is rest and quiet."

"Thank God!" said Deane, inaudibly.

"And now, gentlemen," continued the Colonel,
" let me give a hearty grip of the hand all round.
Yes, yes, my lad, and to you, too," he cried to
Valter. "God bless you for a brave fellow! I
wish I was young again, with a regiment made of
stuff like you."

Valter smiled as he returned the Colonel's
grasp, prouder than if he had received a valuable
present.

"That's more English than a long speech,"said
the Colonel, merrily, " and means more. There,
gentlemen, that was my first business. Now for
the second. I am ravenous."

"Oh, that's modest," cried Frant, exhaling a
great puff of smoke. " I'm wolfish."

" Well, is there nothing to be done?"

Valter said something in German which the
Colonel just grasped.

"Then, in heaven's sake, break in. Never
mind the proprietor's objections; I'll pay for
them."

"But the cellar, old chap," cried Frant.
"Surely they haven't carted the wine back down
the valley—pagged it, I mean."

"Oh, no, herr; there's plenty of wine here."

" Then why didn't you say so at once. Here*
Colonel Denton, you're in command; order out a
burgling squad."174

A SECRET QUEST.

"One moment," he said, smiling, but they saw
the tears in his eyes as he spoke, and he went back
into the dining-room and returned.

"Quite well," he whispered, "sleeping beauti-
fully. Bah! how weak I am," he cried, blowing
his nose loudly. "Want of food. Now then,
pioneer, lead on."

Valter looked puzzled, but grasped the old,
man's meaning directly, and taking his ice-axe he
led the way to a door which he said was that of
the kitchen.

" The herr will pay for the damage to the hotel?"
he asked.

"Of course," cried the Colonel, and the instru-
ment the guide carried was put to a use far differ-
ent from that for which it had been made; for in
Valter's hand it became a wonderfully effective
burglarious implement. A few lever-like wrenches
sent the door open with a broken lock. Then the
window was opened, the shutter thrown back, and
the sunlight streamed in. Valter made at once
for another door, which fortunately yielded to a
touch of his hand. They found it was the larder,
where they were greeted by the sight of rows of
hooks intended for joints, empty dishes, barrels,
and a couple of tubs. But there was neither
schi?iken, as the guide termed it, bacon, nor dried
sausage. There was not a scrap of flour in either
of the barrels—nothing whatever edible. Frant
thrust his hand into his pocket, took out his to-
bacco pouch, opened it, looked inside, and closed
it again with a sigh.A SECRET QUEST.

*75

" Not a very hopeful sight for hungry people,"
said the Colonel. " Is there no tea, sugar, or coffee?"

The guide searched what seemed to be intended
for a store-room, but there was not a trace of any-
thing, and he led the way to the door of the cellar,
which also yielded to the dexterous use of the ice-
axe.

As this door was flung open, showing a set of
stone steps, the Colonel turned to Anderson.

"We must not use the wine if we find it. You
are physician enough, Mr. Anderson, to know how
bad that would be without food."

"Yes; but a little brandy would be valuable
for our flasks."

"Well," Frant continued, as the guide de-
scended and lit his way with wax matches, struck
and. handed to him from time to time by Frant,
who uttered dismal groans.

" Empty bottles, empty tubs, empty every-
thing—company included," he cried. "Here,
let's go up and have a smoke. Got plenty of
cigars, Colonel?"

"Oh yes, enough," said the old man testily, as
they went back into the room they had warmed.
" We can't stay in this miserable place and starve.
Come, guide, surely there is a way over the
mountains."

"Every way is blocked with snow, herr," re-
plied the guide; " but if any of the gentlemen will
come I will try."

" But how are we to get my daughter over."

The guide shrugged his shoulders.176

A SECRET QUEST.

" It would be impossible, herr. We must stay
here till a way is cut through the snow or the
thaw comes."

"Oh, not so long," said Frant. "I say, Adam,
old fellow, we shall have to do the shipwrecked
mariner business and cast lots, unless Mr. Ander-
son will volunteer."

"Then the place is quite empty," said the Col-
onel in dismay.

"Yes, sir," cried Frant, laughing, "except fur-
niture."

"We will see what we can do, sir," said Deane.
"Frant, you will come with us?"

" You may depend upon it I am not going to sit
down and starve," replied Frant; and Deane
turned to the guide with an inquiring look.

" While there is this snow hanging loose on the
mountains, herr," said Valter quietly, "it is like
madness to go; but we have our rope, and we can-
not stop here without food. I am ready."

"Which way shall we try?"

"Who can say, herr? We must go and try till
we can find a way down."

As he spoke, there was a dull distant roar which
increased till it was like thunder. Finally there
was a deafening crash followed by a deep rever-
beration.

"Great heavens!—what is that?" cried the Col-
onel.

" Snow which falls so late as this, herr, cannot
stay. It is all on the move in the high slopes.
A handful sends great fields falling."A SECRET QUEST.

177

"The man is right," cried the Colonel, eagerly-
peering from the window; " it is like madness to
stir under the treacherous slopes. You cannot
go."

"It is a case of must, sir," replied Deane,
smiling.

"Indeed, yes," said Anderson, who had for
some time been silent. "We have warmth and
shelter; but we must have food."

" Qui dort dine" said Frant carelessly. " Seems
to me that it's a fine chance for an experiment in
hibernation. Let's go to roost till they come
from below to root us out."

" For goodness' sake, Alick--"

Deane did not finish his speech, for the Colonel
turned upon them angrily.

"Look here, my good sir," he cried; "I have
passed over half my life in India, and have re-
turned shattered in health. A man can't have
bad health without its affecting his disposition,
and ®I have—I own it—a devil of a temper some-
times."

"Oh, it was only a joke, sir," said Frant,
apologetically.

"But it's not a time for joking, sir."

"And in extremely bad taste," added Anderson.

"Will you have the goodness to let me finish
what I was saying, sir?" cried the Colonel, hotly.

" I beg pardon."

"When I. am unwell I cannot restrain my irri-
tability," continued the Colonel, "and I am stiff,
rheumatic, and feverish now, in addition to being
12i78

a secret quest.

famished. I warn you, Mr. Frant, that another
remark like that will—will— There, there, I will
not be angry at such a time. Look here, gentle-
men, we must have an attempt made to obtain
food. Where is there the best chance—the nearest
place?"

"Nothing nearer or more accessible than the
hotel, sir, and your own home," cried Deane.

"Then, in heaven's name, come on, gentle-
men."

"No," said Deane, quietly. "Your place is
here, with Miss Denton.

"But I will not remain inactive."

"You will be doing us more good, sir, than by
coming with us."

"And I will go with them, Colonel Denton."

It required an effort, but it was a case of emer-
gency, and Deane spoke out.

" No, sir. Have the goodness to stay with Colo-
nel Denton. You are something of an invalid,
and the venture requires all the strength and activ-
ity of young men."

Anderson bit his lip, and he bit it harder as the
Colonel took Deane's hand.

"God bless you, my lad!" he said, warmly.
" I'm proud of my young fellow-countryman.
You are quite right; and I hate settling down to be
an old man. There's all the spirit, even if the
muscles are wanting. Can I help you?"

"Yes, sir—by watching over your daughter,"
replied Deane. " We are going, and it is what you
soldiers would call a forlorn hope. If we can getA SECRET QUEST.

179

over the mountains, we shall not be long before
we return with help and fcbd. If we do not get
over, you will see us back here before long."

" But you will get over, my lad, I feel sure."

" I wish I did, sir. If we do not return within
two days--"

" What?"

"You must, with Mr. Anderson's help, make an
effort to get down the pass, guarding yourselves
against the danger of the falling snow."

" But where will you be then?"

"Heaven knows, sir."

" Is the danger so great?"

Deane shrugged his shoulders.

" The danger is as great to sit here in inaction
and starve."

"Oh, but I cannot let you venture."

"Surely Mr. Deane is exaggerating," said An-
derson, blandly.

" I hope I am, sir."

"The herr has spoken the truth," said Valter,
gravely. "We Swiss would not stir at a time like
this unless there was some one in danger."

" But ought I to let you go on such a perilous
errand?" said the Colonel.

" You would not keep back your soldiers if it
was a call of duty, sir," said Deane, smiling; and
Anderson felt a pang of jealous rage run through
him as he saw how warm a feeling was springing
up between his rival and the Colonel.

But he calmed down as he thought of his posi-
tion—alone with the Dentons, and with the favor-i8o

A SECRET QUEST.

able opportunities for advancing one or the other
of the objects he had in view.

"Then you will go," said the Colonel.

"Yes, sir; we must go. We have gone through
plenty of perils for pleasure's sake. We must go
through some now for duty."

"Are we in danger?" said a quick, eager voice;
and all stared to see Hester at the door.

"Ah, my child!" cried the Colonel. "Better?"

"Yes, the feeling of confusion has gone off
now. It was as if I had been taking a sleeping
draught. I don't quite understand where we
are."

"Oh, only in the hospice, Miss Denton," said
Anderson, eagerly.

The Colonel gave him a sharp look.

"We are shut in, my darling, by the snow.
The pass is blocked."

" But you talked about danger," said Hester, and
she looked quickly at Deane, colored, and turned
her eyes upon her father.

" Well, snow is a little dangerous sometimes, as
you know; but our friends here are going to try
to find help."

"Yes," said D ane, quietly; "and the time is
passing. Are you both ready?"

For answer Valter slung his coil of rope over
his shoulder, picked up his ice-axe, and strode to
the door.

"Ready? yes!" saidFrant, cheerily. "I'llorder
dinner at the hotel, Colonel Denton. Miss Den-
ton, au revoir. Mr. Anderson, there's plenty ofA SECRET QUEST.

wood in the left hand cellar. The post of stoker
is one of honor at a time like this."

Anderson nodded and tried to smile. Deane
took up his hat and turned toward the door, not
daring to look at Hester.

"Don't leave us like that, Mr. Deane," said
the Colonel, warmly, as he extended his hand.
"" Thank you, and au revoir. Hester, my dear,
wish him good speed."

"I do," said Hester, quietly, as she raised her
hand, which was eagerly grasped and earnestly
pressed, the contact sending a thrill through both
which made them forget the danger by which they
were surrounded.

Then Deane passed out of the place, and the
Colonel stood holding his child's hand, watching
the three dark figures growing smaller as they
traversed the snow.

"Crying, my dear?" said the Colonel, suddenly.

"Yes. I feel as if you had sent them to their
•death," said Hester, in a voice so full of warmth
and sympathy that Anderson felt as if fortune was
fighting against him.

"Sent him to his death," he said to himself,
unconsciously quoting Hester's words; and as he
bent lower over the glowing opening of the stove,
the light shone full in his face, and his eyes gave
forth a lurid glare.

For he was thinking of his opportunities, and of
liow for days past he had neglected the principal
mission upon which he had come. In all proba-
bility, he would be alone with the Colonel that182

A SECRET QUEST.

night, and in spite of hunger the old man would
sleep from exhaustion. Would he sleep heavily
enough to allow of the precious letters being pur-
loined?

Anderson smiled, for fate might be kind to him
in another way—with Hester. Women were weak,
he told himself, and he could remind her of their
previous night's adventure.

" He will not get back here again to-night," the
lawyer said, softly. "Perhaps she is right: the
old man has sent him to his death."

" Did you speak, Mr. Anderson?" said the Col-
onel.

Anderson started and looked round, to see that
Hester was gazing at him in a half-frightened way,
while as he returned her gaze he seemed to hold
her eyes, and a feeling of exultation made the
blood flush to his temples.

" I don't think so," he said, merrily. " Perhaps
I did think aloud, for my mind was full of ideas
respecting a cosy room at my club in St. James'
Square, and snug little tables spread for dinner."

As he was speaking the Colonel thrust his hand
into his breast, and Anderson involuntarily did the
same—the one grasping his cigar case, the other
his brandy flask, but not on account of their or-
dinary contents.

"Yes," said the Colonel, peevishly. "I wish
we were there now."

" I don't," said Anderson, to himself. " I'd suf-
fer ten times the hunger for this night's chance.
Yes, the old man is sure to sleep."CHAPTER XXII.

The day passed slowly.

Anderson was all smiles and good humor, striv-
ing in every way to make the sojourn more bear-
able. His was the task of mending the fire and
getting together things from the other room to
make that in which they stayed less bare. He
was constantly starting topics for conversation, and
nothing could have been more courteous and
gentlemanly than his bearing toward Hester—to
her trouble and to the Colonel's annoyance.

The latter sat by the fire impatient enough,
fighting hard to contain himself; for he was, as it
were, all on edge. Every now and then, when he
felt as if he must explode, he got up and went to
the window to look out. Whenever he went to
look out, Hester rose and followed him, to gaze
out too.

" Nature. Alarmed and coy," said Anderson to
himself. " Well, I like her the better for it. She
cannot really care for that man."

" I haven't been so hungry since I was up in the
liills," ejaculated the Colonel, "when the supply
wagon went oveir the precipice. It was during
the Akeanar expedition."

" Where you were hurt, papa?"

183A SECRET QUEST.

"Now, my dear Hester, you know I was hurt
there. I told you a hundred times."

"Yes, papa," she said weakly. She looked so
piteously in his face that he passed his arm round
her, and they stood gazing out at the snow-clad
mountains.

"Hungry, pet?" he said at last; and Anderson,
who was about to venture another remark, closed
his lips just in time to prevent their words clash-
ing.

"A little, dear; but not so very bad. I am
thinking about you."

"Oh, nevermind me. I'm an old soldier, and
•used to starving; but I do wish we had a cup of
tea or a glass of wine."

"Will you take a little brandy?" said Anderson.

"No, sir, thank you," replied the Colonel,
coldly. " Spirits taken fasting are poison to me."

"Yes, of course. I beg pardon. It was the
only thing I could offer you. Do }^ou think it is
of any use to try and search the place again?"

" No, I do not. There is plenty of wood, is there
not?"

"Ample for days," said Anderson.

" Because I suppose we shall have to dine with
Duke Humphrey to-night, and we must make up
our minds to watch and doze for the next twelve
hours. Confound the expedition! How could I
ever have been such a fool as to come."

" It was unfortunate for Miss Denton that the
weather should have turned out so bad."

"Hang his confounded chatter!" muttered theA SECRET QUEST.

Colonel. " Hester, my dear, can you bear a little
smoking?"

"Oh yes, papa; I should like it."

"Anderson, give me one of your cigars, and
take one of mine. Thanks," he continued, after
the business of exchange. " Now, if you begin to
cough, Hetty, I shall really be sorry, for I must
give the wolf a little tobacco, as there's nothing
else."

" I think I will not smoke, if you will excuse
me," said Anderson, glancing at Hester.

"Then, if you don't I can't," cried the Colo-
nel, irritably. "For goodness' sake, man, light
up."

Anderson bowed and began toying with the
cigar, as the Colonel bit off the end of his and sat
frowning, heedless of the fact that his daughter
had folded a piece of paper and lit it.

"Might I ask," said Anderson, smilingly, ex-
tending his hand.

"I beg your pardon," said Hester, offering the
lighted paper, which Anderson took. He con-
trived to clasp her hand at the same time, and
gave her a burning look as she hastily withdrew
her fingers.

"You really are sure that you will not mind?"
he said.

"Of coarse she will not, sir," cried the Colonel.
" She knows we need it. Hah! " he ejaculated, as
he began to feel the soothing influence of the
aromatic leaf, " we must make the best of it to
make our imprisonment bearable. I'm begin-186

A SECRET QUEST.

tiing to regret that we did not accompany the for-
lorn hope."

" It would have been impossible for Miss
Denton."

"Well, I suppose so," said the Colonel, rising
to replenish the stove, but Anderson started up
and was before him.

"Your own suggestion," he said laughingly:
"mutual help."

The day wore on, and Hester began to reproach
lierself for her fears. Nothing could have been
better than Anderson's manner toward her. It
was always gentlemanly and considerate, and he
devoted himself as long as daylight lasted to
scheming little things to make the neighborhood
of the stove more comfortable.

"Yes," said the Colonel, grimly, as he ceased
his lionesque tramp up and down their prison.
"Yes; all very nice, Mr. Anderson. You've
^ made a drawing-room of the place; but I wish
you could have turned it into a kitchen. "

"I wish so, too," replied Anderson. "I should
have had no scruple about being cook."

"Confound it!" cried the Colonel half an hour
later, as he took the cup from his flask; " only
one more dram. Hetty, my dear, I don't like
asking you to sip brandy, but under the circum-
stances^—as medicine—what do you say?"

"No," she replied, with a smile.

"Hah!" sighed the Colonel; "they say woman
is weak. The weakness lies our way, I'm afraid.
You have some brandy, Mr. Anderson?"A SECRET QUEST.

187

"Oh, yes; half a flask full."

" Then I shall drink mine, for I am utterly ex-
hausted. "

He tossed off the last drops in his flask, and
replaced it before going to the window again,
where he was joined by Hester, the pair gazing
out at the dying light upon the peaks within view,
while in the depths of the pass it was almost dark.

As Hester turned with her father to retrace
their steps, she shuddered at the aspect of Ander-
son's countenance, which seemed to stand out of
the darkness and glow strangely in the reflection
of the stove. His eyes actually glistened as they
were fixed upon her.

It was only a momentary impression, and he
was talking to them both the next minute, speak-
ing cheerily about the morrow.

"We are going through the worst of the ordeal
now, Miss Denton," he said; "for I believe that
before long we shall all drop off to sleep, and not
wake again till quite late in the morning, and by
that time help will have come."

"Well, the best thing we can do," said the Colo-
nel, buttoning up his coat a little tighter, in a
way which drew Anderson's attention to the swell-
ing formed by his breast pocket. " Some animals
sleep for months without food; we ought to man-
age for a few hours."

The evening was fast growing into night, and
the silence of the place to Hester appeared appall-
ing. The gentlemen had smoked till they were
tired, and the conversation had flagged. She had188

A SECRET QUEST.

again gone over the adventures of the past night,
and shuddered as she glanced at Anderson, feeling
more and more that to be shut up there with him
was to be in his power. Still she fenced with her
thoughts, telling herself that they were silly fan-
cies not worthy of consideration.

Her musings were interrupted by their object,
who had silently left the room and now returned,
making the Colonel start up and betray the fact
that he had been dozing.

" What is it?" he cried. " Who's that?"

"It is only I," said Anderson, placing a vessel
on the mouth of the stove. " I'm going to make
some water hot, and I should advise you to follow
my example—have a glass of grog."

"Humph! Yes. Better than nothing. I will."

Anderson busied himself getting glasses, and
where he stood all was black darkness, the vivid
glow from the stove cutting across the room in a
clearly marked ruddy line.

In the midst of the silence which ensued there
suddenly arose the pleasant sound of the kettle
singing, and all sat waiting till a jet of steam
poured forth into the room.

"Hah!" ejaculated the Colonel; "puts one in
mind of your little kettle, Hetty, with the spirit
lamp. But there's no afternoon tea this time, my
dear."

" I shall enjoy it all the more next time, papa,"
said Hester, laying her hand upon his arm and
watching Anderson.

A minute later he came back to where fatherA SECRET QUEST.

and daughter were seated, with a steaming glass
in each hand.

"There, Colonel Denton," he said; "that's the
best I can do. No sugar, and we are more than ten
miles from a lemon. Still it is better than nothing."

"Very good of yon, Mr. Anderson—very good
indeed. Thanks. Been worse, sir, if there had
been the hot wTater, sugar and lemon, and na
brandy—eh?"

" Far worse. And now, Miss Denton," continued
Anderson, " I have ventured to bring you this."

"Oh, no, thank you," she exclaimed.

" Excuse me: it is very weak, and you are
suffering. It may be the means of procuring you
a refreshing night's rest. I know it is not a lady's
beverage, but under the circumstances—what do
you think, sir?"

"Well, really," replied the Colonel, "I hardly*
know what to say. It is very good of you; but I
shall leave it to Hester herself. Well, my dear,,
what do you say?"

"I should prefer not to take it," said Hester,
firmly.

" Then that settles it,'* said the Colonel, " thanks
to you, Mr. Anderson, all the same. But your-
self—have you a glass?"

"Yes; I mixed that," said Anderson, quietly,
as he carried Hester's glass back into the darkness-
and took up another. "Your health, Colonel
Denton."

"To our speedy deliverance!" cried the Colo-
* nel. " Hah! that is warm and comforting."A SECRET QUEST.

Hester looked at him as he sat sipping the
brandy-and-water, and then listened to a few re-
marks made by Anderson, as he sat back in the
darkness beyond the stove, and talked about the
peculiarities of the neighborhood.

The darkness outside was intense, and as An-
derson at last ceased speaking, a faint cracking
:sound from the stove seemed the only living
thing in the great solitude.

The Colonel was silent, and as, in spite of her-
self, Hester turned her eyes in the direction where
Anderson sat, invisible now in the darkness, a chill
of dread came over her, for she felt that he was
gazing fixedly at her.

Faint from want of food, mentally disordered
'Still by the feverish attack of the previous night,
it was as if the wild dreamy state was coming
back; and with a shiver of dread she softly stole
her hand to where her father's lay upon the arm
of his chair. It rested within the strong fingers
which closed over it, and gave it a firm pressure.

A faint sigh of satisfaction escaped her. She
felt safe now, and for a few minutes sat gazing at
the golden embers with a glow of warmth at her
heart. Then, as if drawn there in spite of herself,
her eyes turned with frightened gaze toward the
place where Anderson was seated; and again the
impression was strong upon her that he was look-
ing at her fixedly.

The suffering this caused was the more keen
from the fact that she could see nothing beyond
that glow of light. All else was intensely black,A SECRET QUEST.

and a child-like feeling of dread chilled her as she
sat breathing hard, in the fancy that he was about
to spring at her.

She pressed her father's hand once more, and
there was the same firm return of her grasp, send-
ing its comforting thrill through her. She deter-
mined to end the painful silence by starting some
topic of conversation. But no idea would come.
Her lips seemed sealed, and with growing agony
she felt that the sensation of dread was once more
creeping over her.

Why did not her father speak? Why did not
Mr. Anderson say something? Why did she not
herself speak? These questions repeated them-
selves; but there was no answer; and with her
feverish nightmare-like sensation increasing, she
once more sought for encouragement by pressing
her father's hand. The chill of horror increased
so that her faculties were as if frozen, for there
was no answering grasp.

The Colonel was fast asleep.

The knowledge that her father was sleeping
heavily stunned Hester for the moment. She
pressed his hand again and again, but there was
no response.

Then thoughts crowded upon her, and she was.
full of apprehension, amidst which came a pecul-
iar fancy—one which grew and grew as she clung
to the large firm hand which seemed to be her
only stay.

The idea was this: that her father had gone oft.
to sleep like that on the previous night, and hadA SECRET QUEST.

left her, so to speak, to the protection of their
companion. She had then attributed it entirely
to his exhaustion; but now he had not been pant-
ing and struggling through the deep and blinding
snow.

She pressed the Colonel's hand again, but there
was no return. His slumber was profound, and
once more her eyes were turned to the darkness
beyond the stove, as she strained her sense of
hearing in the hope that their travelling com-
panion had also fallen asleep.

If she could realize this, she felt that she could
wait patiently for the return of day, but there was
not a breath. She could only come to one con-
clusion : Anderson was seated there, screened by
the gloom, watching her and gloating over the
fear he knew that he inspired.

In her feverish state it was terrible. She knew
well enough that he had conceived a passion for
lier—that in his way he loved her—and it was hor-
rible. She had never before achieved to the
knowledge of what a man's power might be.
Gradually growing more excited by her fancy,
she trembled in anticipation as she felt that she
was there alone with this man; that her father
was in a profound sleep from which she would not
be able to awake him; and that Anderson would
choose this time to declare his insane love.

Almost as she had reached this pitch of agony,
which chained her like the paralyzing touch of an
unhealthy dream, there was a faint sound, as if
her silent companion had stirred.CHAPTER XXIII.

Hester's heart seemed to stand still, and she
this time checked the intense desire to look in
Anderson's direction, but gazed fixedly at the
glowing embers. All was still again but the deep
breathing of her father, and she could count the
throbbings of her heart.

She pressed the Colonel's hand over and over
again; but there was no response. There was a
terrible profundity about his slumber, and she felt
by instinct that no effort of hers would arouse him.

Once more there was a faint sound, whose effect
upon her was to excite a desire to leap up and run
shrieking from the room. But she felt powerless
to stir, and as the noise was not repeated she
drew a deep breath of relief; for a reaction had
commenced. The sounds she had heard were
doubtless made by their companion; he, too, had
no doubt yielded to the influence of the hot spirit,
and was sleeping soundly.

A long-drawn breath of relief again, and a rest-
ful feeling came over her as she sat there, reprov-
ing herself for her cowardice, and thinking what
slaves weak people are to their imaginations.
^What was there to fear?" she asked herself.
Nothing. Her dread ought to be for Adam
Deane and his companion, who had so bravely
13	193194

A SECRET QUEST.

gone for help. Forcing the current of her
thoughts into another direction, a feeling of
amusement stole through her as she dwelt on the
possibility of her young aunt marrying again. It
seemed possible, for there could be no doubt about
her thinking a good deal about the stalwart little
mountaineer—Mr. Deane's companion.

Mr. Deane's companion!

That brought her thoughts back into the line
they would have followed before. This time they
mastered her, and after a faint struggle she
yielded, flushing slightly the while at finding how
pleasant it was to dwell upon Adam Deane and
his pursuits—how interesting that fancy of his
was, and what a satisfaction it would be if he
really did discover those ancient gold workings.

She flushed a little more deeply as she felt how
much it interested her, and that she was wishing
he might succeed. For Mr. Deane was so quiet
and manly, and was always so respectful to her.
How ready he was, too, when her father was irri-
table, to pass it over without resentment.

Then came thoughts of his behavior when the
avalanche fell, and lastly there was his brave ef-
fort to save them on the previous night. For
aught she knew to the contrary, he was at that
moment toiling up the pass and battling with the
snow in a brave effort to bring help. A sweet
sense of pleasure began to glow at her heart, as
she felt that there was one great reason for all
this—a reason that he would some day boldly tell
—when he would say: " Hester, I love you."A SECRET QUEST.

X9S

What should she say?

"Hester, I love you!"

She started as if she had been stung, for there
kneeling on her left, and now clasping both her
hands in his, was Anderson. And as she looked
down at him, horrified, it was to see a strange
light in his eyes as the fire struck them sidewise,
and giving them a weird aspect, heightened by
the appearance of his face, half in the light, half
in the black darkness of the shade.

For the moment, as she crouched back in her
chair, staring at him, she wondered whether she
had heard those words, or they were her imagina-
tion.

She was not long left in doubt, for he continued,
in a hoarse whisper:—

" Don't shrink from me, dear. I love you, in-
deed—indeed. Listen to me!"

"Mr. Anderson! Papa, papa!"

"Hush!" he said, quietly; "he is sleeping.
You will not wake him."

The chill that had paralyzed her before came
with renewed strength at this, for Hester felt that
the words were true. Slightly recovering herself,
she dragged one hand away, and caught at her
father's arm, shaking it sharply.

"I tell you that he will not wake. Hester, listen
to me. Forgive me if I speak to you suddenly
in this unprepared—no, it is not unprepared,"
he continued, almost fiercely. "You know—you
have felt—that I loved you these months past.
My eyes told you my deep, my eternal admiration196

A SECRET QUEST.

for you, when we first used to meet by the sea, and
you felt how intense, how true my love was for
you when I tracked you and followed you to this
lone valley."

" Mr. Anderson, is this a time to speak to me?"

"Yes—the time given by fate."

"Father! father!" she cried, growing alarmed
now.

"Why do you try to wake him?" he whispered,
hoarsely. "He would not refuse me; but it is
not only his consent—I want yours. I want to
feel that you will be mine—that you will love me.
There, you see I, a strong man, am on my knees
to you—pleading—begging."

"Mr. Anderson!"

"Listen. You say, is this a time? Yes, and
you know it. Fate has thrown us together, as she
did last night, when I held you in my arms, and
won you from the death that was striving to tear
you away. You do not recall that?"

" I know," she said, in a startled, hesitating way,
as she tried to recollect the scene of the past night,
"that you took me with you to get assistance."

"Yes, and we were covered by the snow. I
carried you, Hester dearest—in these arms—to
safety — here. When, a dozen times over, my
strength was failing, when the storm was bewil-
dering me, and you were insensible to its horrors,
I would not fail, for I had you to save—your pre-
cious life to win—and I fought on and on, love
giving me strength, till at last I bore you to this
place."A SECRET QUEST.

197

u You carried me here—here?" she faltered.

"Yes: you do not remember? I bore you here,
and won you back to life; for I love you, dearest."

Horrified by his words and manner, she tried to
drag her hands away, but he held them fast.

44 You think I tell you of all this boastingly," he
whispered, "but it is not that. It is to tell
you—to make you understand all I feel; for I
know I am not young nor handsome—not one of
the bright-faced boys who win women's hearts and
then, thoughtless, careless, cast them away. I am
not smooth-tongued and romantic, for mine has
been a hard life, Hester—a battle with my kind.
I never thought to kneel to a woman like this and
plead for pity, for I despised women till I saw you
in all your sweet innocency and beauty. Ah! you
are turning to me at last. Hester, I saved your
life; tell me that life is mine."

"Mr. Anderson, this is madness."

" Love is madness," he whispered; "but a mad-
ness which leads to joy. Hester—love—we are
alone."

"We are not alone," she cried, desperately.
44 Father."

" He might as well not be here," whispered An-
derson. " You see he does not heed you. But you
do hear me. Hester, I tell you it is fate. You
must listen to me now. You will be my wife?"

"No, no," she cried: "it is impossible."

" The impossible made possible by fate, who has
these two nights overthrown us together alone.
Come, let me plead to you tenderly. I would I198

A SECRET QUEST.

had the words to tell you how long and how dearly
I have loved you; but they will not come."

"Mr. Anderson, this is cowardly—unmanly/'
she cried, growing strong now as she felt how self-
dependent she really was in the presence of the
strange stupor in which her father lay.

"You call it so," he said, gently; "but it is my
love that speaks."

"You insult me by persevering when I tell you
it is impossible," she cried.

"Why?" he said, sharply. "Because you are
engaged?"

"No, no," she cried, wildly.

" Then it is not impossible. Even if you had
been engaged you would have been mine."

"Mr. Anderson!"

"Yes; you call my offer insulting. Have you
no tender word—no gentle look to give me?"

" I tell you, sir, that all this is a cruel insult—an
outrage. If my father heard you—as he shall
hear—you would bitterly repent."

"No," he said, softly. "There can be no re-
pentance—only a feeling of joy in the recollection
that I have told the woman I worship how I love
her."

" I tell you once more, sir, this is a cruel out-
rage. I cannot—I will not—give you any other
reply. No! no! I could not—I never would."

" Not recompense the man who saved your life
by giving that life to him?"

" Is it the act of a gentleman to bargain for what
he has clone, sir?" she cried, rising and draggingA SECRET QUEST.

I99

her hands away. " The poorest peasant here would
have done what you did."

"Perhaps," he said; "but he would not have
risked his life. You will be my wife, Hester?"

She turned from him with so bitter a look of
disgust that the blood rushed to his temples and
retreated, leaving him cadaverous and pale.

" You do not mean this," he whispered. " I have
taken you by surprise.M

"Yes," she said, firmly. "I thought Mr. An-
derson was my father's friend, and would respect
and save his child from the pain of a scene like
this."

"Your father's friend—your friend—your lover,
Hester. A man who will stand at nothing to win
you to be his wife."

Hester seized her father's hand, and bent down
over him.

"Father, father!" she cried; "why do you not
speak?"

Anderson smiled.

44 You do not heed what I say," he continued.
" I want to win you by gentle words, Hester; but
you force me by your cruel, bitter disdain to speak.
What am I to say to you?—tell you I will wait
years if you order me to. I am rich; your every
wish shall be gratified. I will be your most pa-
tient slave; give in to every caprice. You shall
occupy a position in society that shall make others
envious. Ah! you are relenting. Hester, my
own!"

She shrank from him with a repetition of the200

A SECRET QUEST.

look of disgust which stung him to the quick, and
with an angry gesture he stood with heaving
breast, biting his lips, and trying hard to master
the sensation of rage which carried him away.

When at last he spoke, it was in a husky whisper,
which told of his emotion, and made Hester pass
one arm about her father's neck and cling to him
in dread.

" Frightened?" said Anderson. " Don't be
alarmed. You accused me of acts not worthy of a
gentleman; but I love and respect the beautiful
woman who is to be my wife!"

" Your wife!"

"Yes; my wife. It is fate, I tell you. I told
you, too, that I would stop at nothing to win you.
If the open honest tenders of the gentleman are of
no avail, I must try other means; only I warn you
—you force me to it. Do you not see your posi-
tion, Hester?"

She gave him a quick glance.

" I say, do you not see your position? You are
a lady—stop, I will not speak to you like this. I
appeal to you once more; be merciful to me, Hes-
ter, I love you."

She turned away.

" Be merciful to yourself, then."

She was still silent.

" Mind; you must not blame me in the future.
No; you will not. You will be too happy as my
wife, and forgive anything, Hester. Do you not
realize your position—as a lady accustomed to
mc?ve in good society?"A SECRET QUEST.

201

She shivered slightly, but even now she did not
realize the import of his words.

" You have driven me to it," he said, desperately.
"Can you not see that you must be my wife."

She clung more closely to the sanctuary she had
taken, but made no other sign.

" That, even supposing it possible that your af-
fections led you in another direction—say toward
our mutual friend, Deane--"

" Mr. Anderson!" she cried indignantly.

" Well, then, any other gentleman you might
meet—and he were disposed to ask your hand in
marriage, as I have done."

He spoke more and more slowly, making his
words, as it were, cut home, while she stood at-
tent, half wondering at what he might dare to say.

" You could not accept him. I should not allow
you to accept him. I should be driven, Hester,
by my intense love, to say that man must never
clasp to his breast the woman I dearly love." He
waited for her to speak, but the silence was pro-
found, and he went on again slowly:

" For my own sake—to save my life from the
pistol or poison, for I could not live without you
—I should, in self-defence, have words wrung from
me that would end his pretensions on the instant."

She turned upon him, her eyes full of wonder,
and then began trembling as if some dim percep-
tion of his meaning was dawning upon her mind.

"You would have forced me to it, and your
beautiful eyes are now asking me the question—■
What should I say? Well, ask me in words."202

A SECRET QUEST.

He paused.

"You will not? Then, once more, dearest, do
we tell your father when he wakes in the morning
that we ask his blessing on our love? No reply?
Those beautiful eyes still questioning—still asking
how I should win you from one—from a thousand
would-be lovers? Well, I will tell you—hard as
it is—but lovingly. Fate has given you to me
already, dearest. I felt it; but I would not en-
force my power till I had pleaded humbly for the
love you cannot withhold."

He paused again, and passed his tongue over
his parched lips—hesitating even then before he
dealt his cowardly blow. But passion conquered,
and in the belief that he would bring her to his
knees he went on.

" Fate has given you into my hands. Hester—
love—wife—have you forgotten the events of the
past two days?"

"No, sir," she said, coldly.

"You have, or you would not speak like that.
Hester, have you not thought of how your future
rests with me?"

Again her eyes looked wildly and wonderingly
into his.

" Last night—to-night—alone, here with me, in
the mountains? You do not see? Why, a word
from me would drive the most ardent lover from
your feet! Hester, dearest, once more I tell you
fate his given you into my hands, and you are mine
and mine alone!"CHAPTER XXIV.

A curious sensation of rage and contempt for
himself came over Lawrence Anderson as soon as
he had uttered the words. Something within
him—perhaps the much-talked-of still small voice
of conscience—whispered that he was acting and
playing the part of a villain, and it only wanted
the bitterly resentful look flashed from Hester's
eyes to half madden him.

For if ever eyes darted a speaking look that
said "Coward!" Hester Denton's were those eyes
before she turned from him in disgust, standing
behind her father's chair with her arm about his
neck.

Could Anderson have felt that he had been suc-
cessful, and that he had completely cowed her by
his threats, he would have thought little of his
words, triumphant as he would have been in the
feeling that he had achieved one-half of his mis-
sion. But the contempt and defiance in the look
of one who seemed to have suddenly changed
from a timid girl to a firm woman, stung him to
the heart while it increased his admiration.

He, too, had risen, and stood silent and motion-
less, looking from her to the glowing stove and
back, while the silence in the half-dark room
grew more painful as the moments fled.

203204

A SECRET QUEST.

A dozen times over he was on the point of
speaking; but no words would come. He had
sent his barbed and poisoned shaft straight at his
intended victim, and he had seen it strike and fall
blunted from the armor of her woman's innocency
and strength. What was to be his next step?

He moistened his parched lips again and again,
and began to pace the room to and fro, while Hes-
ter furtively watched him, strong in her defiance,
but trembling as she saw him pass from the black
darkness of the end across the broad patch of light
and disappear.

Her greatest dread was lest he should come
back behind her; but he confined himself to one
path in front of the stove. As she listened to his
steps she pressed the Colonel's shoulder, and when
Anderson's back was turned she passed her hand
caressingly over her father's cheek.

Still there was no responsive movement. He
slept on deeply, the regular inspiration slightly
raising her arm as she rested with it across his
breast.

Half an hour of agony such as she had never
before felt passed—a brief space which felt to her
like an age; and then Anderson stopped suddenly
before her, his voice husky and changed.

" Hester," he said; " Hester! can one so beauti-
ful—so dear to me—be hard and cruel like this?
There; I retract all I said. It was base, nnmanly,
villanous. I confess it. But have some pity on
me; I could not restrain myself. A man such as
I loves only once, and when his affection is set, itA SECRET QUEST.

bears all before it like some furious torrent. I
tell you that for your love I could stay at nothing,,
yet when humbly, appealingly, I speak to you,
every word is treated with cold contempt.,,

He waited, but she remained silent, and he
went on.

" I will not believe that you are at heart so
cruel. It is your girlish shrinking from accepting
the man who worships you. For heaven's sake—
for pity's sake—say one word to me; give me
something to feed on—a gleam of hope. You
cannot realize what a love like mine is. Speak to*
me or you will drive me mad."

He paused again.

"Do you not hear me? I ask for forgiveness,
for my words. Hester, dearest, I could not injure
you, even in thought. What I said was wrung;
from me by your cruel coldness. There, dearest,
you will listen to me now."

He took a step toward her to seize her hand,
but she shrank from him with a cry of dread;
and he turned away with a gesture of rage, and
resumed his hurried tramp up and down the
room.

"Very well," he said at last, as he stopped
suddenly before her. "You force me to speak.
One of us two must be slave. I have prayed to
you to let me be, but you turn from me with
contempt. I shall beg no more. I can wait, for
I am the stronger. It is your turn to plead now—
when you like. You have not quite grasped the
situation; but you can think it out, and then yom206

A SECRET QUEST.

will see that your future is in my hands—that
you must come to me. When you do, I shall be
merciful as you have not been to me, and---"

Hester hardly heard his last words in the agony
of a thought that had attacked her. She checked
Anderson's utterances now by a wild cry, as she
frantically began to tear at her father's throat.

"What is it?" cried Anderson, excitedly.

"He is dying—he is dying!" cried Hester.
" Father! Dear father! don't leave me now."

" Hush, you are mistaken," whispered Ander-
son hoarsely. Thrusting away Hester's hands,
he rapidly unfastened the Colonel's kerchief and
collar, and laid his hand upon his brow and then
at his throat.

For the sleeper had suddenly begun to utter
hoarse catching sounds and to struggle feebly,
while he made ineffective motions with the fin-
gers as if to tear away something that was suffo-
cating him.

"Help! what can I do?" cried Hester, excit-
edly; and she leaned over and gazed in the now
open and dilated eyes.

"Don't—don't be alarmed," cried Anderson,
huskily. "A slight fit of some kind. There, I'll
carry him to the couch. Yes, you can help me.
He will be better lying down."

As he spoke, he lifted the old man from the
chair, and half dragged him to the sofa which had
been the daughter's resting-place the night be-
fore. The reclining position appeared to afford
some relief to the gasping man, who in the inter-A SECRET QUEST.

207

vals of the paroxysms which attacked him began
now to mutter incoherently.

" Is—is he dying?" whispered Hester, with a
look of awe.

"In heaven's name, no! He—he can't be,"
stammered Anderson. " It is a slight fit. He had
no business to go to sleep in that position. There,
you see, he is better now."

"No, no," cried Hester, wringing her hands;
44 he is worse—he is dying."

She flung herself upon her knees, and threw her
arms about her father's insensible form, but made
no resistance as Anderson drew her away, saying
in a trembling voice:

" Don't do that. You are injuring him. Give
him air, let him breathe easily. I don't think—I
can't think—there is much the matter."

" Heaven help me!" murmured Hester. " What
shall I do?"

Anderson also was excited, and watched every
change and movement that took place as the Colo-
nel tossed his head from side to side, muttering
the while. After a time he became silent, and
seemed to drop into a heavy sleep once more; but
it only lasted a few minutes. Then he grew more
restless than ever, and, in spite of her repugnance,
Hester looked wildly at her companion for help.

"Try not to be alarmed," he said, with his
voice trembling, and Hester saw that as he busied
himself about her father his hands shook as with
palsy. " He will go off soundly to sleep again, I
hope, soon."A SECRET QUEST.

" And if he does not?"

She could not continue the train of thought; it
was too bewildering, too crushing in its horror.
At last she knelt there by the couch holding a
hand, which kept on twitching convulsively, but
no coherent answer came to anything she said.

For quite a couple of hours this went on. An-
derson divided his time between pacing the room
and watching by the Colonel's side, pausing now
and then to wipe the sweat which gathered on his
own brow, while more than once Hester heard
him mutter excitedly to himself.

Anderson was weighing over the position in
which he was placed, and thinking of the Colo-
nel's age, his undoubted weakness from long resi-
dence abroad, and the fact that for so many hours
he had been absolutely without food. As these
thoughts crossed his mind, the lawyer trembled
in spite of his strong nerves.

At last, as he was bending over the couch, he
passed his hand inside the Colonel's breast. Hes-
ter gazed up at him wildly.

He did not speak directly, for his hand was
closely in contact with something which touched
the back of it, and when he did give utterance to
words his voice was changed.

"Beating more strongly," he said. "The fit
has passed."

"You—you are not deceiving me?" whispered
Hester.

"Have some faith in me," he replied with
peculiar emphasis. I have told you the truth.A SECRET QUEST.

209

Now go and sit by the stove. You are shivering
with cold."

"No, no; I will not leave him."

" Do as I bid you," he said sternly. " Replenish
the fire. He must not suffer from a chill."

Hester rose obediently, bent down and kissed
her father, and went to the stove, glancing over
her shoulder once, to see that Anderson's back
was to her, and that he was arranging one of the
blankets over the sleeping man.

Then, as she softly began to place some small
fir logs in the stove', Anderson glanced back
sharply, drew the blanket well over the Colonel's
shoulders, and finally withdrew his hand with
the cigar case and pocket book, which he had ex-
tracted from the sleeper's breast.

The former was quickly returned. With his
heart throbbing with excitement, Anderson slipped
the pocket book into his own breast.

" There," he said, as he crossed to where Hester
knelt by the stove; " go and satisfy yourself. He
is sleeping calmly now."

"You are sure, Mr. Anderson?"

"Yes, Hester. No, don't flinch. I give you
my word that I will not speak to you again as I
have. The next words will come from you."

She drew herself up.

" You think they will not—now. But we shall
see. One word more—are you going to tell your
father what has passed to-night?"

"I have no secrets from my father, sir," she
said, simply.

142IO

A SECRET QUEST.

"That is not true," he said sharply, and with
blunt emphasis. " Ah, I am not blind. But you
will not tell him what has passed. Do you know
what he has been suffering from to-night? I'll
tell you. An affection of the heart. This must
have weakened him, and any fresh excitement
might be dangerous. The Colonel is choleric
enough without anything to spur him on. I
should think twice, Madam, before I spoke."

She shivered slightly at his words, and he
seemed to fix her eyes as he gazed at her.

" There," he said; " I shall leave you to yourself
to think. Call me if he seems uneasy again. I
will rid you of my presence, and light the stove
in the other room. You need not be alarmed. I
keep my word."

He took a box of wax matches from his pocket, \
caught up one of the blankets and two of the
glasses from the table, leaving the one that had
been filled for Hester untouched. As he reached
the door he turned, and gazed back at her for a
few moments where she stood trembling, and then
passed out of her sight, leaving her to sink sob-
bing by her father's side.CHAPTER XXV.

wOne failure—one success," muttered Ander-
son, as he hastily ignited some of the combustible
chips lying ready, and soon had a good blaze in
the other stove, before which he knelt. After
taking a little brandy from his flask, he drew out
a tiny stoppered phial and held it up to the light,
with his thumb nail pressed to the glass on a level
with the top of the fluid within.

Twice over he moved his nail to different
heights on the side of the bottle, as if calculating
or measuring.

" Just about the same quantity as last night," he
said to himself. " Weak, I suppose, from want of
food. The greater effect."

He replaced the phial, and crouched down by
the fire, gazing at the glow and warming his
chilled hands.

"Suppose he had died," he said; "suppose he
had died. Alone with me, no one else to look to.
Bah! I had forgotten the aunt."

He glanced round the dark room, rose and made
sure that he had closed the door, then returned
and placed a chair before the open stove door,
threw in more wood to make a brighter blaze, and
with a grim smile of satisfaction he took out the
Colonel's pocket-book.

211212

A SECRET QUEST.

" Strange work for me, my lord," he said with
a laugh. " Lawrence Anderson, the celebrated
criminal lawyer, picking pockets. Now then, let
me see."

He opened the thick book and carefully exam-
ined pocket after pocket, to find in the two first,
crisp, clean, Bank of England notes to the amount
of a hundred and fifty pounds, in addition to a
few Swiss and French hundred franc bills.

"Old man is pretty warm," he said, as he re-
placed the notes. "Nowthen. Humph! stamps.
Ah—here we are," he said, as he found an en-
velope in the next pocket, containing carefully
folded papers. " I shall not have wasted the
whole night."

He took out the folded papers with trembling
fingers, opened them, held them to the light, and
replaced them with an imprecation.

" Confound his prescriptions! He'll drug him-
self to death some day."

There were two more pockets to examine, and
he took out and read from the first what proved
to be, according to its heading, " The best recipe
for genuine Indian curry."

"Ah!" he ejaculated, as he replaced this with
a grim smile. " Of course they would be in the
innermost pocket. At last."

There they were: two letters in nearly new en-
velopes, but on taking out the contents he saw the
characters, written on foreign paper, were in quite
a childish hand.

He laughed.A SECRET QUEST.

213

"Indian princesses don't go to young ladies'
seminaries, it seems," he said. "Now, then,
beauteous brown one, who threatens our noble
statesman, let us see."

He leaned more closely to the stove and read:
"My own dear papa." Anderson started. "Pet
name, I suppose," he muttered; but he turned to
the last side and read: "Your loving daughter,
Hester."

" Damnation!"

He turned to the other letter, which also bore
the same signature, but it was written, as the date
showed, a month earlier, and he sat scowling, with
the two treasured missives in his hand, probably
the first written by his child from England to the
officer thousands of miles away.

Then a change came over the man. He turned
them over, for they possessed a peculiar fascina-
tion for him, which tempted him, in spite of his
disappointment, to read them and hold them to
his lips before he replaced them. Then he care-
fully felt over the sides of the book to make sure
that nothing was in the lining.

"Disappointing—disappointing," he muttered,
dreamily. " I made so sure that they were here."

He hastily thrust the book into his breast and
went across the hall to the other room.

Hester started up from where she was kneeling
to look at him in a frightened way, which he
ignored, and said gently:

" How is he?"

"Sleeping, I think," she replied. He went up214

A SECRET QUEST.

to the couch, felt the Colon el's brow, and then
took his hand.

"Yes, sleeping quite peacefully. There is
nothing to mind. He will wake in the morning
quite well and refreshed."

Hester gazed at him fixedly, and he had hard
work to avoid blanching before her searching
eyes.

"Why do you say that?" she exclaimed.

" Well—from old experience and knowledge of
my kind. Men do not live to forty without being
either physicians or fools, as the proverb says.
You may trust me. Cruel as you are toward me,
I would not delude you with false hopes. Your
father sometimes thinks himself worse than he
really is; but all the same he is delicate, and this
storm has somehow given him a nasty shock."

Hester wanted to thank him, but she dared not,
lest even the slightest encouragement should make
him renew his protestations; and they two stood
gazing fixedly at each other, Hester knowing all
the time that he was reading her thoughts.

"The room is growing chilly!" he said, at last.
" Pray don't let the fire go down. He has slipped,
too, a little. I will place him in a more comfort-
able position."

Hester went off toward the fire, wondering that
Anderson had not offered to replenish the stove
himself. She threw on two or three blocks before
returning to where her companion was bending
over the Colonel, with the patient's Russian leather
cigar-case in his hand.A SECRET QUEST.

"This ought to be in his pocket, ought it not?"
said Anderson. "Slipped out, I suppose. Will
you put it back?"

She took the case.

" By the way, I dare say he would give me a
cigar if he were awake. May I take one?"

Hester offered the case, which Anderson opened,
took a cigar, and closed and handed back. Then
Hester slipped it into her father's breast, beside
his pocket-book, which was in its place.

" There," said Anderson, " you need not be under
any apprehension. If there were any danger, I
would not leave you. The stove will burn for
some hours, so wrap something round you, and go
to sleep. You would rather I left you?"

There was no reply.

"I understand," continued Anderson, bitterly.
" But I am patient. I shall wait, because I know
that I must win. Good-night. To-morrow I
dare say help will come. If not, the next day, or
the next. If not, then it will be too late. I don't
know that I shall mind, except for your sake—you
are so young and beautiful. For myself, it would
be a joy to lie down and die at your feet. Once
more, good-night."

He held out his hand, and in spite of herself
Hester raised hers, for it to be taken and held pas-
sionately to Anderson's lips before he loosed it and
walked sharply out of the room.

Hester went back to her vigil, drawing back her
chair so that the full glow from the stove might
shine upon her father where he lay, breathing2l6

A SECRET QUEST.

rather heavily, but in a slumber that was peaceful
and calm.

Then through the rest of that weary night the
girl sat watching and listening to every sound.
At one moment she was buoyed up with hope, for
there were sounds without which made her hurry
to the window, feeling sure that Deane and the
others had returned; but as she stood with her face
pressed close to the panes, seeing nothing save
the glittering stars, the sound was repeated, and
she knew that instead of footsteps it was the falling
of fragments of frozen snow from the roof.

Back by the couch, finding consolation in hold-
ing her father's hand, she became tortured by the
fancy that Anderson had stolen outside and was at
the panes watching every movement; and this be-
lief grew so strong at last that she was only able
to disabuse her mind by rising and going up to
the window again and again.

Would the morning never come! It seemed an
age since the night had fallen. She looked out to
see the stars bright as ever, and listened to a
peculiar sighingwind that swept round the house.
Then back in her seat, faint and nervous with all
she had gone through, she waited again, starting
at the crackling of the embers, and wondering
what the coming day would bring.

Then she began wondering how long people
could exist without food, and shuddered at the
idea of seeing her father perish before her eyes.

This thought was succeeded by one which
seemed to pervade her being—the presence ofA SECRET QUEST.

217

Anderson, and the feeling that though she had
mastered him so far, with her father ill, she would
be at his mercy and peAiaps compelled to make
some promise.

For the prisoner was becoming weak in thought
as she was in body. The pangs of hunger were
growing more hard to bear, and she dared not go
to sleep, even had she wished.

At last the desire to close her eyes, if it were
only for a few minutes, grew so strong that she
was compelled to leave her seat and begin pacing
the room; but only to feel over and over again
that she was almost asleep as she walked. At last,
after quite an hour's weary struggle, she felt that
she must give way. Going to the couch, she drew
the Colonel's arm about her neck, and sinking
down on the floor, her eyes closed; but she started
directly into wakefulness, for there was a sound in
the hall, and convinced that Anderson was return-
ing, she once more began to pace the long room.
As she reached the window her heart bounded, for
the tops of the mountains showed faintly in the
coming light, and she knew that in less than an
hour they would be glowing in the morning sun-
shine. It would be broad daylight then in the
valley, and she told herself that fear would pass
away with the darkness. The door opened softly,
and Anderson came slowly into the roomCHAPTER XXVI.

"Good-morning," he said quietly; but there
was a curiously disturbed look on his face, and he
went straight to where the Colonel lay.

" Has he been awake?"

" No; he has not stirred."

Anderson bent over the Colonel again, and as
Hester watched him she noticed that his hands
seemed to be busy about her father's waist.

"Better let him have his rest out. You have
been asleep, of course?"

Hester shook her head.

" Why not? Still full of mistrust?"

Slie made no reply, and he came to her side.

"Waiting to speak more fully?" he said, taking-
her hand to hold it in spite of an attempt for its
withdrawal. "Well, I am ready to hear you.
There will be no help to-day; perhaps not to-mor-
row. Don't you think, under the circumstances,
we ought to be more than friends?"

A slight movement on the Colonel's part made
Hester run to his side, glad of the reprieve. She
caught his hand tightly between hers, determined
not to leave him again.

Anderson had followed her, and after a sharp
look at the sleeping man:

"Hester," he whispered, "I have sat thinking
218A SECRET QUEST.

219

over what I said to you in the night—of what you
said to me. Come, you understand me better now;
you will not be so cruel. Confound!" he ejacu-
lated, for at that moment there came a faint dis-
tant sound, an unmistakable jodel, which made
Hester run to the window and throw it open, tear
out her handkerchief and wave it excitedly; for
there, a half mile away, in single file, she could
see a party of men coming along from the direc-
tion of the last refuge.

Her signal was seen, and another melodious
shout rang out on the clear morning air as one of
the party detached himself from the rest and came
on at a slow laborious trot through the thick
snow.

Hester's heart began to bound. There was no
more cause for dread, and the color began to mount
to her cheeks again as she recognized the figure in
advance. It was Adam Deane safely returning,
and of those with him three were carrying loads
upon their backs.

"Then the adventure is over for the present/'
said a voice behind her. She started round to see
that Anderson was looking at her with a cynical
smile upon his countenance. " There, it is only
the commonplace finish. Well, Hester, I may
thank Fate for what she has done. She has changed
what might have proved to be a tedious and doubt-
ful courtship into a quick and short certainty."

She looked at him indignantly.

"Too late for that," he said. "They will be
here in a very few minutes now, so one word while220

A SECRET QUEST.

we are alone. Take what line of action yoti please
before these people for the present. I agree with
you that it would be embarrassing for us to seem
to be engaged. But we are."

- Valter's jodel rang out again cheerily, and ran
echoing along the rocks of the great hollow.

Hester tried to speak—to utter the hot indignant
thoughts in her heart; but no words would come,
and she was still struggling to articulate when
Deane came ploughing through the snow up to the
window.

"All well?" he cried.

"Yes, yes!" said Hester, stretching out her
hands to him; and as they were eagerly seized
she felt a sense of joy and safety. "Welcome
back."

Deane's heart throbbed tumultuously, and his
voice shook a little as he climbed in at the window
to see Anderson a short distance behind, looking
ghastly in the reflected light.

"Ah, Mr. Anderson," he cried, "how are you>
They'll be here directly with provisions. We
tried hard to get back last night, but we could not
get over the snow in the darkness, and had to take
refuge in the first hut. But where's the Colonel
—not ill?"

" He has had rather a bad attack," said Hester.
Anderson cleared his throat and seemed to speak
as if by an effort; but there was a malicious ring^
in his voice as he said quietly:—

" Yes; he has been very ill. Miss Denton and I
sat up with him all night."A SECRET QUEST.

221

Deane changed color a little, and turned quickly
again to Hester, who met his eyes with a look that
was almost imploring.

"He is better now," she said hastily; and she
too changed color tinder the young man's search-
ing gaze.

" Morning," came from the window, and Frant
climbed in. 44 Here we are, loaded. Now, Valter,
my lad, hand in the commissariat. Got a fire.
Hurrah! Talk to you presently, when you are all
brought back to life. Not got the door open
then?"

He said no more, but signed to Valter to come
in. One of the hotel people, who had accompanied
them, entered too, and in an incredibly short space
of time a capital breakfast was spread, the men
who had volunteered their services being quite at
home in the old hospice, and making no scruple
about hunting out and utilizing the necessaries
stored away in the cupboards.

This done, they adjourned to the other room to
prepare their own breakfast, while after a look at
the Colonel, Frant turned to Hester.

" What do you think?" he said. " Shall we wake
him?"

Hester hesitated, but the problem was solved by
a sigh from the couch; and as Hester ran to his
side, the Colonel sat up, stared sharply round, and
then rose quickly.

44Well done!" he cried, with his head quite
clear. "You should have called me when you
came. Glad to see you back, gentlemen. You've222

A SECRET QUEST.

worked well. I thank you. This is a pleasant
surprise."

" Are you better, sir?" said Frant.

" Better? No; how can I be till I've had some
food. Come, my dear, you are famished. Sit
down. Now, Mr. Anderson, no ceremony. We
starved ones can't wait. Ready, gentlemen."

They took their places at the table, where, as
Hester dispensed the steaming coffee, she glanced
uneasily at her father, feeling that he had not the
slightest recollection of his illness during the night.
In spite of herself, she glanced at Anderson, who
met her gaze with a look that made her flush with
anger—the more deeply that she knew Deane was
taking notice of all that passed.

Little was said for the next few minutes, during
which time the breakfast was partaken of with
avidity by all but Hester and Deane.

" Come, my dear,"cried the Colonel, "you must
eat. You need not be afraid. In an hour you
will be quite recovered. I've gone through this
sort of thing before—but in heat, not in the cold.
I must have slept soundly last night. How did
you get on, Mr. Anderson?"

" I?" said that gentleman, giving Deane a mean-
ing look. "Oh, pretty well. A day's fasting does
not act on me as a sleeping draught."

Deane tried hard not to look at Hester, but his
eyes would turn in her direction. He found that she
was just glancing at him, her face looking agitated;
and as their eyes met a vivid flush rose tp her brow,
while Deane felt a sickening sensation of despair.A SECRET QUEST.

22J

"Ah," said the Colonel, "you are not an old
campaigner, Hester, my child; but you have borne
up bravely. A little more ooffee, my dear. I
hope, Mr. Deane, that the brave fellows who came
with you are looking after themselves."

" Oh yes, sir," cried Frant, who noted his friend's
countenance; "they are feasting away. Splendid
air this for the appetite. But we could none of us
eat last night."

"Why?" said the Colonel.

"Well," said Frant, laughing, as he kept up the
conversation to draw attention from Deane, "in
the first place we had been cutting our way over
snow and ice till we were so exhausted that
we could hardly stand. In the second place, we
were cold, miserable, and fireless, as well as dis-
appointed by our failure."

" Poor fellows!" said the Colonel, attacking some
ham. " And in the third place?"

" Oh, never mind that, sir."

"But I do mind, sir," said the Colonel, authori-
tatively.

"Well, sir," said Frant, gazing hard at Hester;
" two of us were Englishmen, and knowing that
an English lady and two of our compatriots were
only a short distance away, half starved and anx-
iously watching for the help that might not come
for days, made my friend set such an example
that I only had appetite for a pipe. Another cup
of coffee, please, Miss Denton. I'll make up for
it now."

The Colonel drew a long breath, rose from his224

A SECRET QUEST.

seat, went round to where Deane was seated, and
laid one hand upon his shoulder, the other on
Frant's.

" I can't make speeches this morning, my lads,"
he said, huskily. " I only say thank you. God
bless you both; I never felt more proud of being
an Englishman. Hah!" he ejaculated, as he
turned back to his seat in the midst of a painful
silence. "-Hester, my dear, I'm going to have a
terrible fit of some kind after this. But I'll wait
till we get back to the chalet."

"Ah, do, sir," cried Frant.

"I add my thanks," said Anderson, quietly.
" Mr. Deane—Mr. Frant, I hope you will look
upon me as your friend for life."

"Oh, come, I say,"cried Frant. "Don't. You
are spoiling a fine young, healthy, honest appe-
tite. Yes, Miss Denton—thank you. I beg your
pardon; but you people make too much fuss about
it. I worship mountain climbing, and this has
been a pleasure to me—combination of pleasure
.and utility. £k>w then, what about going back?"

"To be sure, yes," said the Colonel. "How
soon shall we start?"

"That depends, sir, on Miss Denton. We have
ropes and a short ladder up at the last refuge, but
there are some awkward little bits to climb and
descend, for we have to quite leave the pass and
go up the side of the gorge. I thought perhaps it
would be better to stay here a few days while a
iwayiscut."

"Stay here?" said the Colonel, "Hester, myA SECRET QUEST.

225

child, are you brave enough to try the climb-
ing?"

"Yes, certainly/' she cried, eagerly.

" But the risk?" said Anderson.

Frant glanced at Deane, and saw that there was
a peculiar twitching about his eyes.

" I think, with the help the guides would give
me, papa," said Hester, quietly, "that I could
manage to go where you did."

"Of course," said the Colonel. "Then, gentle-
men, as soon as you please, we will start."

" In about an hour then," said Frant. " Oh, by
the way, Miss Dsnton, there is a note from your
aunt. I beg pardon; I forgot. Come, Deane,
old man. Now for a quiet pipe with the guides,
and to make oar plans."

He led the way to where the men were finish-
ing their meal, then strode out through the deep
snow with Deane, ostensibly to examine the latest
fall of snow.

"Well?" he said, as soon as they were out of
ear shot. " Have you come to your senses, now?"

" I was not aware that I had been mad," replied
Deane, angrily.

" Lunatics never are, old chap. Come, Adam,
old man, let's get back to the old ways as soon as
we can. I wouldn't speak, but I can't bear to see
you so down."

" There is no need to speak."

"Yes there is," said Frant, warmly. "Sooner
or later I dare say you and I must give up climb-
ing and gold hunting, and strike our colors to the

15226

A SECRET QUEST.

fair; but I'm not going to haul mine down to a
widow who throws her arms round my neck and
kisses me just because I'm coming through the
snow to help her niece. 'Brave gallant man!'
Bosh! I look it!"

" The poor woman was frantic with grief, and
terribly agitated."

" Yes, ^and her face was horribly wet. Then as
regards you."

" Mind what you are saying."

" Eh? Hot enough to melt a way back for us to
the hotel. But I don't care: I will speak. I want
you to take to some dear sweet girl."

"Alick."

"All right; I'm loaded and must fire. Miss
Denton is all that; but after what has passed,
man? And then—oh, it's as plain as a pikestaff ;
there's a regular understanding between her and
that Anderson."

"You're frightfully unjust to say so, Frant,"
cried Deane, fiercely.

"Perhaps: but I say what I feel."

"I'd sooner die than believe it," cried Deane,
pallid now with the jealous feeling of agony at
his breast.

"Mind you don't, old chap," muttered Frant.
"I don't half like that Anderson. He's too
smooth to be safe."CHAPTER XXVII.

"But couldn't I climb it, Mr. Frant?"

" I suppose it is possible. Valter went up it
like a rabbit; but I for one would not stand still
and see you do it."

" No, no; you must not try," said Deane eagerly.

" But I should be swinging at the end of the
rope," said Hester, as she gazed up at the wall of
rock, high up on a shelf of which Valter and an-
other of the men were standing.

They had been toiling amongst the loose snow
for two hours, and had now reached a spot where
it was imperative that they should strike up out
of the gorge, pass along the mountain side for
some distance, and then descend again.

" Well," said Frant; "suppose you were swing-
ing at the end of the rope. You would not be the
first young lady who has enjoyed a swing."

" But suppose the men let go?"

"I'll kick them both over the precipice, and
hold tight myself."

" But you will be here."

"No; I'm going up first, and I shall help haul
you."

" But suppose the rope breaks."

" It would take ten young ladies of your weight
227228

A SECRET QUEST.

to break it. Make a loop," he continued, turning-
to Deane; "but tie her in as well."

" Will you tie me in, Mr. Frant?" she said hastily.
"Perhaps Mr. Deane would go up first instead."

"Right," cried Frant. "Adam was the first
man. On you go, Deane—Vive les coquettes/" he
muttered to himself. Deane seized the rope Val-
ter was holding a hundred feet above their heads,
and scrambled up, while Frant secured the loose
end round Hester.

"Not so bad as I thought," he said to himself,
as he watched and saw that she was trembling
violently as she followed Deane's movements.
At the most risky part she closed her eyes and
caught at Frant's arm.

" Make you giddy?" he asked.

She nodded.

"And you wanted to try and climb! Now,
then, who knows best?"

"You, I suppose,"she said, looking him frankly
in the face, as she glanced up and gave a sigh of
relief.

"Won't do, madam," said Frant to himself;
"I'm many degrees over proof. But you are
nice." Then aloud: "Ahoy there! ready?"

"Yes," came from above, just as the Colonel
and Anderson walked up with the other men.

"Great heavens!" exclaimed Anderson; "you
are surely not going to——"

" Haul Miss Denton up there, sir? Yes, we are;
and you after—unless you prefer the climb.
Quite safe, Colonel."A SECRET QUEST.

The old man looked up and down.

" Is there no other way, Mr. Frant?"

" No sir, or we should have taken it. You are
not afraid, Miss Denton?"

"No," she said, firmly.

" Have you taken every precaution, Mr. Frant,"
said the Colonel; and just then Anderson stepped
to Hester's side.

" The risk is too great," he whispered.

"I am quite ready, Mr. Frant," she cried, hur-
riedly.

"Haul away," shouted Frant. "Stand aside,
please, Mr. Anderson. There, I'll steady you,
Miss Denton. You must not mind turning round,
but don't struggle, or you might strike against
the rock."

Quickly and steadily as she sat, bound in the
bight of the rope, she was drawn up, Frant
guiding her by a second rope and shouting a word
or two of encouragement.

"Well done!" he cried. "You'll soon be up."
Then to himself, "Hang her! that wasn't a co-
quettish look, but as nice and innocent as could
be. Now, if she goes right up to the top without
squealing or fainting, I'll begin to believe in her.
—Well done!" he cried again. "Steady!" Then
once more to himself, " Wouldn't let Adam touch
her — that was it; and yet trusted him all the
same."

A cheer rose from the great shelf where Hester
was safely landed, set free from the rope, and stood
ready to wave her handkerchief to her father.230

A SECRET QUEST.

"Now, sir, will you go next?"

" As you like, Mr. Frant. You and your friend
are in command. I'm afraid I could not climb
that."

" I shouldn't let you try, sir," cried Frant, as he
caught the bight of the lowered rope. " Like to
be lashed in?"

"Oh, no," cried the Colonel, passing the loop
over his head, and seating himself.

"Ready, sir?"

"Ready. Haulaway."

He was rapidly hauled up by the three strong
men above, and the rope lowered again.

"Now, Mr. Anderson, your turn," cried Frant.
" Like to be tied?"

"No," replied the lawyer quietly. He took his
place, the signal was given, the rope tightened,
and as the hauling proceeded Frant noticed that
Deane was right at the edge, taking the lead.

" Fine chance for a man to make an end of his
rival," thought Frant. "Only to let him go, and
he'd do no more courting. Wonder whether Mas-
ter Anderson thinks that. Bound to say he's a bit
uncomfortable. No; it's all right. Adam isn't
Cain, and Anderson isn't Abel. Not a bit like
him; but he has plenty of pluck."

He stooped and picked up his ice-axe, then
began to climb.

" Hi, there! Wait for a rope," shouted Deane.

"Can't," was the reply; and as Valter and the
other guide had gone before him, he steadily
picked his way up, followed by the last man, toA SECRET QUEST.

231

reach the shelf and find that Hester had been
watching him all the time, and was looking quite
pale as he reached her side.

As they continued their journey Deane offered
his hand twice in difficult places—Anderson hav-
ing all his work to keep his own footing; but
Hester declined, and looked appealingly at Frant,
who responded by joining her, whispering, laugh-
ingly, to his friend as he passed:

"I was all wrong. Not the lawyer: I'm the '
happy man."

Deane looked in no wise disturbed as he gave
way and looked on.

"Glad you've so much judgment, Miss Denton,"
said Frant. "I'm the safest man here."

"Oh, thank you, Mr. Frant," she cried, giving
him her hand without a trace of embarrassment.
"Yes, I can get along easily now. I should not
like to slip and hurt myself."

" one does."

"But I meant that it would trouble papa so.
Put my foot there? Oh, what a depth!" she said,
in an awe-stricken whisper. "Why, it must be
quite a hundred feet down to the bottom."

"Yes," he said, "only multiplied by eight."

"Mr. Frant!"

"Every foot of it. Distances, heights, and
depths are very deceptive out here, where every-
thing is grand. But, I say, you're a very brave
little woman. There are not many who would
have taken that hauling up so coolly. "

She laughed.A SECRET QUEST.

"How deceptive appearances are, Mr. Frant.
I'm the most terrible of cowards."

"Can't be. You were as firm as a rock. I
touched your hand and it was cold and dry."

" That was because I knew it must be done, and
I would have gone through anything to save papa
anxiety—and avoid another night like last," she
added to herself.

"All proof that I'm right. You knew how
risky it was, and you ventured. You mastered
your feelings. Well, that's bravery."

"Oh, nonsense!" she said, merrily. "But, Mr.
Frant, how could you be so foolish as to risk com-
ing up that terrible place without the rope?"

" Because I was afraid," he said, drylv.

"Afraid?"

"Yes, of getting out of practice as a mountain-
eer, and that the guide would think I was funky.
So, you see, I'm the greater coward of the
two."

"I'm afraid I don't follow you," said Hester,
with a perplexed look in her eyes; "but I don't
^'hink you are right. If you had touched my hands
when you had reached the top you would have
found them damp enough then, and I was in
dread all the time lest you should slip."

"She is a coquette," thought Frant.

"Are there many more dangerous places to
climb?"

"No; we have got over the worst of it. That
was the bit which puzzled us last night—that and
the ascent to it. We tried a different way, andA SECRET QUEST.	233

it was impossible in the dark. I thought once
poor old Deane had gone over."

Hester gave so violent a start that she nearly-
slipped on the shelving rock they were passing.

"Take care!" cried Frant, grasping her arm so
roughly that he must have given pain; but she
made no sign.

" How was that?" she said.

" He would keep on trying to get to you; but it
was quite impossible in the dark; and at last he
slipped and was going down headlong; but Val-
ter, who was roped to him, threw himself down
and checked him."

Hester drew a long catching breath, and as Frant
caught sight of her averted face he saw that it was
very pale.

"She isn't a coquette,0 he said to himself.
" She's a dear sweet little thing, and I don't won-
der at old Adam being touched. No, it is all
girlish frankness, because she likes me as a rough
straightforward fellow. If I began to fool and
compliment she would shrink into her shell like
one of the big snails."

" Oh! have we to go down there?" cried Hester,
as she saw one of the guides pause for a moment^
and then begin to descend a very steep slope.

"Yes, and then be lowered down a bit like the
side of a house. After that, we shall have a quiet
slope down into the valley; and, as it says in Jack
Robinson; 4 Th^ perils and the danger of the voy-
age are past;' but I hope we shall be better friends
for our adventure."*34

A SECRET QUEST.

"I hope so, indeed," said Hester, looking him
full in the eyes with so pleased an expression that,
as Frant was helping her down, he called himself
"a beast" twice over, and ended by telling him-
self that if anybody ever dared to call his com-
panion a coquette in his presence he would break
his neck—a hyperbolical expression due, perhaps,
to the bigness of everything around.

The bottom of the slope was reached, a long
climb achieved, and then the " house side" rocks
were descended by means of the rope. The party
now breathed more freely, for all that remained
was a couple of hours' steady descent of the pass
over bare stony ground, smoothed by glacial
action.

But half of that distance had not been passed
before they came in sight of a party of about
thirty men, some of whom were bearing poles
while others carried shovels, ice-axes and staves.

As the two parties came in sight there was
a tremendous cheer from the new comers, who
broke into a trot, while the cheer was heartily
responded to by the successful rescuers.

Five minutes after the English adventurers
were surrounded by quite a little crowd of excited
people, all eager to shake hands and congratu-
late, while the poles and chairs they bore were
adjusted, and Hester, the Colonel and Anderson
were borne back in triumph, the shouts as they
neared the little hotel announcing their coming,
which was greeted by the firing of a cannon.

As they came closer there was the fluttering ofA SECRET QUEST.

«35

a handkerchief, and the little crowd parted to
allow Aunt Ecclesia to run up to the chair in
which Hester was seated. More than one big
Swiss walked about wiping his eyes as they saw
the passionate embraces of aunt and niece.

"My darling! I never thought to see you
again."

The next moment she had her arms round the
Colonel's neck.

"Oh, John, John," she sobbed; "it has been so
hard to bear."

" But we're back safe, my dear," cried the Colo-
nel, affectionately, moved by his sister-in-law's
emotion.

"And Mr. Anderson," cried Aunt Ecclesia,
shaking hands eagerly. "And Mr. Deane—you
brave, good fellow!" she cried. "I knew you
would save them if they were to be saved."

"Don't forget Valter," whispered the Colonel,
merrily, though there was a tear in his eye.

"Ah, tease me, dear," she replied. "I'm only
too glad to hear your voice again. But Mr.
Frant—where is Mr. Frant? Ah! there he is."

The gentleman in question had been hanging
back, and was just whispering to Hester:

" I say, do try and keep your aunt from being
quite so demonstrative."

But he was too late. Aunt Ecclesia had seized
his hand and kissed it twice before it was with-
drawn. To save further manifestations he offered
his arm.

" Let me see you up to the chalet," he said; and236

A SECRET QUEST.

then'in a whisper, " I say—don't—don't my good
little woman—with all these people here.0

Aunt Ecclesia tittered a sigh and seemed to
recollect herself. She withdrew her hand from
his arm and placed it in Deane's, making him
answer her questions as they walked tip to the
chalet," the crowd following and cheering lustily
from simple gladness of heart.

Anderson shook hands with the two young men.
"Heaven bless you both," he said, huskily; "and
I am thankful, for I have gained two of the best
of friends."

" Didn't know it," said Frant to himself. " He
doesn't, either," he continued, as he saw his
friend's troubled frown.

"All right, Adam, old man, I'll join you di-
rectly."

It was quite a quarter of an hour before he did
join Deane, who had been in conference with the
landlord, while a tremendous amount of cheering
had been going on.

" Why, Aleck, lad, what have you been doing?"

" Only making the beggars drink our health."

" But I have been telling the landlord to pre-
pare a supper for all the men."

"Good boy!" cried Frant, quietly; "and I'll
be another dozen of champagne."

" Champagne? Another."

"Well, it was only Swiss."CHAPTER XXVIII.

"Well, Hetty, my dear—Ah, look there! See
it? Quite a big one."

"Yes papa, and another, and another."

" Ah! and look at that," said the Colonel again,
as they stood on a little wooden bridge which
spanned the river just where it made a sudden
plunge of some two hundred and fifty feet into
the chasm below.

They had been leaning against the rail for some
time, this being a favorite spot with the Colonel—
one reached without much trouble; and here he
was never weary of watching the falling water,
and chatting with his child.

" More stones falling to-day than ever," he said,
taking out his cigar case. "There is twice as
much water, too."

''Yes; all that snow must be melting," said
Hester, rather absently.

" Hullo!—not well?"

" Oh, yes," she said, with her eyes looking par-
ticularly bright and tender.

"Humph! You seemed so dreary and dull I
was going to propose leaving the chalet and get-
ting over into Italy."

"Oh, papa!"

" Don't want to go?"

237A SECRET QUEST.

"Oh, no! We are so happy here."

"Happy? Queer taste, Hetty. Always being
smothered in avalanches, or starved to death when
we are not breaking our necks."

" We must not run any more risks."

" Don't want to go, then?"

"Oh no, papa," said Hester, flushing. "Aunt
would be so disappointed if we left."

The Colonel chuckled.

"Oh, but I should go on. Can't stand the risk
of that mesalliance,"

"Papa!"

"You may say papa!" cried the Colonel, laugh-
ing, as he trifled with his cigar-case. "She's
touched by that good-looking young guide Valter,
I'm sure."

" Papa! for shame!"

"Hah!"

The Colonel just saved the cigar-case from fall-
ing into the fall.

"Good heavens!" he cried, "I wouldn't have
lost that on any account," and he hastily opened
it, selected a cigar, and replaced the case in his
breast.

" It would have been a pity. But, papa, don't
tease Aunt Ecclesia about that. You know you
are wrong, and twice over she has come to me in
tears."

"Poor, dear, sensitive little darling! Mayn't I
tease her again about her not being with us at the
hospice?"

"Oh, I don't mind that," said Hester, merrily.A SECRET QUEST.

239 ~

4t Because she is so nice and plump and rosy,
and if we had been driven to extremities—eh?"

"Oh, papa, what nonsense!"

" Humph! then you would like to stay on here?"

"Oh, yes," she said, coloring slightly, but not
so faintly that he did not detect it.

"Then it is to be, H£tty, eh?"

"I—I don't understand you, papa," she cried,
looking startled.

" Yes, you do," he said, assuming his stern mili-
tary way, and making her look pale. " He has
been hesitating and hanging about me for the past
fortnight, ever since we were shut up in Fort
Starvation. Last night he spoke out."

Hester looked at him sharply, and took hold of
the rail that guarded them from the torrent.

" Hullo! Not going to leap over the fall to
avoid matrimony, are you?"

" Papa!"

" He spoke very fairly; said the usual stuff
about loving you, and that sort of thing, and that
the adventure up yonder quite settled him to
propose."	*

Hester's eyes looked wild doubt, and her coun-
tenance was alternately white and flushed as the
Colonel went on.

" Not the sort of man I should have selected if I
had been choosing; but he is well off, and may
make a good husband. I don't want to lose you,
Hetty, but I suppose it must come some day.
Well, what am I to say to Mr. Anderson?"

The look of doubt passed away on the instant,240

A SECRET QUEST.

and there was something of her father in her
countenance as, drawing herself up, she said
sternly, 44Tell Mr. Anderson it is impossible."

"Eh? Well done, Hetty! That's decisive. I
like a woman to know her mind. I'm glad of it,
my dear. I like Mr. Anderson very well as a
friend, but as a son-in-law—well, that's quite an-
other pair of shoes. Then, emphatically no?"

" Emphatically no, papa. I do not like Mr.
Anderson, and I never did."

" Come, there are no half measures about that,
Hetty," said the Colonel, as he laid his arm on
the rail and smoked, and gazed into the chasm
where the stones were falling fast.

" I have often felt as if Mr. Anderson had some
arrilre pensee in attaching himself to us as he has
done."

"Eh?—-what?" cried the Colonel, starting.
"Pish! prejudice. You were the arriere penste,
pet, and a deuced nice one, too."

" I don't know, papa. You have made me think
like this, with your suspicions about people watch-
ing you."

" Humph!"

"You thought that Mr.—that those other gen-
tlemen had followed you."

" Well, I did. How do I know now that they
did not?"

" You know that they had been here a longtime
when we came, papa."

"Humph! Well, that is rather against my
theory," he said, laughing. " There, I am a veryA SECRET QUEST.

241

obstinate, suspicious, old fellow, Hetty, and I was
wrong. So are you. Mr. Anderson came as an
invalid; you've hooked him, and now--"

" You are going to set him free, papa," said Hes-
ter, putting her arm through his. " No—no—no.
It is impossible."

" Well, well, don't be so tragic about it, my dear;
and I tell you I'm very glad. Then you don't
want to stay here because of him?"

" I want to stay here, papa, because if we go
anywhere else Mr. Anderson may follow us, while
if we stay here he will, no doubt, on hearing what
you have to say, go."

" Upon my word, Hetty, I had no idea you could
be such a little tartar," cried the Colonel, merrily.
" Only the other day you were a pretty, little, mild,
meek, bread-and-butter young lady, all accom-
plishments. Now, all at once, I find you have
jumped into a formidable, decisive woman. I
suppose you will now begin to drill me."

" Papa! this is too serious a matter to jest about.
I don't like Mr. Anderson."

" Said so before."

" He is a dangerous man, I am sure."

"Prejudice, pet."

"He. has been showing me for some time past
^what his wishes are."

" And you never spoke to me."

" I thought that if he saw my feelings he
would have the good taste to draw back; but
since he has spoken to you, I am compelled to be
plain."

16A SECRET QUEST.

" And you are, my dear—very; and I like you
the better for it. Then it shall not be Mr. Ander-
son, eh?—nor any one else?"

"Here is aunt coming," said Hester, quickly,
as the gleam of a white dress was seen through
the trees of the descending path; and directly
after she saw and waved her sunshade to them.

" Shall I tell auntie?" said the Colonel.

" No, papa, not yet. It is a thing I can't bear
to dwell upon."

"And she would talk you to death, eh? Well,
Ecclesia, come to look for a guide?"

" I have come to look for you and Hester," said
the. little lady. " Hetty, my darling, are you dis-
posed for a walk?"

"Yes, aunt dear. Papa, I'll leave you now."

"All right, my dear. Don't go far. Which
way is it to be, and I'll perhaps come and meet
you?"

"Up the valley," whispered Aunt Ecclesia,
coloring a little. " The gentlemen are not that
way."

" Up the valley, papa," said Hester, and the old
man stood with his back against the rails watch-
ing them through the smoke he kept emitting.

" Bless her," he muttered; " I don't want to lose
her, but I wonder I have kept her so long. They
all come buzzing about like flies around a candle.
Well," he added, after a pause, " when I was a
young man I should have buzzed too."

"No; emphatically no, eh! Glad of it. Don't
like him," he repeated. "Thinks he has someA SECRET QUEST.

*45

arribre pensie. Strange thing I never thought of
that."

"Humph!" he continued, "is she right? The
cleverest among us passes by the greater danger
through having eyes only for the less. Have I
been a fool for making friends with this man?

"Pooh!—rubbish! Can't be. He is too genu-
ine. There goes his attraction for me. Poor fel-
low! Well, he's too greatly a man of the world
to suffer much, and I dare say he'll go now. But
could he? Is it likely? Bah!—impossible. I've
grown so suspicious that I see danger everywhere.
My lord would not have sent a man like that to
run me down. Anyhow, I'll be on my guard.
Here come the two detectives and Ecclesia's bite
noire. How she snubbed the poor fellow the other
day just because I was present. Astonishing
thing how a bit of banter bites a sensitive
woman."

"Morning, gentlemen," he cried, as Deane and
Frant came within hearing, with Valter close be-
hind, wearing his rope like a baldric across his
breast. They had evidently come from the ice
fields.

"Morning, Colonel," came back cheerily from
Frant, and Deane took off his hat.

" Rather like that little chap," said the Colonel.
"Fancied once or twice that he was taken with
Hetty, but he is just as civil to Ecclesia. Brave
little fellow. So is the other. Well," he shouted,
"loaded with gold?"

Deane shook his head and laughed.244

A SECRET QUEST.

" Ah!" he said, as he came on to the bridge,
44laugh away, sir, but I will find it yet."

" Are you so very eager to get rich?"

" Not a bit. I suppose that if I did find it I
should commence some other craze directly after."

"Yes. All a madness, Mr. Deane."

" No, no, Colonel. Pray, don't grumble at him.
He never would climb like an ordinary Christian."

"You mean climb for the sake of seeing how
soon a peak can be mounted?"

" That's it. Now, since he has been trying to
find Aladdin's cave, he'll climb anywhere—head
as cool as a bit of ice. You should have seen him
this morning."

" I don't want to see him break his neck," said
the Colonel, testily, as he took out his cigar case.

" Now, if I were gold-hunting," said the Colonel,
pointing down into the huge cauldron below,
" that's the sort of place I should try to look for it,
if the water could be turned away."

"And you would find nothing but dust," said
Deane, quietly; "anything that goes down there
must be ground to powder."

" Don't Yean too heavily on that rail, young man,"
said the Colonel, shortly. "I don't think it is
very safe."

Deane laughed, and changed over to the other
side. A party of smart-looking men came along,
and crossed the bridge, saluting the gentlemen
ivith a friendly word or two in an Italian patois.

" Who are these?" said the Colonel.

"What we should call navvies at home, sir."A SECRET QUEST.

24?

" Humph! not much like ours. What are they
doing here?"

" They have been at work on one of the railways,
so they say at the hotel; and their excavating being
finished, they are making for their own side of the
mountains. A party passed the hotel yesterday."

"Humph!" growled the Colonel, "spoiling the
country. What do we want with railways in a
lovely land like this? Where is the Swiss Ruskin
to get up a protest?"

"All the tourists' doing."

" Yes. Take a cigar,"said the Colonel, offering
his case.

"Thanks, no; I'll keep to my pipe."

"Of course," said the Colonel. "What ruffians
you young Englishmen make of yourselves when
you come abroad. Here, Mr. Deane, put away that
nasty black pipe and have one," he continued.
4i That other fellow's past hope."

Deane thrust the pipe in his pocket, and took a
cigar.

"Take another, Mr. Deane," said the Colonel.
" Here—no. I'll refill it to-morrow. Take the
case."

"The case, sir," said Deane, looking at the
handsome contrivance of Russia leather and gold,
with an escutcheon on the side.

"Yes, my lad; take it and keep it as a remem-
brance of a very rusty old blade—myself!"

"Really, Colonel Denton, you are very good,"
said Deane, warmly; " but I could not think of it.
Besides, your crest is on the side."A SECRET QUEST.

"The more reason why you should keep it.
There, don't bear resentment against a crotchety
old soldier, who says much more than he means.
Take the case. I have not said much, but I feel
horribly in your debt, sir, and in my rough fashion
I'm very grateful. No—not another word. Light
your cigar, and I'll get back to the chalet. Had a
very long walk?"

Deane did not reply, but Frant plunged into the
breach. They walked on together to the spot
where the pathway forked, the Colonel going off
to the right, the two young men following Valter's
steps toward the hotel.	™

For some minutes neither spoke, Frant watching
his friend's moody face as he strode on, striving
to chase away the doubts which still clung to him,
in spite of the manifest pleasure Hester had daily
shown when they met—doubts which kept reviv-
ing at the frequent encounters when Anderson was;
present.

As they reached the hotel, Valter was waiting
to take their ice axes. Deane pitched his care-
lessly to the guide, and then passed on.

"Not coming in?" said Frant.

"No, old fellow; not yet. I'll go on and finish
this cigar."

" Then I'll come too," said Frant, and they went
on for half a mile without a word, Frant, whose
countenance looked sad and troubled, glancing
sidewise from time to time.

Their way twice led through little passes, where
thickly packed fir trees rose among the rocks. TheA SECRET QUEST.

247

second time a wild-looking face was seen for a
moment peering after them, but was withdrawn
at once.

" The guv'nor seems disposed to be very civil,
Adam, old fellow," said Frant at last.

"Yes; I ought not to have taken the case."

"I don't see why not. Hullo! Oh, I see—an
-assignation."

" On my soul, no, Aleck. I had not the least
idea," said Deane, stopping short as he caught
sight of Hester and her kunt a quarter of a mile in
front going slowly up the valley.

"Needn't swear, old fellow," said Frant, sadly.
"Well, what are you going to do?"

"Go back," said Deane.

" Bah!"

" What! go forward to expose myself to the wiles
of a coquette?" said Deane, bitterly.

"Who says she is a coquette?" cried Frant,
flushing.

" You have, a dozen times."

" Then knock me down for a liar and a cad."

"What?" cried Deane, with a curious laugh.
" Is Saul also among the prophets?"

"Yes, and going to give you the straight tip,
old man," cried Frant, warmly. "If ever there
was a sweet, true, innocent girl on earth, Hester
Denton is that girl; and any man—self included
—who says she is not--"

"Aleck!" cried Deane, in astonishment.

"Yes, you may well look surprised, old man. I
was a fool and a prejudiced ass. Why, if I were*4$

A SECRET QUEST.

.you, do you think I would let that confounded
lawyer fellow go hanging after her as he does.
She doesn't like it, I'm sure. The old man is
taking to you, as you see. The course is open to
you. Ah, Adam, old chap, you're a lucky fellow,
and I wish I was in your shoes."

"Don't — don't talk like that!" cried Deane.
^ You don't know what it is to feel as I do: one
day full of bright hope, the next full of despair.
You set me doubting just at the time when I was
ready to fire up with mad jealousy. Everything
has been against me. Tflat man, with his cursed
patronizing manner, has led me to believe that he
was as good as engaged to her. How could I help
doubting and being in misery?"

"Quite right; but now's your time. Hang it
all—go to her like a man—speak out like a man."

" What? Without a word to her father?"

" Oh, hang etiquette at a time like this! If she
does care for you as she ought, and you care £or
her, why, the Colonel—r-Oh, hang it, he's a fa-
ther as well as a soldier; and, rough one as he
is, he worships that girl."

" Go and speak to her," said Deane, dreamily
repeating his former words, "before a second
party?"

"Oh! I'll take care of that."

"Aleck!" cried Deane, catching him by the
arm; " it seems too much to hope."

" For her?" said Frant, dryly.

" Man, man—don't jest at a time like this."
, "Why not? Am I to look miserable becauseA SECRET QUEST.

*49

my best friend is going to win the girl who loves
him?

" If I only dared to feel sure."

" Coward!"

" Yes, coward. So much of my life's happiness
depends upon her reply."

"Then, why torture yourself, old chap?" said
Frant, with a ring of sadness in his words. " Hang-
it, man, the peak is before you, all glowing in
the sunshine of happiness—the virgin height andt
pure and immaculate waiting for you to scale.
Afraid?"

"No, not afraid; but I approach it with awe,"'
said Deane. Without another word they walked
on sharply, but did not overtake the couple in
front, for they encountered them—Hester having
proposed that they should turn back.

"Now, forlorn hope, do your duty," said Frant
to himself, and, after a cheery greeting to both,
he shook hands warmly with Aunt Ecclesia and
led her on toward the hotel.

Hester made a gesture full of alarm.

"Aunt—Aunt Ecclesia," she said, nervously.

"Don't—don't stop her,"said Deane, hastily;;
and she turned her frightened eyes upon him as if
imploring him not to speak. But as she gazed at
him a change came over her, and her answer to his
extended hands was the placing of her own within
them; and they did not try to escape from the
•warm clasp in which they were held.

A minute later Hester's hand was resting on
Deane's arm, and they were walking slowly back25©

A. SECRET QUEST.

together, in perfect silence ; for to both it seemed
as if there were nothing to be said.

Save for a look from time to time—a look that
was met for an instant before Hester's eyes fell,
and she trembled in her new found happiness—
they might have been two of the most ordinary
people walking slowly down the mule path toward
the patch of pine forest through which Frant and
Aunt Ecclesia were passing—the latter with her
heart beating wildly with hope, and then with fear.

They passed on, for it was not their day. Frant
talked, but it was to some extent in the spirit, as
he told himself, of Marcus Curtius leaping into the
gulf; and the gulf was more pleasant than he had
hoped.

Then they passed out of the wood, with its mossy
rocks and fallen trunks, all suggesting rest and
sweet converse, and Aunt Ecclesia's heart sank a
little till she recalled that there was another patch
of pine further on.

As they passed out of the wood at one end, Hes-
ter and Deane entered by the other. The silence
was only broken by the murmuring hum of the
torrent, which rose and fell like the deep diapason
of some huge organ; for neither bird nor insect
could be heard, and as they two passed on it was
as if no one else was living in the great and glo-
rious world—as if they were alone in the fulness
of their love.

Here, as if completely under a spell, they two
stopped, in the very darkest shade of the wood,
ivhere a mossy rock rose just above the dense massA SECRET QUEST.

of tender-leaved vaccinium, and at a gentle pres-
sure of the hand Hester looked up at the man
whom she felt must be her lord. Without a word,
moved by his will, she sank upon the stone, while
he, whom she had looked up to as lord, was now
at her feet, kneeling in adoration of the treasure
given into his hands.

"Hester!" he whispered, passionately; "I have
no words to speak. My love—my love!"

Adam and Eve in paradise: as innocent and as
full of joy. But the devil was there—close at
hand—parting the pine boughs—as timidly Eve
suffered herself to be drawn lower and lower to-
ward Adam's breast.

But serpents are out of place in the higher Alps,
and the Devil was in human shape—with a coun-
tenance that would have startled Adam Deane had
he been looking that way.CHAPTER XXIX.

" I really cannot bear it, Hester. Yottr papa
is too bad."

" Oh, aunt, dear, yott ought to be used to a lit-
tle teasing now."

"I am, my dear—to a little teasing; but it is
not a little. It is so shocking, too. Persisting
that he saw me squeeze that guide's hand!"

"But, aunt, dear, it is all nonsense. Papa is
not blind."

"Now, Hester, if you begin, that will end it.
I am not a pauper."

" No, you are my dearest aunt."

"Now, don't kiss me, my dear, with banter on
your lips. If you begin too, I shall set up an es-
tablishment of my own."

"Of course you will, aunt, dear," said Hesterf
merrily. " When is it to be?"

" Hester! As if such a thing was ever possible!"

" Papa thinks it is; for he asked me last night
whether Mr. Frant would come and speak to him
first, as he occupies the position of father."

" Father!—nonsense!—brother. I will not have
the matter discussed. Mr. Frant would never in-
sult me by asking such a thing. I declare, Hes-
ter, that for the past four weeks you have been
quite changed—laughing and singing about the
252A SECRET QUEST.

25 5

place; and only the other day you were morbid
and shrinking, pretending to be afraid of Mr. An-
derson. I don't know what's come to you."

"Yes you do, auntie, dear," cried Hester, fling-
ing her arms about her and kissing her, to hide
her flushed face.

"Ah, well, I suppose I do! But you are ter-
ribly stupid over it, and I'm quite astounded to-
see your father taking it all like a lamb. Only
the other day, he was all amiability to Mr. Ander-
son ; now he is barely civil at times. I suppose
he is relenting, though, or he would not have
asked him to dinner to-night. I wish he would
not, for I really do not like the man. Oh, here
are the gentlemen. There, go and tell your
father they are coming."

"Why, aunt, you know he and Mr. Anderson,
have gone down the valley together."

"Oh, dear, yes! What a head I have, to be
sure. Then we shall be obliged to see them alone.
By the way, Hetty, did your father say whether
he had found his letters?"

" No, aunt. The dispatch-box seemed to have
been opened by a false key, and a whole packet
has gone."

"I don't believe it. He is so forgetful and
stubborn. Depend upon it he never brought the
letters out here at all."

" He may not, Aunt," said Hester, carelessly, as.
she went to the window.

" It was only one of his excuses to make a dis-
turbance. But Hetty, my dear. Really! yomA SECRET QUEST.

shouldn't! What will Mr. Deane think of you, if
you are so bold. You ought to be more retiring
now than ever."

Hester turned from the window, looking amused
at her aunt's words, but with a sweet aspect of
joy, rest and content in her eyes. For the time of
doubts and f^ars was gone, and Anderson had
.seemed to accept his fate, treating her always now
with quiet friendly deference.

In fact, one evening he as good as asked her
forgiveness, confessing that it was all a mistake
on his part, and congratulating her. Hester, in
the full tide of her happiness, blind now to every-
thing but her love, safe in the protection of Adam
Deane's strong arm, was ready to pardon.

Deane and Hester, in their new found joy,
looked at the whole world through the rosiest of
rose-colored glasses. Every day seemed happier
than the last, and the lovely valley, with its
mighty snow-covered peaks and frowning crags,
^with the soft green Alps, bright with the greenest
of green and gayest of flowers, was a paradise full
of joy.

So the days had been gliding on in a dreamy
peace. Even a rainy time had seemed beautiful,
and when Deane returned to his hotel at night, it
was always with the feeling that the Colonel was
growing good temperedly tolerant of his presence
at the chalet for Hester's sake.

At the hotel the intercourse with Anderson was
beginning to grow warmer. The latter's behav-
ior was now never effusive, but was rather friendlyA SECRET QUEST.

255

and gentlemanly. He joined Deane and Frant
whenever they seemed disposed to accept his
presence, but at other times kept aloof; so that in a
short time Deane found himself led into making
advances to the lawyer that a month earlier he
would have deemed impossible.

The plump maid answered Deane's summons,
and after ushering in the two visitors, hurried to
the back of the house to receive her own, in the
person of Valter.

"Ah, Miss Denton," cried Frant; "the Colonel
in?" and before she could answer—"I want him
to prescribe for Deane."

" Are you unwell ?" cried Hester, hastily turn-
ing to Adam.

"I? No. Some nonsense of his."

"Oh, no; serious business, I can assure you;
and as the Colonel's so clever with powder and
draught, I thought he would set him right."

"But Mr. Deane says he is not ill, Mr. Frant,"
cried Aunt Ecclesia.

" Mad people always say they are perfectly sane,
madam. I, who am a looker-on, say that he is
decidedly ill. Does nothing but mope and moon,
and hang about the hotel. Miss Denton, you will
not believe what I am going to tell you."

"Am I so sceptical?"

"You will be. Actually he has not mentioned
his myth for a week, and there is every prospect of
the jolly old Romans'gold mine resting in peace.'1"

"Don't take any notice of him," said Deane,
who looked a trifle uncomfortable.A SECRET QUEST.

" Do, Miss Denton. No gold-hunting; no climb-
ing. Now, once more, Adam, old man, will you
■come and do Piz Luce to-day?"

" No, thanks. I've a presentiment that I should
fall."

"Bosh! It's a perfectly easy climb. You
might drive a cow nearly to the top."

" Is there really no danger?" asked Hester.

" Not a scrap, I assure you."

"Why not go?" said Hester, smiling.

" Because I want to have another look at the
gorge, for one thing; and for another I do not feel
in climbing trim—to be dragged up to the top of
a mountain to see nothing but clouds, and then
come down again." -

" But you will have made the ascent. Is that
nothing?"

"Next to nothing," said Deane, merrily. "I
-don't want to walk—or climb—to the top of a
mountain just to say that I have been there."

" There's gratitude!" cried Frant. " Did I ever
murmur about climbing up or diving down into
all sorts of places in search of your imaginary gold
mine?"

" Never. You 'were always the best of com-
panions."

" And you are getting to be the worst. I throw
you over. Miss Denton, it is all your doing.
You have the proud satisfaction of knowing that
you have made a bad mountaineer much worse."

" I am very sorry," said Hester, smiling at the
spoiled climber.A SECRET QUEST.

257

" If it were not impolite, I'd say I don't believe
you. Well, ta, ta, all. I shall be off."

"You will be back to dinner, Mr. Frant?"

"Trust me," said the young man, laughing.

" Which point is it you are going to climb, -Mr*
Frant?" said Aunt Ecclesia.

"That one," said Frant, pointing.

" Oh! But it looks very dangerous."

" Madam," said Frant, didactically, "you should
never trust to appearances."

" But you really ought to be careful. Suppose
you were to slip and fall."

"And be late for dinner," said Frant.

" It is nothing to laugh at, sir. Think of your
friends at home. Suppose they had the news of
your meeting with an accident."

"Mrs. Lindley," cried Frant, merrily, "it will
not do. Your rdle is that of the dove, and you are
trying to utter the forebodings of a raven."

"Mr. Frant!"

"I beg pardon. I was getting poetical, and
lost my way."

" I hope, you will not lose your way in coming^
down the mountain."

" I'll try not; and for the sake of my friends at
home I will be very careful. There, I must be
off. Ladies, if you are looking that way in four
hours' time, I hope you will see me hoist my
flag—I mean my pocket-handkerchief—on my ice-
axe handle. For the present, good-by."

He left, Aunt Ecclesia joining Hester and
i72258

A SECRET QUEST.

Deane at the door as they watched the two young
men disappear among the pines.

" Really, Mr. Deane," said Aunt Ecclesia, "I
think you are very wise in giving up this terrible
climbing."

" But I don't deserve your praise, Mrs. Lindley."

"Oh, don't call me by that dreadfully formal
name, Mr. Deane," pleaded the little lady. "I
mean—that is—ah, Hester, my dear, I ought
really to go and speak about the dinner."

Flushed and confused, and looking like a young
girl in her hesitation, she hurried out of the room.

For a few moments no word was said. Then
Hester looked up consciously.

"It is very cruel of me/' she said, "to expose
you to so much banter and annoyance?"

"You know I do not mind," he said, tenderly.

" But it is because I spoke to you about'the dan-
) ger of these ascents. I wish I were not such a
coward."

"And I wish you may never change."

They had been seated by the window about half
an hour when Deane rose.

"There," he said, "I ought to go now."

" I have robbed you of your companion."

"No," said Deane, taking her hand to hold it
to his lips; " I always have a companion with me
now. I shall go over into the next valley for a
walk."

At that moment Aunt Ecclesia entered the room
ready to go out.

"Not ready, Hester?" she said. "Oh, you!"A SECRET QUEST.

*59

" Ready for what, auntie?"

" Our walk. I told you I should be ready in
quarter of an hour."

Hester glanced merrily at Deane.

" I'm afraid I did not hear you, aunt, dear," she
said. "There, I will not be a minute."

' "Then good-by," said Deane, holding out his
hand; "except you will come part of the way with
me."

Hester glanced at her aunt.

" I will not take you into any dangerous places,"
said Deane.

" Really, Mr. Deane, any one would think I was
a terrible coward. I'm sure I can climb better
than Hester."

"Then you will both come?" he cried, eagerly.

"Are you going to search for the old gold
mine?"

"Yes," said Deane, looking wistfully at Hester.

"We will come part of the way," cried Aunt
Ecclesia.

Ten minutes later they were going slowly up
the zig-zag path by the side of the valley down
which the avalanche had thundered. The sun
was shining brightly in the deliciously clear atmo-
sphere, the faint tinkle of the bells of a herd of
goats came from far overhead, while the snowy
peaks near at hand were dazzling from their brill-
iancy, and the lower slopes more in the distance
were of a delicious blue.

Neither Deane nor Hester spoke much. They
were oppressed, almost sad, as if the beauty of the26o

A SECRET QUEST.

scene was too much to bear. But as they rose
higher into the more bracing air, the saddened
feeling gave place to a sensation of calm and placid
joy, whose effect was to make them join hands and
walk on slowly together, to stop from time to time
and gaze at the mountain slopes and valleys. The
silence was profound, and as they stood gazing at
the glint of water far away, where a fall of the
river flashed into light, Deane said, slowly:

" And they say this is a miserable world—a vale
of tears. Hester, I never knew how beautiful it
was—how really happy one could be—till now."

For answer, as they stood together in the great
solitude, high now above human habitation, and
half leaning against a mossy rock from whose
crevices appeared the rosettes of the little sedutn,
and about which the ruddy mountain rhododen-
drum blossomed, Hester suffered herself to be
drawn nearer to her companion, and, with her
head resting against his shoulder, they gazed
dreamy-eyed and happy at all below.

Aunt Ecclesia was forgotten—as she had forgot-
ten them; for the little woman, with her cup full
of pleasure, like a child, was seated a hundred
yards away, hidden by the rocks, watching the
dazzling snowy point three miles away upon which
in due time a signal was to be shown.

Deane and Hetty were still resting, hand hold-
ing hand, when a quick reproachful voice, borne
close to them by footsteps unheard in the moss,
exclaimed,

"Hetty, my dear—I'm not blaming you—butA SECRET QUEST.

261

yott shouldn't up here—where every one can see
you. Mr. Deane-"

"But we are alone," said the latter, smiling.
" Only you to see, and—there, it shows you how
we love and trust you."

"Yes, that's a very pretty speech, Mr. Deane,"
said Aunt Ecclesia, pettishly; " but nowadays one
never can be quite alone. And can't you see papa
going along that path toward the chalety along
with Mr. Anderson, and you know he always car-
ries a glass."

She pointed with her sunshade. Deane shaded
his eyes and gazed down. He could make out the
Colonel's white pith helmet, and caught sight of
a flash from something shiny carried by a dark
figure at his side—either the binocular or its patent
leather case.

"There," continued Aunt Ecclesia; "you are
not out of sight, and I know Mr. Anderson never
goes a dozen yards without using his glass."

"It was very thoughtless of me, aunt, dear,"
said Hester, simply, and with her cheeks glowing;
but there was a look of innocence in her eyes
which made the little lady kiss her warmly.

"Never mind, dear; I don't see that there was
anything to be ashamed of; and it was all Mr.
Deane's fault," she added, merrily.

"Granted," he said. " Mine be the blame."

" Hetty, my dear, I can't see them."

"I can, aunt, dear, quite plainly. There, at
the edge of those firs."

"I didn't mean them, child, but the others,"262

A SECRET QUEST.

cried Aunt Ecclesia, pettishly; "Mr. Frant and
Valter."

" Oh, I had forgotten them," said Deane, glanc-
ing at Aunt Ecclesia, who turned away at his gaze.
"Almost too soon yet, I think."

" You think!" cried Aunt Ecclesia. " Whatever
idea have you of the time? There, Hester, dear,
we must go back now."

" Yes; we ought to return, aunt," and the speaker
held out her hand to Deane.

" My dismissal," he said, raising the hand to his
lips.

"Now, Mr. Deane—after what I said. Really!
That dreadful man is sure to be using his glass
just at this very moment."

"Only till dinner-time," said Hester, merrily.
"Be careful, and don't run into danger. If you
find the gold mine, I bespeak a bracelet. Can
you see them, aunt?"

"Yes; and Mr. Anderson is using his glass. I
saw it flash."

"But I meant Mr. Frant," said Hester, mis-
chievously. Waving her hand to Deane, she
turned to go, but stopped short as he plunged down
the slope leading to the deep gorge where he fan-
cied he had discovered traces of the old workings.

As he descended, he leaped from time to time,
boy-like, on one of the huge blocks of limestone,
to turn and wave his ice-axe, while Hester ran to
keep Deane in view, taking out her handkerchief
to wave to him from time to time till he finally
disappeared.A SECRET QUEST.

263

Aunt Ecclesia stood watching her, with her
forehead puckered up, comparing in her musings
her own fate with that of her niece.

"I never seem to have been happy like that,"
she said; "never seem to have been a girl and
loved. Yes, wave your handkerchief to him.
You can see him, and he loves you. I can't see
my—him," she continued, with a wistful gaze at
the white peak Frant was to ascend; " and even if
I could see him, I don't know that he cares. No,
it's all very weak and stupid and childish of me.
He's young, and brave, and strong, while I'm only
a poor old widow."

She sighed bitterly, and the sadness which
overspread her face made it look very sweet and
lovable, in spite of her self-depreciation. The
term old widow, by the way, was singularly mal
apropos, for she was about a year younger than
Frant.

"All this is a silly fancy," she continued. "He
could not care for me, and has only, in his thought-
less way, been making fun of me. He shall see
now that I am not so weak and foolish as to take
any more notice. Yes!—only a foolish fancy; and
now I am going to be very wise."

"Thinking, aunt, dear?"

"Oh, Hetty, you made me jump. Yes, I was
thinking, dear."

" What about?"

" The dinner, and how to make it nice. There
is so little change. No fruit, no fish up here."

" Don't trouble about it. You know what papa264

A SECRET QUEST.

said: The Swiss bread, cheese, and wine, was a
feast for a god."

"Yes, my dear, but your papa is not a heathen
god. I'm not led away by his fine speeches about
bread and cheese and wine. You keep him with-
out his entries and delicacies for a week, and see
what a temper he would be in."

They continued their way down thoughtfully,
and scarcely a word was said till they were close
to the end of the slope that they had passed in
coming up. Aunt Ecclesia stopped short, close
to a clump of pines.

Here she drew a long breath, and looked sharply
round.

"Did you hear anything?" said Hester. "Oh!
look, aunt, look!"

She pointed away across the valley to where,
at the summit of the peak Aunt Ecclesia had
watched, there appeared a dot on the snow. Di-
rectly after there was a suggestion of something
moving over the dot for a minute or so.

"Mr. Frant has climbed the Piz, aunt!" cried
Hester, joyfully.

" Yes, my dear," said Aunt Ecclesia, sadly, " and
not the first person who has climbed high up to-
ward what seemed in the distance like Heaven,
and then had to crawl down."

"Why, auntie, what is the matter?"

" Nothing, my dear—nothing. Come along."

At the end of a hundred yards or so Hester
turned quickly upon her aunt.A SECRET QUEST.

265

" What made you stop and exclaim -up there by
that wood?"

"I? Oh, I remember now; I fancied your papa
must have been up there."

" What, after a long walk this morning? Oh,
no."

" I fancied I smelt one of his cigars—the curious
odor those have which he brought from England."

"Fancy, auntie. Come along. What a long
time papa will think us!"

Hester had hardly uttered those words when she
stopped short, for a rough-looking, black-bearded
man rose suddenly from the turf beside the track,
and three others at the same time sprang to their
feet.CHAPTER XXX.

The people of the Alpine districts are of such a
class that fear of molestation is an idea that pre-
sumably never enters the heads of the thousands
of ladies who tramp through the Swiss mountain
valleys, often enough quite unattended; and, to
the honor of the nation it can be said, an appeal
at any hut would be responded to by protection,
and, if need were, defenders.

The thought, then, of anything wrong never
occurred to Hester or her aunt. They rightly
judged the men to be navvies from the Italian slope,
returning from work on the line just being com-
pleted. The ladies were preparing to return the
salute they expected, and pass on, but the way
was barred by a couple of the men, while two
others, after a glance behind them, closed up the
way of retreat.

"Don't be alarmed, Hetty," whispered Aunt
Ecclesia; " they have been drinking."

But the men were sober enough to make clear
their object directly, and showed that, though
brigandage might for the most be a thing of the
past, relics of the old custom still lingered.

Uttering something in a barbarous Italian patois,
the most truculent-looking of the gang pointed to

266A SECRET QUEST.

267

Hester's gold watch and chain. As she shrank
from him, he caught her arm, seized the watch,
and snapped the chain, transferring both to his
pocket; while, in spite of her angry struggles and
expostulations, Aunt Ecclesia suffered in a simi-
lar way, another of the men snatching her brooch
as well.

"Hester, call for help!" she cried, loudly; but
the man who held her placed his face close to £er,
and gave her so menacing a look that she was for
the moment silent, while angry# demands were
made now for their purses.

"Give them the money, aunt, pray," cried Hes-
ter, who was very white, but otherwise showed no
sign of fear. Then, with a cry, Aunt Ecclesia
started forward and flung her left arm about Hes-
ter, striking at the man who held her across the
face with her sunshade; for, not content with rob-
bery, the man was proceeding to insult. He had
thrown his arms round her, uttering the one word
" Belissima!" and was trying to kiss her when
Aunt Ecclesia's blow brought the fierce southern
blood flushing to his temples. With an angry
roar he turned to seize her.

One of his companions threw his arm across
the fellow's breast, saying something quickly, and
nodding in the direction of the valley. But for a
moment the ruffian resisted, thrusting his hand
into his breast and drawing forth a knife.

But the flash of temper was only momentary.
The words of warning had their effect, and the
little party started off at a run by the way the268

A SECRET QUEST.

ladies had descended, passed in amongst the trees,
and disappeared.

"Oh, Hetty, Hetty, my child! Quick; let us
run!"

"No, aunt," panted Hester. "The danger is
past now."

"Don't—don't faint, darling, pray," sobbed
Aunt Ecclesia, as Hester reeled to a tree and sup-
ported herself by its trunk.

"No, no, aunt dear; I'm not going to; but my
heart beats so, apd I feel giddy. I'm better now.
Oh, who could have expected that!"

"No one, I'm sure. That beautiful watch,
too, that poor Lindley gave me. Come along,,
quick, and your father shall send the police after
them!"

"You forget, aunt," said Hester, smiling sadly,.
" that there are no police nearer than Altbad.
There, therfe; it is only our watches. Let's get
on home."

It was her turn now to comfort Aunt Ecclesia,
who was nearer fainting than her niece. But she,
too, soon recovered, and they made the best of
their way back to the chalet, where the Colonel
could hardly credit their story. As soon as it was
brought home to his understanding, then slightly
confused from his being awakened from a sleep
after his morning walk, he seized his stick, hur-
ried down to the hotel, and ten minutes later men
were going in two directions—to give notice to the
police, and to spread the alarm on toward the
frontier, so that the miscreants might be stoppedA SECRET QUEST.

269

as they sought to go through one or the other pass*
into Italy.

The landlord was as furious as the Colonel.

" Oh!" he cried, in German, " if the brave, noble
English gentlemen and Valter were only here!
The dogs—the wretches. Bad men who have
been here to work, and Heaven be praised, going
back. A disgrace to our Commune, herr. But
wait; they shall suffer in prison for it."

Nothing more could be done. The Colonel was
for starting alone in pursuit, but was detained
almost by force; and, feeling at last that he was
too weak and helpless to follow these men among
the mountains, he returned slowly to the chalet
where, some hours later, he was joined by Ander-
son and Frant. The former had met the latter on
his way back alone from his climb, and after a
few words of commiseration they announced their
intention of going in pursuit.

"No," said the Colonel, who had now calmed
down; " it is not our duty. Information has been
given, and your landlord, for the credit of the
place, will leave no stone unturned to have the
scoundrels punished. It will be a lesson, though,
about letting my ladies go out unattended."

"But, Colonel," began Frant, warmly; "I must
do something."

"He is quite right," said Anderson; "we must
do something."

"Yes," said the Colonel, "and you shall. The
ladies have been startled, but they have got over
it; and as to the watches and chains, I'm not2 JO

A SECRET QUEST.

going to have my dinner spoiled for them. There,
gentlemen, back to your hotel. In an hour I shall
expect you to dinner with our friend Deane."

Here Frant took out his handkerchief and be-
gan to dab his cheek, which was scarred down one
side by a cut, while the handkerchief he used was
marked a great deal by blood.

"Why, what's the matter?" cried the Colonel.

44 Oh, nothing; bit of a scratch. I slipped and
fell on the ice."

" Not roped?—-where was the guide?"

" He had gone on. I rather broke down to-day,
and was obliged to let him finish, as I had prom-
ised the ladies they should see a signal made."

"Better have stopped with them, sir," said the
Colonel.

"Yes," said Frant, shortly.

" Then you went up toward the glacier?" said
Anderson, quickly.

"I? Oh, yes. I thought I might as well be
doing something as wait," said Frant.

441 thought you came from that direction," said
Anderson, 44 but these valleys twist and double so
that one gets puzzled. Hallo! Oh, the guide at
last"

For Valter, looking hot and excited, had learned
the news on his return to the hotel, and came up
directly to offer his services.

" You got to the top, Valter?"

44 Yes, Herr; but the news—the schone frauleinV'

44 People have gone after the scoundrels," said
the Colonel. 441 thank you, though, all the same.A SECRET QUEST.

27t

There, gentlemen! At seven promptly, dinner.
Bring Deane, and not a word about the adventure
to-night."

"Very good, sir. But where is Deane? I have
not heard the rights of it. I came here directly.
I left him with the ladies."

"Up the mountains somewhere, mining, I sup-
pose."

They were in the veranda now. Just then
Frant clapped his hand to his cheek, for he had
felt something warm trickling down. Taking out
his handkerchief, he held it to his face, and Val-
ter uttered an exclamation.

"Well," said Frant, angrily, "what is it?"

"The mark on your face, Herr!" said Valter,
in a husky voice, as he pointed; "the handker-
chief—the blood!"CHAPTER XXXI.

"Now, don't be silly, Ecclesia," cried the Colo-
nel. "You have lost your watch and chain; I've
told you I'll give you new ones; and yet you are
going on in this hysterical way. Look at Hester."

"Itis not the stupid watch, John," cried Aunt
Ecclesia. " Gretchen has just told me: he slipped
and fell and has hurt himself."

"Nonsense!" cried the Colonel with a merry
look at Hester. " It was not Valter, but Frant."

" Oh, John, how can you tease me at a time like
this? Of course, I know it is Frant. And no
doctor near."

"Pish! The doctor Ife wants is a good meal.
There he comes, with a yard of sticking plaster
across his face. Looks a beauty, upon my word."

Aunt Ecclesia hurried to the door as Frant and
Anderson came up the path.

"Oh, Mr. Frant, are you very much hurt?" she
cried.

" No, no—nothing at all. Bit of a cut, and a
bruise or two."

"But, but—you, you should be careful," cried
Aunt Ecclesia, hysterically. "You look so dread-
fully pale."

"Eh?" said Frant, sharply. "Pale?" and he
looked inquiringly at Hester.

272A SECRET QUEST.

*73

"Yes; you do look pale, Mr. Frant," she said,
" I hope you are not hurt."

"Scarcely a bit," he said, giving her an eager
grateful look. " I suppose I was a little shaken."

"Wants his dinner," said the Colonel. "A
glass of wine will set him right."

" Will you have one now?" said Aunt Ecclesia.

"Indeed, no," he said, gratefully. Then, in a
low tone, "Don't fidget about me pray; they are
noticing it."

Aunt Ecclesia blushed, and turned to Hetty,
fighting hard to be composed.

"Where's Deane?" cried the Colonel, after a
reference to his watch; and he looked at Ander-
son.

"Mr. Deane?" he replied, and he turned to
Frant with an inquiring look.

"I don't know," said Frant. "I left him with
these ladies."

" Mr. Deane went over the mountains toward the
gorge, away to the right of Piz Luce," Hester
said, quietly.

" Then he has met Lucy and has stopped to din-
ner," said the Colonel, with a laugh. "Well, it's
past time. I'm not going to break my regular
hours for a parcel of wild-goose hunters. Let's
have dinner, Ecclesia."

"Will you not wait a little longer, papa?"

" No, my dear. Deane has a watch and knows
my regular habits; he ought to have been here."

"But it will be so rude, John," cried Aunt
Ecclesia.

18274

A SECRET QUEST.

"Yes, of Mr. Deane. I wouldn't have waited
even for Mr. Anderson here. I've no patience
with him. A man has no right to be late on
parade. Besides, Frant is fainting for that glass
of wine."

" Indeed, I am not," he cried.

" Mr. Anderson, will you take in Miss Denton.
Mr. Frant, my sister. I'll take myself in, and
Deane must have his dinner cold."

The meal passed off very unsatisfactorily, for,
in spite of her efforts to be calm, Hester grew more
and more anxious as the time went on, and Aunt
Ecclesia, whose good resolution on the mountain
side had melted away, was more than ever dis-
posed to be hysterical. The events of the past two
hours had completely thrown her off her balance,
and her efforts to carry out calmly the duties of
hostess were miserably weak.

The Colonel was evidently angry at Deane's
non-appearance. This, coming on the top of the
insult to his sister and child, interfered a good
deal with the enjoyment of his dinner; and though
he kept passing the wine, it did not animate him,
but appeared to have a lowering effect.

Anderson, on the contrary, seemed in excellent
spirits. After his first glass of champagne, he
became thoroughly animated and full of anecdote,
proving himself to be a brilliant dinner table con-
versationalist, and an adept at filling up awkward
gaps. To Hester he was the beau ideal of gen-
tlemanly consideration, chatting to her pleasantly
and evidently trying to lead her away from herA SECRET QUEST.	275

%.

troublous thoughts, so that she began to feel grate-
ful to him.

She uttered a sigh of relief as Aunt Ecclesia
gave the customary signal, and they rose to go
into the other little room.

"There," cried the Colonel; "let us see what a
cigar will do. Come, Frant, fill your glass and
pass the claret to Mr. Anderson. Hang that fel-
low Deane," he continued, as he reached down a
cigar box and passed it to his guests, " I believe
as soon as he gets mooning about up in the moun-
tains he forgets everything. Well, Anderson,
what did you do after I came for my nap?"

" Went in for a ramble, and tried all the stones
and tree trunks I could for a comfortable seat, till
I ran against Mr. Frant. Then we came back to-
gether, and as soon as we heard the news at the
hotel we came on here."

" Ah, to be sure, yes. Your cigar's out, Frant—
try another. That one does not draw well."

"Oh, thanks," cried Frant hastily, for he had
been sitting back paying no heed to what was
going on.

"That one draw, Frant? Ha! Here he is!"

There was a step outside, and both Anderson
and Frant started and exchanged glances.

" Shall I punish him, and make him go without
his dinner; or be merciful and let him have his
cold scraps?"

"I think I should err on the side of mercy,"
said Anderson, smiling. "We have all dined
well."276

A SECRET QUEST.

" Yes, I will. He has punished himself. Well,
Deane--"

The Colonel stopped short, for it was Gretchen
who opened the door.

" Is that Mr. Deane?"

"No, Herr; Valter."

"Eh?" cried Frant, excitedly. "What does he
want?"

" Send him here," cried the Colonel; "and let's
give him a glass of wine."

Directly after the guide came to the door.

"Well, Valter, my lad?" said the Colonel.

"The Herr?" he said; "the Herr Deane?"

"Not come back yet," said Frant. "Or have
you brought a message?"

" No; no message. He is not here?"

" Is not this strange, Mr. Frant?" said the Colo-
nel, for it now struck him that his child would
soon begin to grow uneasy.

"Yes; he ought to have been back by now.
He must have stopped hunting too long in that
old gorge."

"I dare say he will be back soon," observed
Anderson, quietly. " Of course, he knows every
step of the way?"

"Yes; the Herr knows all the way," said Val-
ter; "but he should have been back."

" Well, have a glass of wine, my lad, and go and
meet him. Tell him we are expecting him here."

The guide put aside the wine with an impatient
sigh.

" Who saw him go?" he said.A SECRET QUEST.

277

" My daughter.,v

"Yes, Miss Denton said she saw him walk to-
ward the deep gorge, Valter," said Frant, rising.
" Had we not better go and look for him?"

"I don't know, Herr. I am not sure. He
ought not to have gone alone; and yet he knew
the way so well. But there is another thing that
troubles me. I cannot tell, but has he gone after
those men?"

The Colonel gave the table a bang with his
hand, and made the glasses leap.

" Of course," he cried, with his face lighting up,
so satisfying was the thought in every way. " He
heard of the scoundrels—perhaps saw what took
place—and went in pursuit."

Frant uttered a sigh of relief, and Anderson
smiled.

" What do you say?" cried the Colonel.

" It seems more than probable," said Anderson.
u Of course, he is young and chivalrous, and if he
heard of the assault he would pursue them at
once."

" And a deal more manly a thing than sitting
down to a good dinner," said the Colonel, warmly.
"No reflection on you, gentlemen, for I insisted
upon the search being left to the proper hands.
But I hope the poor fellow will not come up with
them alone."

" If the Herr Colonel thinks so, then," said Val-
ter, " I will go in search of Herr Deane."

"Yes; and if you will excuse me, sir, I'll go
with him," said Frant278

A SECRET QUEST.

The Colonel hesitated a moment or two, then
nodded in his short military way.

"Yes," he said; "perhaps it will be better.
Where shall you make for?"

"Over the mountains to Denarlier, sir," said
Valter.

" But that is many miles away."

" Five hours, sir; but we may meet Herr Deane
at any time."

" I am sorry to let you go, Mr. Frant; but it is
a duty to your friend. I would offer to accom-
pany you but I should only be a hindrance."

" There is no need, sir," cried Frant. " No, no,
Mr. Anderson, you need not come."

" I certainly am not going to let you start alone,
Mr. Frant," said Anderson warmly. " Let's be off
at once before the daylight has faded."

"You will excuse us to the ladies, sir," said
Frant.

"There will be no need; they will be most
grateful."

Anderson bowed, and they passed out at once
by the French window, and were half way down
the path, with the Colonel watching them, when
the door was thrown open hastily, and the two
ladies hurried in.

"Surely, John,"cried Aunt Ecclesia, "you have
not quarrelled with Mr. Frant?"

"Absurd! as if I ever quarrelled with any one."

" But they are gone."

" Mr. Deane has not yet come back."

"Oh, papa!" exclaimed Hester, excitedly.A SECRET QUEST.	279

"Now, now, now: don't be a goose, child,"
cried the Colonel, testily. "What's the matter?
Do you think he has fallen off a mountain? He
has not come back, and we have come to the con-
clusion that he has gone in pursuit of those mod-
ern Fra Diavoli, and I hope he will catch them
and break their necks."

" Gone? After them?"

"Yes; and the proper thing to do, isn't it?"

" Is there no danger?"

"Tchah, danger! He has right on his side.
Wasn't it the best and bravest thing to do?"

Hester could only answer "Yes."

"A set of cowardly Italian roughs. Why, if
even old I had been there they dared not have
looked at you. I never thought so much of Deane
before. Now I think he's a deuced manly young
fellow—gone after those four scoundrels like that!
Shows he has got his heart in the right place.
Thoroughly plucky. I suppose I shall begin to
like him after all."

Hester said nothing, but her arm stole round
her father's neck, and her head lay on his breast,
while Aunt Ecclesia stood with the tears in her
eyes,CHAPTER XXXII.

"Well, papa?"

It was breakfast time the next morning. The
Colonel had risen early and walked down to the
hotel.

"No news yet, my dear; they haven't come
back."

Hester sighed, but tried to look cheerful; and
soon after, when alone with Atint Ecclesia, she
assumed a light-hearted manner that she did not
feel on seeing that lady's saddened face.

"Why, aunt dear," she said, "what is the
matter?"

"Oh, nothing, my dear, only one cannot help
feeling anxious about the gentlemen."

There were one or two little matters to break
the monotony of waiting for news. One was the
arrival of a police official from the nearest town
to take a list of the stolen jewelry, the amount
in the parses, and a description of the men.

This individual impressed strongly upon the
Colonel the great concern that was felt respecting
the robbery and assault upon an English family,
and assured him that nothing should be left un-
done to insure the punishment of the offenders.

"Bother!" the Colonel exclaimed as soon as they
were alone. "I'd a great deal rather go down to

280A SECRET QUEST.

the hotel to ask for news of our friends. By the
way, Hester, my dear," he said, as Aunt Ecclesia
left the room, " Anderson is behaving very well.
You and I, my dear, are cursed with suspicious
temperaments. He is a gentleman."

Hester colored, and was about to speak out fully
regarding all that had passed between her and her
father's friend, but Aunt Ecclesia came back, and
the desire to speak died out.

" Don't you think you might ^o to the hotel
again, and ask for news, dear?" asked the little
lady.

"Yes, I might go now," said the Colonel; and
he went, to return directly with the information
that the first party who had gone in pursuit of the
excavators had returned without overtaking them,
bnt the police onward were in pursuit.

" And I begin to hope that they will not catch
them, my dears," grumbled the Colonel, "for I
don't want to appear against them, and to have
you two dragged up as accusers. There, I'm go-
ing to have my morning cigar. I shall not be far
away."	_

" Hetty," said Aunt Ecclesia rather huskily, and
there was a rosy bloom in her cheeks, "do you -
think it would be undignified if we walked up the
mountain track in the direction the gentlemen took
last evening?"

"Yes, aunt, dear. I am as eager to learn news
of them as you are; but I think we ought to stay."

" Oh, Hetty!" cried Aunt Ecclesia, bursting into
tears, "don't look at me like that."282

A SECRET QUEST.

" Auntie!"

"But you did, dear, and it gives me horrible
pain. I ought to be checking you and playing
propriety."

"Aunt, dear/' said Hester, passing her arm
round her companion's waist, "you are so very
little older than I am, that I think you might take
me more into your confidence."

"No, no; I cannot, my dear. And—and there
is nothing at-all."

" But don't you feel that I must know better?"

"Oh, no, Hetty, my dear. You must not know
better. It is all a foolish fancy—on your part.
But, of course, I cannot help feeling uncomfortable
about the gentlemen your father has made his
friends, especially on your account."

"Yes, aunt, on my account," said Hester, with
a sigh, and they both took their work and seated
themselves where they could see the mountain
track along which those who returned from the
search must pass.CHAPTER XXXIII.

The tediously long day had nearly come to an
end, when there was a shout raised at the hotel,
followed directly after by the report of cannon,
and the occupants of the chalet hurried out to see,
higher up on the steep slope, the figures of the re-
turning party.

"Here—my glass, Hetty," cried the Colonel;
and she darted in to return with the binocular.

" Is—is he there, papa?" she panted eagerly.

" Frant—the guide helping Anderson, who seems
footsore. Perhaps Deane is on in front, among
the trees," said the Colonel, with the glass to his
eyes.

Hester's brow contracted, and she drew back
into the house. She felt that Deane was not there.
And so it proved. The party had been right
across to the town in the valley beyond the group
of mountains, and both in going and returning ex-
amined the various gorges and slopes—every spot,
in fact, where by accident a wayfarer could have
fallen; but the only news they bore was that the
party of excavators had been seen twice—the last
time going in the direction of one of the rarely
used passes which led from the Valais into Italy.

" Then where can Deane be?" cried the Colonel;
and his words reached Hester, who was standing
283284

A SECRET QUEST.

in the little dining-room, hidden from sight by
the side of the open window.

" I don't know what to say," replied Frant.

"Valter thinks he must have gone into one of
the ravines they have not yet explored," said An-
derson.

"Then, in Heaven's name, get men together >
and let's have everyplace well searched," cried
the Colonel.

"Yes, sir, we were coming back to the hotel to
get some refreshment and help. It is nearly full
moon to-night," said Frant.

"I'll join you," cried the Colonel. "The poor
fellow must be found."

The party moved off, Anderson limping so that
it was evident that he could do no more.

" If I were only young and strong again, Eccle-
sia," cried the Colonel, as they entered the house.
" But that poor fellow must be found. Ah, Hetty,
my darling, you there?"

She stood gazing at him piteously for a moment
or two, and then, after a struggle she cried pas-
sionately :—

"Yes, father, he must be found—or I shall die!"

" Is it so bad as that, Hetty?" he said gently, as
he held her to him and softly smoothed her hair.
" Come, come, we don't know that there's anything
wrong; and if there is perhaps it's only a sprained
ankle. These mountaineering fellows do not mind
a night or two in the fresh air."

"It's very good of you to talk like that, father,"
she said, trying hard to be calm; " but as he wentA SECRET QUEST.

285

down the mountain side toward that deep black
place, I seemed to be bidding him good-by for-
ever. "

" Imagination, pet," said the old man, tenderly.
"That's trying to foretell things after a fashion,
so I shall turn prophet and tell you that before long
he will be back safe and sound, and we shall all
be laughing at the fright he gave you!"

Two days passed, during which the mountains
were searched, Frant and Valter being out con-
stantly with quite a band of guides, who came,
many of them, from a distance to help in the
hunt.

Anderson was footsore, and suffered in addition
from a sprain; but he went heart and soul into the
business, beginning by promising fifty pounds to
the man who should find Deane. The Colonel
offered a similar sum.

Frant only came up once to the chalet—to be met
at the door by Hester, who caught his hands, ask-
ing him imploringly for the news he could not give.
He turned from her with a strange guilty look,
and soon after went away and came no more, but
spent every hour he could snatch from sleep lead-
ing and directing the men. On the fourth day
after Deane's disappearance, when the police
search for the excavators was at an end, the men
having apparently got over the mountains and
back to their own place, it was determined to make
a fresh start, the Colonel accompanying the party.
They gathered under the leadership of Frant and
Valter just at the spot pointed out by Hester and586

A SECRET QUEST.

Aunt Ecclesia as that where they had seen Deane
disappear.

"It seems only like a recapitulation," said the
Colonel, as they stood debating their ne^xt step;
" but it is evident we have missed some point, so let
us see. This gentleman has disappeared, and of
the reasons open to us we have first—accident.
He may have slipped into some chasm, or perhaps
only into some little crevice, and we may have
passed him again and again. Next, he may have
known of the assault committed by those men,
overtaken them, been overcome, and is lying dead
somewhere with stones piled over him. There
seems to be no other explanation of his disappear-
ance."

"No," said Frant, sadly; and Valter gave him
a curious look.

"I differ from you," said Anderson, who had
climbed so far by the help of his old enemy—the
mule. "It seems to me," said Anderson, "that
there are two other explanations."

" In Heaven's name what?" cried the Colonel.

" First, sir," replied Anderson, " there is the pos-
sibility of the poor fellow having excited some
one's enmity, or say jealousy, and in a quarrel
having been thrust into one of the crevasses."

" But that is a similar explanation to the other,"
cried the Colonel, who turned from Anderson
dirctly after, attracted by the ghastly pallor on
Frant's face. " We said he might have been thrust
down by those Italians. But jealousy!—pooh!"

" Perhaps you are right, sir."A SECRET QUEST.

287

" I'm sure I am. We have to deal with men—
not devils. Well, what is your other theory?"

"A very untenable one, I'm afraid; but it is
possible that Mr. Deane had reasons for disap-
pearing."

"What?" cried the Colonel with a blank look.

"Of course, it is mere supposition," continued
Anderson; 44 but at any rate, we must be now on a
wrong track."

"Reasons for disappearing—reasons for disap-
pearing!" cried the Colonel, his suspicious nature
became roused, and he recalled his last interview
with Deane. " Oh, no," he said, mastering his un-
worthy thoughts, "impossible!"

"Yes," said Anderson, "it must be impossi-
ble, for what reason could Mr. Deane have for dis-
appearing of his own accord? Of course; it is
absurd."

" Let us begin by going straight for the glacier,"
said the Colonel in a tone of authority.

Frant started and looked at him blankly.

" But Miss Denton saw him going in quite an-
other direction," he said.

"I know that, sir; but he could have returned
that way, and fallen into one of the crevasses."

" Impossible!" said Frant, warmly. " He knew
his way too well, and was too good a moun-
taineer."

"We all make slips, Mr. Frant,"said Anderson.

"Yes, of course, but--"

" The Herr Colonel is right," said Valter firmly.
"We have never half searched there."288

A SECRET QUEST.

" Because it was foolish to do so," said Frant.
" What are you thinking of? "

"''My duty," said Valter, taking off his hat and
stepping forward. "Sir, I have served you for
months, and I loved you as a brother. I have
taken your pay, but I have worked for you in all
brotherhood, and you know that I have risked and
would again risk my life to save yours."

"Yes, Valter, I believe it," said Frant.

" But the time has come when I must speak out.
I am an ignorant man, but I am not blind. I
speak though it tears me to the heart to have to
believe such things—to speak against a man I
liave loved; but I must speak now, if only for the
sake of the dear lady breaking her heart there
down below in the chalet.''

"You—you know something," cried the Colo-
nel. "What is it, man?"

"God forgive me, if I am wrong," said Valter
piously; " and you, too, forgive me, Mr. Frant."

" Speak out if you know anything," said Frant,
who was very haggard now.

" I must, sir. I know that you dearly love that
sweet young lady."

"What!" cried Frant, furiously; and he took a
step forward, but the Colonel raised his hand.

" Let him say all he has to say."

" Yes; he cannot deny it. I have seen it a hun-
dred times. He loved her as much as my other
-dear master, Mr. Deane."

"The man is mad!" said Frant, wildly.

44 No, sir, I am a man and have seen everything.A SECRET QUEST.

289

But why should you not love her? I loved her—
we all did,"

"Yes, yes!" came in a murmured chorus.

" But as we would love one of God's good angels,
and there is not a man in these valleys who would
not be ready to give his life for the sweet English
lady who these months past has been as sunshine
in our land."

There was another murmur of approval.

"Go on, man; what does this mean?" said the
Colonel hoarsely, and evidently deeply moved.

" I say, then, the herr loved the English maiden,
and the devil tempted him in his bitter jealousy
to keep a smiling brotherly face toward Mr.
Deane, while at the first opportunity he was ready
to strike and remove his rival from his path."

" This is utter madness," cried Frant, excitedly.

"It is the truth, sir," said Valter, sadly.
" Have you not always kept us back from search-
ing the big crevasses?"

" Yes," cried Frant. " The idea was too horri-
ble, and it was impossible he could be there.
Valter, this is a cruel charge from you."

"Yes," said the guide, "cruel and bitter. I
loved you, sir; but I loved that good, brave, ten-
der-hearted gentleman too."

" Yes, a terrible charge," said the Colonel, while
Anderson rested his hand on one of the guide's
shoulders. " But all this, my man, is supposition.
What you say is news to me. Mr. Frant, it is not
fair to you to ask if it is true."

"Yes; a part is true," said Frant, with his face
19sgo

A SECRET QUEST.

flushing and his eyes lighting tip. " I confess that
I did dearly love Miss Denton from the first day I
saw her; but I soon knew that she loved my
friend, and that he was as warmly devoted to her;
so I held my peace—I hid it all in my breast.
But as to this man's charge, that I have raised
my hand against one who has always been a
brother to me, it is as false as it is ridiculous. He
believes it, but the man's half mad in his devotion
to poor Adam Deane."

" Then, sir, how came that cut upon face?" said
Valter sadly—"the blood upon your handker-
chief?"

" I told you—I fell, and the blood was my
own," said Frant, contemptuously.

"Then why, sir, did you hang back that day
and send me up Piz Luce alone?"

Frant's jaw dropped, and a deadly silence
seemed to come over the group.

"Oh, this is absurd," he said aloud. "I was
tired and disappointed. My friend had refused to
come, and I promised the ladies they should see
the signal. So I sent Valter up alone, and waited
about thinking. Yes, of course, I met Mr. An-
derson here as I came back. You remember, sir?"

"Yes," said Anderson, hesitating; "I remem-
ber meeting Mr. Frant, and he told me his guide
was up the peaks."

"Where did you meet Mr. Frant?" said the
Colonel sternly.

" He was just coming down the gorge from the
glacier."A SECRET QUEST.

There was another and more terrible Silence,
Frant, as suspicions circumstances one after an-
other began to hem him in, gazing wildly from
face to face, each growing cold and stern, eyes that
had always looked frankly in his being averted.

"Oh!" he cried at last, "this is horrible! You
all suspect me. Valter, my lad, what have you
said?"

The guide laid his hand upon his breast for a
moment, and th§4ihis lips parted.

" Tha^whirii was my duty to say, Herr.
Thinking'"what I e|id—knowing what I did—I
could hold my peace %o longer. God forgive me
if I am wrong—forgive you, sir, if it is true!"

Frant seemed to grow calm as he looked de-
fiantly round at those who sieved to be sinking
from him.

"It is not true!" he roared. "In Heaven's
name come and see."

He led the way down the precipitous slope, fol-
lowed by the whole party. The Colonel seemed
to have forgotten his years; the excitement helped
Anderson; while the stern-looking guides hung
round Valter, some with their baldric-like coils of
rope across their broad chests, others carrying
short ladders, such as are used for crossing cre-
vasses or some yawning berg schrund.

It was a toilsome climb and descent, repeated
many times, before they reached the gorge, and
began to tramp along by the foaming torrent of
icy muddy water which came thundering out of
the ice grotto at the glacier foot.-2Q2

A SECRET QUEST.

On reaching this Frant stood peering into the
cavern, with its turquoise and amethystine blue
walls, then, beginning to climb up the side, he
made the ice ring as he struck it with his axe.
He clambers up among the crags and terraces
which threatened to fall and crush the party, never
once looking back, but letting them struggle after
him—ever on and on, higher and higher, up the
■solid cascade which now filled the gorge, till the
rock at the side had to be mounted, the snow
completely barring the way. Up this nearly per-
pendicular rock face Frant went like a goat,
closely followed by Valter, who paused at the top
to unroll and lower his rope, by whose help the
other guides came, and, using their own ropes,
the Colonel and Anderson were hauled up to the
top.

By this time Frant had descended again to the
glacier, and going now slowly, he stopped at
trevasse after crevasse, blue and yawning, leaping
some, going round the end of others, and after a
hasty glance down, passing on with contempt-
uous indifference.

He paused at last at the edge of one far larger,
and seated himself on a block of stone which had
journeyed down from miles above them. As the
party straggled up to where he was, Frant turned
to Valter.

"Help me," he said; and he seized the stone.

The guide guessed his intent, and bending down
the two turned the stone over and over till it fell
down the yawning blue crack, to strike one side,A SECRET QUEST.

then the other, and send up crashing hollow re-
verberating echoes which slowly died away, An-
derson turning pale as he glanced down the chasm
of ice.

"Well," said Frant, mockingly; "is that a
likely place for a man to murder his friend? Shall
some of us take a lantern and rope and go down?"

There was no answer, and he laughed bitterly.

"Come on," he cried; and he led again, in and
out of the labyrinth of cracks, higher and higher,
till the sound of waters falling came rumbling
and reverberating to their ears.

All followed him, for to a man they realized
that it would be impossible to search the hun-
dreds of crevasses, and that only by accident could
they, if Valter's supposition was right, hit upon
the one which contained the body. But by a kind
•of instinct they seemed to know where Frant was
leading them, and no one was surprised to see
him halt at last by the great rift called by the
guides the Moulin^ where the torrent turned almost
at right angles on to the ice, over which it flowed
in a self-worn bed to where it poured into the ere-
vasse, in one vast cascade, to tunnel its way be-
neath and issue from the ice grotto miles below.

"There," cried Frant; "that is the spot where a
man would murder his friend—where the track
crosses. Now, then, ropes. Who goes down?
What, no volunteers? Rope and lantern, then.
I'll go down."

He had hardly uttered the words when a deafen-
ing peal of thunder followed a vivid flash of light-*94

A SECRET QUEST.

ning, and, as the storm gathered, there was only
one course open—retreat, if they wished to avoid
what would evidently be a terrible tempest.

" Impossible to search to-day, sir," cried Valter,
and the whole party returned drenched to the
hotel, the Colonel going on home with his head in
a whirl.

Valter's words had not impressed him so much
as Anderson's. He could not rid himself of a
thought which had come upon him with a re-
newal of his old suspicions. After telling sister
and child that there was no news as yet—for he
dared not speak of the terrible charge—he lit a
cigar, and shut himself in alone, to try and think
the matter out. The idea grew more and more
fixed, till at last he started up suddenly and struck
the table with his fist.

"The scoundrel!" he cried. "My first sus-
picions were right. An emissary of that black-
guard lord."

"Who is, papa?" said a voice at his back, for
Hester had entered unheard, leaving the door
ajar.

" Adam Deane."

"And why, pray?" she said, coldly.

" I placed in his hands my case containing those
letters. I was afraid of being robbed, and I
thought he was not likely to be suspected of hold-
ing them."

"Your case, papa?" said Hester, coldly.

"Yes; my cigar case. There is a secret pocket
in the side. I gave it to Adam Deane the day heA SECRET QUEST.

295

disappeared. The scoundrel! He knew; and be
has escaped with it to London—to his employer,
Lord--"

" Absurd!" cried Hester.

"Mr. Anderson, you there!" cried Aunt Ec-
clesia, wildly, as she rushed up to the door and
drew it open, showing Anderson, pale and
strange, standing as it were framed, where he
must have heard every word.

"Speak!" continued Aunt Ecclesia. "Mr.
Frant—Gretchen—this horrid news! Hush, John.
Tell me it is not true. Mr. Frant arrested for
Adam Deane's murder! Mr. Anderson, is it so?"

His lips parted twice before he could speak;
then with a commiserating look at Hester he
said:—

"Yes, madam, just now, at the hotel. It is
true."

Aunt Ecclesia uttered a wild shriek, and Hester
stood with her hands clasped to her brows as if
she had been stunned.CHAPTER XXXIV.

The news was true enough, as the Colonel found
on reaching the hotel, after leaving his people
completely stunned by the strokes which had fallen
so rapidly one upon the other.

Valter's words had not been without effect. The
information had been carried to the police, who
did not scruple to make a seizure at once.

The Colonel had pleaded and then stormed and
appealed to Mr. Anderson for his help. It was
all a piece of mad folly, he was sure. He had
not a doubt in his own mind where Deane was—
safe back in England, of course.

But while he was protesting to people who re-
ceived his words upon their impenetrable official
armor, a man higher in authority arrived from the
principal town.

He heard the Colonel politely and referred him
to the nearest English consul; but instead of plac-
ing any faith in what had been said, he ordered
that men should be ready at daylight to thoroughly
search the crevasse.

"News, my darling?" said the Colonel on re-
turning. "None as yet; but Hester, I fear that I
am right. My suspicions were aroused when I
first met those two, and I can stake my life upon it
that Deane has escaped with the Princess* letters.1*
296A SECRET QUEST.

297

"Papa,, dear," cried Hester, looking at him
wildly; " you make me mad with this suspicion."

" Hetty!"

"I must speak, father," she cried. "You have
dwelt so on the fear of people following you that
it has become a mania. Could you not see in
every act, and feel in every word, that Adam
Deane was a gentleman and the soul of honor? See
how he risked his life for us."

"Only to achieve his end. He and his com-
panion are adventurers."

"It is not true!" cried Aunt Ecclesia. "Mr.
Frant could not have done what they say."

The Colonel was silent.

" Why don't you speak, father, and set poor aunt
at rest. Tell her that Mr. Frant could not have
done this thing."

The Colonel recalled all he had heard—remem-
bered Frant's declaration of his love—and with
complications seeming to grow more entangled,
he uttered a low sigh.

But he was not allowed to rest.

" Tell her, papa," cried Hester. " She is suffer-
ing cruelly. It is as absurd that poor Mr. Frant
should raise his hand against his friend as it is to
brand Adam as a common thief."

The Colonel groaned.

" Then I will tell her," cried Hester. " Aunt,
dear, Mr. Frant is the dearest, truest friend that
ever lived, and papa has let himself be led away
by these foolish charges till he does not know
what to believe himself."298

A SECRET QUEST.

The Colonel looked at his child piteously—-quite
unnerved.

" I'm—I'm afraid you are right, Hetty," he said,
with all his dictatorial fierceness gone. "Don't
be hard on me, my dear. I can only judge by
what I know."

" And what do you know beside the silly tattle
of these people?"

" That Deane has gone with my case containing
the letters. It was a foolish thing to give them
to him; but I thought they would be safe in his
hands."

" And how could Mr. Deane know that there
were two letters concealed in the lining of the
case?"

"Ah, that has puzzled me."

"Father," cried Hester, passionately, "can you
not see how childish all this is? I have reminded
you before that Adam Deane was here first, and
could not have known of our coming. If you
think an enemy has done this, you must look else-
where."

"Ah! Then you have suspicions?"

"Yes—no," she cried, wildly. "I dare not
think."

" But you think still that Deane has been killed?"

"I will not think that; but I am sure some ter-
rible accident has befallen him, or he would have
been here."

The Colonel pressed his hand to his feverish
head, and looked pityingly at his child, who How
knelt down at his feet.A SECRET QUEST.

*99

"Father, dear," she said, "I am trying to be
strong, and to act like a brave, true woman; but
it is so hard—so hard!"

"My darling! I know/' he said, embracing
her.

" I dread to say what I think—I shrink from
telling you my horrible suspicions."

" Better tell me, dear," said the old man, gazing
at her vacantly. " What is it you do think?"

"That Adam has been killed."

"Yes, dear," he said, feebly, "been killed-"

" By the man who dared to love me, and .who
under the cloak of false friendship has followed
him till he could strike some cowardly blow."

The Colonel looked at his child nervously.

"You don't believe me, father."

"Yes—yes I do," he cried, hastily. "I think—
I feel now that you must be right. It is what they
are saying. Poor fellow—yes, he loved you too.
And you thought this?"

"About Mr. Frant? Oh! father—dear father—
why will you be so blind? Mr. Anderson has in-
sulted me again and again with his declarations
of love."

"What!" cried the Colonel, springing to his
feet, as he felt that there was something tangible
at last.

" I—I dared not tell you before. It was coward-
ly, but I was afraid, and—Oh, father, I was too
happy to think of anything else but him who loved
me, and it all seemed to be over. But now I am
sure—it was he who struck the blow and-"30o

A SECRET QUEST.

"Oh! dear lady, dear lady, come to her—pray
come!"

" Gretchen," cried Hester, springing to her feet,
as the girl entered the room.

" Madame is half mad, and is dressing herself
to go down to the hotel!"CHAPTER XXXV.

Colonel Denton joined the party who started
for the glacier. The chief of the police, who had
been reinforced by two more men in the night,
left one in charge of the prisoner, who later on
was to be conveyed to the chief city of the Com-
mune. The guides, headed by Valter, were in
force, and Anderson was up and ready to form
one of the band, which later on was to assemble
at the brink of the crevasse.

Troubled in mind by his child's words, the
Colonel shrank from encountering Anderson,
though everything as they went on began to
strengthen him in his belief that Hester's were wild
utterances—as wild as he felt his own had been.
But he was spared all trouble on Anderson's ac-
count, for the latter, looking pale and intent^
bowed to him without speaking, and attached
himself to the leading party of the guides.

At last the glacier was reached, the toilsome
climb up its slippery surface had been ended, and
in almost complete silence the searchers gathered
at the side of the great crevasse, some little dis-
tance from where the torrent poured in. The chief
of the Commune police now spoke out.

"It is a waste of time, and folly," he said, peer-
301A SECRET QUEST.

ing down. " What ground have you for thinking
the English Herr is down here?"

"None that he is here," said Valter; "but he
may be down one of the crevasses."

" Well, then, if a man fell, or was thrown down
there, is it possible to get him out?"

Valter gazed down and then shook his head.

"I think not," he said. "It seems impossible.
But light a lantern and join some ropes. I will
go down and see."

"What for?"

" He might have lodged on some shelf of ice,
and the English Herr ought to rest in holy ground."

"Amen," was murmured softly.

" Double the ropes and join them well," said the
official. "Light a lantern, one of you. They
shall not say we have not done our duty. Go
down and try."

There were a few busy minutes of preparation,
and the chief of the police said sharply,

" Light another lantern, and lower it first."

The preparations were made, and all bent for-
ward and gazed intently as the light was lowered
fifty—a hundred—two hundred feet, shining feebly
on glistening walls of pure ice, and making what
seemed to be a heavy fall of rain glisten and
sparkle.

All at once the light Went out.

The lantern was hastily drawn up. It was
seen that rope and lantern were dripping with
water.

" You see," said the official; " the crevasse nar-A SECRET QUEST.

303

rows, and the falling water is dashed from the
side. It is madness to go down. Will you try?"

"Yes," said Valter, firmly. "I cannot give up
without a trial. He was my good master, and we
shared many dangers. He would have gone down
for me. Ready?"

"Ready."

A thrill of horror ran through the Colonel, and
he stepped to where the guide stood, silently
holding out his hand.

The man's face lit up as he eagerly grasped it.
He then drew back, made a sign to the others,
and, seating himself on the edge of the vast cleft,
he grasped the rope with one hand, his ice axe
with the other to steady his descent, and with the
light suspended from his belt he was lowered
steadily down.

Every neck was craned as half-a-dozen pairs of
strong arms steadily lowered down the rope till
Valter was seen to go from light into twilight
and then into bluish darkness.

The candle burned clearly, and they caught
glimpses of the guide's face as he swung to and
fro, thrusting himself from the sides to avoid the
edges of the jagged crack.

Not a word was spoken; even men held their
breath and strained their sense of hearing for the
descending man's order as to raising or lowering.

Suddenly the light became indistinct, then dis-
appeared, altogether fully two hundred feet below.

"Weil?" shouted the chief of the police; "shall
we haul up?"304	A SECRET QUEST.

There was no reply, no sign of the rope being
Agitated.

"Quick; draw up," cried the officer, sharply;
and Valter was rapidly hauled to the surface, the
lamp out, and his head and arms hanging inert by
his side, while the water streamed from him as if
he had been lowered into a well.

The rope was taken from about his chest, and
brandy held to his lips, but for some minutes he
made no sign. By degrees he opened his eyes,
closed them as if the bright sunlight gave him
pain, and then reopened them to gaze wildly
round.

" How is it with you, my lad?" said the Colo-
nel, kindly, as he bent over him.

"The water," he said, faintly; "the water
stunned and strangled me,"

"Yes," said the chief; "that has proved it.
Coil up your ropes, men. It is an impossibility."

" But surely you will not give up like that?" said
Anderson, excitedly.

"Yes, sir; I will not risk any other man's life,"
said the official.

" It is a duty," cried Anderson excitedly. " The
body must be found. A hundred napoleons to
the man who brings him up."

"Then Monsieur feels sure that he is down
there?"

"Yes; absolutely sure," cried Anderson. "He
must be found. A hundred napoleons, I say."

There was no reply.

" Two hundred," cried Anderson excitedly.A SECRET QUEST.

305

Still no reply.

" Three hundred napoleons—four hundred—five
hundred," cried Anderson, as Valter rose to his
feet once more and shuddered.

" What!" cried Anderson, " are you all cowards?"

"No, Herr," said the young guide quietly; "we
would any of us go down for love of the poor
young lady yonder and of him who is dead, if it
were possible. But there is a horrible whirl of
water down there; and what are five hundred
napoleons to a man who is drawn up dead! Some
of them have wives, but their wives would rather
have their men."

"Right, Valter, my lad," said the chief of the
police. " It is not to be done."

"Not to be done?" cried Anderson. "Then
when will the body be found?"

" Fifty years hence, when the ice here has ground
its way down into the valley, and his bones are
cast forth," said Valter—"unless he has already
been swept out of the ice grotto at the glacier
foot."

" Then we may find him there."

"No, Herr," said Valter; "if he has been swept
through the icy tunnel, he has gone down the
river and over the falls, and from there into the
lake."

" Then the lake shall be dragged," cried Ander-
son. " Money shall not 'stand in the way of" re-
covering his remains."

The chief of the police shrugged his shoulders
and turned to the Colonel.

203<>6	A SECRET QUEST.

"Impossible, Monsieur," he said. "The lake
is a thousand feet deep where the river rushes
in."

Ten minutes later the party began to descend
the river of ice, pausing at crevasse after crevasse,
but in a hopeless way; for all felt that nothing
could be done, and Anderson's eyes, as they met
the Colonel's, were full of despair.CHAPTER XXXVI.

"It's a curious thing," said Adam Deane, to
himself, as he leaped down from the rock upon
which he had stood to wave his ice-axe to Hester;
'* but only a few weeks ago I was in full pursuit
of what Aleck calls my myth. There seemed to
be only one thing in the world then worth pursuit.
Now I am going in search of the old gold work-
ings—just to fill up time, and to get away into the
solitude of these mountains to dream and think of
her—to try and keep down all this wild joy which
nearly drives me mad.

"God bless her!" he cried aloud, with quite a
joyous shout. " God bless the whole world! God
bless everybody and everything in it! Oh! what
a happy lunatic I feel! Listen, you great, hoary,
silver-crowned mountains, and you dark, gloomy
chasms, with your rocks and caves. She loves
me, she loves me, and you all look beautiful, as if
my darling had turned everything into a paradise.

"There!" he cried, after leaping and bounding
down the steep slope in all the vigor of his early
manhood. " I must do something to let off the
steam, for I am in love—in love, and—oh! thank
God, thank God for all this new-found joy! My
love is amply returned."

"Hah!" he ejaculated, after a time, as he drew
3o7308

A SECRET QUEST.

a long breath and began to ascend the other side
of the deep gorge, " this is the sort of thing to do
one good. It will make me more sensible, in-
stead of being drunk with delight, and ready to
shout and sing like a child over a holiday. If I
did not come out like this sometimes I should be
babbling to everybody I met about how happy I
have grown.

" Steep bit this," he panted. " So much the
better. Done me good to have gone up Piz Luce
with Aleck and Valter; but I couldn't stand them
now. I should be saying or doing something
weak, and Aleck would laugh at me. Poor old
chap! Too bad to pitch him over as I have; but
wait a bit, his time will come, if it has not
already. Hang me if I don't believe it's getting
serious with Mrs. Lindley. Well, why shouldn't
it? She's a very sweet little woman, whom any
man might love. I love her for my darling's
sake. I wish them joy.

"There," he cried, as he reached the top, pant-
ing and hot. "Yes, I wish them joy. Now, let's
see, which way shall I go to-day? I must not go
too far, because of being back to dinner. Won-
der whether I shall sit by my darling's side.
Can't be very far off. I am not far off, for I feel
as if she is.with me now—a part of my very
being.

"Ha, ha!" he cried, with his face flushed with
exercise, and his joyous sensations in the fine
crisp air where he stood. " How solitary! Not a
soul—not a sound—not so much as a goat-bell.A SECRET QUEST.

Alone, alone, alone, where one can cry aloud and
shout for joy.

" Wonder how old Aleck is getting on. I ought
to see him from somewhere up here," and he-
shaded his eyes from the sunshine and gazed long
at the conical mountain away south, with its peak
completely clothed in dazzling white snow. " No,
not a sign of him, nor Valter neither. What a
muff they are beginning to think me. ISfow, then,
which way shall I go? Odd if I should really find
a trace of the old mines to-day, and be able to
take back a specimen or two of gold. Make the
Colonel stare, for he looks upon me as a madman
over that craze. Which valley shall I explore?"

He climbed upon a mass of stone and looked
along the different valleys and depressions which
•opened out before him, seeming to be like so
many gigantic watercourses running up toward
the different peaks.

"Bah!" he cried. "What nonsense! Why
hunt any more? I came out here to seek for the
old gold mine, and I have found it—the oldest,
truest, purest source of golden happiness to man.
Love—her love. As for the metal; pah! the
thought is degrading. I want no myth when I
have found the reality, that I shall clasp once
more in my arms to-night."

He began to descend into the next depression
of the pathless waste, thinking, thinking always.

"What could she see in me?" he said, gently.

I'm not good enough for her. What could she
see in me?"A SECRET QUEST.

He stopped musing and took out his pipe, but
thrust it back.

" No; let's have one of the old man's cigars.

"He's taking to me," he continued, as he drew
out the handsome Russia case with its engraved
crest on the side. "Yes, he's taking to me.
Eccentric, but a thorough gentleman; and he
feels that I love her whom he loves most on earth.
Good cigars, too," he said, opening the case and
selecting one. " Pretty thick this. So much the
better. Keep the weeds from getting bruised."

He replaced the case in his breast, bit off the
end of his cigar, lit up in the shelter of a rock,
and went on, smoking.

"By George," he cried, "what a cigar. De-
licious!"

He wandered, now slowly, now bounding down
some smooth slope in the exuberance of his joy.
Then came a climb, and a rest on some block of
stone, or a pause, during which he threw himself
down in the bright sunshine upon some bed of
Sedums, where quite a couch was formed of the
tiny rosettes. All around was still, and not even
a bird was visible but once, when a lammergeyer,
with wide-spread wings, floated near, looking at
him curiously, and then circling round as if watch-
ing him.

"Not dead yet, old fellow," shouted Deane.
"Eh, don't understand English? What is it,
then? Nichttodt. Still puzzled? Pas encore mort.
Oh, I see; you've come over the mountains frtoi
the sunny side. Non morto.A SECRET QUEST.

3X1

" What a fine fellow, and what eyes! Wonder
^whether he would have a pick at a body if one
was lying here dead—fallen, say, during some
climb.

"Ugh! What have I to do with such horrible
thoughts? I want to live on and on for my dar-
ling's sake. What's o'clock?"

He looked at his watch, and came to the con-
clusion that he had ample time to cross a ridge
before him, make his way down into a chasm
which he had taken to be one of the spots worked
by the old Romans, and climb from there on to
the side of the mountain and over the other ridge
which cut him off from the glacier. Down this
he made up his mind to journey by the far side,
then cross and descend to the ice cave, and follow
the stream to where it joined the river in the
Schnee-thal, and so descend back to the hotel.

"Plenty of time," he said, "and a really good
honest tramp will do me good. I've been fooling
so far, and dreaming like a sickly sentimental
love-lorn boy. Hurrah, I'm glad of it; for if ever
man was in honest manly love that fellow is Adam
Deane."

He started of! now at a good swinging pace.
There was no track of any description, and the
place was well littered with fallen rocks; but he
leaped and dropped and crept between, and went
up and down in full enjoyment of the difficulties
he encountered. Twice over he recalled Frant
-and his climb, and stopped at good points of
vantage to examine the snowy peak ; but there3i a

A SECRET QUEST.

was still no trace of any one mounting*, and com-
ing to the conclusion that Frant had attacked the
mountain from the other side, he went on. At
last he stood high up among the shattered rocks,
gazing down into the great gorge which formed
the bed of the glacier, quite four miles above the
spot where the stream poured into the crevasse.

Here for a time be became so interested in the
scene of wild grandeur below him, with its ter-
races and descents of ice looking like some tre-
mendous cataract suddenly congealed, that the
memory of Hester faded from his mind. He was
high enough up now for the snow to be lying all
around like sheets of hail stones.

He had never been so high up the glacier be-
fore. He was now near where it mingled with
past winters' snows, which curved up in white and
gold to the summits high on his'right. So grand
was the dazzling spectacle in its parity, hardly
showing traces of stony moraine, that he stopped
for long shading his eyes from the glare, and
watching the strange jagged shapes of the broken
ice.

At last, silent and wondering at Nature's
majesty here in these icy solitudes, he walked
along the stony slope of the gorge till he came
•upon a narrow rift filled with snow and running
down to the glacier. Taking his place on this, and
supported by his ice axe held behind him, he bent
his figure back and gave himself up to the pleas-
ure of the rapid motion of a glissade, and, with
the hard snow hissing and rushing down withA SECRET QUEST.	$1$

him, he descended swiftly, to stop at length in a
bed of dazzling snow on the surface of the glacier.

The difficulties of his task now began, for the
surface of the frozen river was only to be passed
by careful management. But Deane's was the
training of years, and he began to slowly descend,
picking his way carefully. For he was alone.

"I must bring her up here," he said, as he
stopped in one of the wildest and grandest spots
along the snowy fall. " Such scenes as these only
come to the lot of those who climb. If we came
from below, started early, and took plenty of
time, it would not be too laborious, and I could
help her."

He went on downward, his eyes wandering con-
stantly over the icy chaos, and as he descended
every beautiful pinnacle and turret was associated
in his mind with Hester, and he fancied he heard
her ecstatic praise of the glorious scene.

"Poor Aleck!" he said, as he came to a more
open spot, where the ice formed a fairly level
slope, across which zig-zagged a great crevasse.
" Poor Aleck! I hope matters will go smoothly
and well for him."

He stopped, gazing to right and left. The crev-
ice extended right across the glacier, and to get
round meant a walk of quite a quarter of a mile.

"Not too wide to jump," he said, for the gap
was only about five feet across. Drawing himself
up, he made a spring forward, cleared the rift,
and came down lightly on the ice on the other side,
where he slipped for some distance, and it was.3*4

A SECRET QUEST.

only by the exercise of the greatest dexterity that
he saved himself from a nasty fall.

"This will not do," he said laughingly, as he
stuck the spike at the end of his ice axe into the
mass beneath his feet, and began to wipe his
heated brow. "Not my own property now; sol
must take care." Then resuming the steep des-
cent, he kept on winding in and out among the
many obstacles till at the end of a couple of hours
the deep humming roar of the fall told him of his
nearness to the great crevasse, which he reached
at last, heated and weary, by the slope farthest
from the hotel. Here he sat down to rest, and
watch the falling water as it came down the^side,
wearing the ice away, and widening the gap day
by day.

Consulting his watch, Deane found he had plenty
of time to spare, so took out his pipe and lay back
to gaze at the beautiful scene through the soft
mist which rose from the burning tobacco.CHAPTER XXXVII.

There was ice below and before him, ice in
huge masses to right and left, while high up peak
after peak displayed its fields. But where he lay,
bathed in sunshine, there was a warm glow; and
as he basked there, dreamily seeing Hester, and
pondering on all that had passed, the beautiful
vision of dazzling white, veined with softened
blue, died away—and the next moment as it
iseemed to him he was battling with some terri-
ble indescribable peril—some danger which had
grasped him by the throat and forced him back!
For an indefinite time he seemed to be struggling
against this force, but vainly; for he was mas-
tered, and he was growing weaker and weaker,
with an agonyof despair ever increasing, till with
one tremendous effort he forced it back, opened
his eyes—to see Anderson not a yard away, gaz-
ing down at him mockingly, with hands resting
upon an alpenstock.

" Do you always sleep as uneasily as that, friend
Deane?" he said with a laugh.

" Sleep! Was I asleep?" stammered the young
man.

" Evidently, and gasping and sighing as if
you were suffering from a maddening attack of
indigestion."

3^53x6

A SECRET QUEST.

"Couldn't be that," said Deane, smiling, "for I
have not touched my sandwiches."

" Going- to sleep with a pipe in your mouth, per-
haps. Bad tobacco."

" Perhaps so. But how came you here?"

"I? Oh, I have been strolling about with the
Colonel till he went in to have his nap. Having
nothing else to do, I came to see if I could run
against you or Mr. Frant. That led me down and
up till I reached the glacier on the other side. I
had just seated myself, thinking what a lovely,
wild, solitary place it was, when I caught sight
of what seemed to be a dead goat lying on the
rocks on the other side, which dead goat resolved
itself through my glass into a human being with
English legs. 'Frant or Deane,' I said, and I
came across the ice and found Deane. Ready ta
go back?"

"Yes," said Deane, who could not shake off the
unpleasant sensation left by his dream. "I'm
ready; have a cigar?"

"Thanks, yes."

"Wish he had said no," thought Deane, and
brought out his present.

" Hullo!" said Anderson, banteringly; " suc-
ceeded to the Colonel's property already?"

"Nonsense, man; a little gift."

"Ah!" said Anderson, with a sigh, as he gave
Deane a sinister look, wondering the while how*
much Hester had said to him. "Lucky youth!
What a time of sunshine you have before you."

"Let's use the sunshine, then, to get back," saidA SECRET QUEST.

Deane, handing a light, and then apptying it to
liis half-empty pips. " It will be precious cold;
here before long, and it's a good way to the hotel."

" Bless me, then, for coming all this way and
waking you," said Anderson, puffing away at his
cigar and sweeping the slopes of the mountains
with his eyes. "Why, if I had not arrived so op-
portunely you would not have been at the chalet to
dinner, and in the morning you would have been
found frozen stiff."

"Not I," said Deane, picking up his ice-axe.
" Ready?"

"Yes, quite," said Anderson, whose eyes were
still wandering. Seeing that his companion noted
his abstraction, he continued: "Wonderful, won-
derful! Here, in this hot country, and an hour
or two's climb takes us into what must be exactly
like the Arctic region."

"Yes," said Deane, quietly; "but one gets so
accustomed to it that one hardly notices the snow
line. Shall I lead? I know the cuts better."

" By all means, please. One might easily go
astray on this great river of ice."

"Yes," said Deane, and he strode on in front
with his ice-axe over his shoulder, while Ander-
son followed, striking the iron point into the ice
at every other step to steady himself.

They were about two-thirds of the way across,
with the great crevasse on their right, and the
scrappy conversation that had been carried on
ceased, consequent upon the low thunderous roar
which came up from the hideous chasm* ^A SECRET QUEST.

"I—I would not go too near," said Anderson,
huskily.

" Oh, I'm all right," replied Deane. " My head
will stand anything now. Like to have a look
down? I'll hold your hand."

"Thanks—no," said Anderson, and he followed
Deane closely as the latter walked along within a
few feet of the edge.

The fall was still about fifty feet away, when
suddenly there was a grating sound; Deane felt
Anderson's alpenstock pass be ween his ankles and
wrench them, so that he was tripped up and thrown
heavily on the ice, while instantly Anderson ex-
claimed, "I beg your pardon, "and he felt a violent
thrust.

It was almost instantaneous. The thrust sent
Deane over the edge, the ice offering no stay; but
with the instinct of a mountaineer, and in desper-
ate effort to save himself, he made a blow with his
ice-axe as he glided over toward the gulf. The
stroke was not enough to stop him. The sharp
point only scraped over the ice, failing to take
hold; but it checked his progress like a drag, and
anchored him by holding on at the extreme edge,
Deane clinging desperately to the handle as he
swung to and fro.

It had not occurred to him that this was othef
than a terrible accident, and as he looked up and
saw Anderson's face white as ashes, his alpenstock
planted at the edge, gazing down at him, he said
hoarsely:

" For God's sake, man, keep your nerve, or I'mA SECRET QUEST.	319

X

gone. Back. Lie down on your face as far as
you can from here, stretch out your hands, and
hold the axe head tightly down while I try and
climb up."

Anderson did not move, but stood as if frozen,
his eyelids wide, so that rings of white showed
round the pupils of his eyes.

"Don't — don't be a coward!" cried Deane,
hastily. " Lie down, I tell you, and hold the axe
head. I can hang some time, but the ice may
give way. Do you hear me? Anderson! For--"

He ceased his appeal, for now he read the truth
in the devilish face, fixed, cruel and triumphant.
He knew now that it was no accident, but the de-
termined act of one who sought to remove him
from his path. And they were alone there—ab-
solutely alone.

A cry for help was, he knew, vain; and after
seeking for a few moments to find a foothold, he
tried, as a man does who is accustomed to perilous
adventures among the mountain peaks, to be calm.
He knew that he could hang like that for some
minutes, his muscles being like iron; and he saidr
as he gazed fixedly in the other's face:

"Mr. Anderson—help me."

There was not the slightest change in the face
above him, and now he spoke in an appealing
tone.

"Mr. Anderson, for God's sake, save me! It is
murder to let me go."

Still no reply; nothing but that devilish face
glaring down at him, the alpenstock clutched32°

A SECRET QUEST.

tightly against his cheek as he slowly took a little
ivory-handled revolver from his breast.

Deane's lips parted. His nerve was going, and
the horror of such a death just then half maddened
him. His agony was about to find vent in a wild
cry; but once more he mastered himself. He knew
his peril, but he had been in peril before, when
calm matter-of-fact coolness had saved his life, as
it should save it here.

"He cannot mean it," he thought. "The man
is paralyzed with horror. Hold fast, good axe,"
he muttered; and, throwing all his manhood's
strength into the muscles of his arms, he began
slowly and steadily to pass one hand above the
other.

Twice, and then he ceased, for he swung about
frightfully, and his wildly-staring eyes could see
that the axe-head had worked so much nearer the
^dge that he dared try no more.

" Anderson!" he gasped, in a low, husky voice,
"for pity's sake—as you hope for mercy—help!"

There was a loud, hoarse sound like a deep
sigh, and hope sprang up in Deane's breast as he
saw Anderson slowly return the pistol to his breast,
grasp the alpenstock again, and gaze down in his
face. The man would save him; and Hester—he
should live to see her again.

"Ah!"

The first wild cry of fear and horror that had
escaped him, as he saw Anderson move slightly.
There was a jarring sensation down his wrists and
away to his breast.A SECRET QUEST.

321

He was paralyzed now, and the horrible roar of
the reverberating torrent below for the first time
struck npon his ears like the cry of some monster
€ager for its prey.

Again that strange jar, which flew through
every nerve, following a slight motion of the
devilish face, which stared triumphantly down.

He would have uttered another appeal for mercy,
but the words would not come now; and he waited
with his eyes growing filmy, through what felt
like an age of torture, for the next jarring sensation.

" God help her! Hester—my own!" he sighed,
as the last crumbling thrill came. The glistening
steel axe-head trembled for a moment on the edge,
the ice splintered away, and Adam Deane plunged
down into the horrible void!

Anderson had deliberately kicked the axe from
its frail anchorage, and now rose erect, and once
more bent over to listen to the dull, heavy rever-
berating roar.

"Gone!" he said, softly; and turning away he
walked across the ice, looking searchingly to right
and left, in dread of some hidden witness. He
saw none, and in due time came upon Frant, about
a mile below, just where the glacier ended.

21CHAPTER XXXVIII.

Bribery and corruption had been at work; but,
to the credit of the guard be it said, they would
not have been sufficient. He felt sympathy for
the two weeping women who came imploringly for
an interview, and as soon as he had exacted from
them their word of honor that they would not aid
the prisoner to escape, they were ushered into the
room where Aleck Frant was walking up and down
like a caged lion.

"Miss Denton! Mrs. Lindley!" he exclaimed,
as Hester threw up her veil and came forward,
while Aunt Ecclesia caught at the back of a chair
and stood supporting herself by it, sobbing almost
hysterically, " How good of you—I did not expect
this."

Hester laid her hands in his, the tears stream-
ing down her pale cheek as she fixed her eyes upon
him, while a flush of joyous excitement and hope
lit up the young man's face.

"Knowing what I do," she faltered, "I could
not stay away." Then, with her voice growing
firmer, " He was my dear husband—the husband
he will ever be in my heart—and I could not let
the man he trusted—the companion I know he
looked upon as a brother—rest longer without

322A SECRET QUEST.

3*3

knowing that I do not believe this cruel charge.
Aleck Frant, you could not have done this."

The light died out of Frant's eyes, and with it
the wild hope for the future, as he raised Hester's
hands softly and reverently to his lips.

" God bless you for this, Hester," he said huskily,
and in a voice hardly above a whisper, " He knows
I am innocent." Then, after a pause, as they stood
together in the middle of the room, " It was like
you to come."

A piteous sob broke upon the stillness then, and
a smile full of sadness came upon Frant's face, as
he looked once more into Hester's eyes.

"Yes," he said with a sigh; "I am innocent
enough, as they will find some day." Letting Hes-
ter's hands drop slowly, one by one, he turned to
where Aunt Ecclesia stood, with her head bent
down, blinded by her tears, and struggling with
the deep emotion that half suffocated her.

As Frant turned to her, something seemed to
whisper to him the words: " Take the good the
gods provide you."

Aunt Ecclesia's sobs came softly, and he could
see that her face was working behind her veil.

"Mrs. Lindley—Ecclesia," he said softly, as he
held out his hands.

"Aleck!" she cried wildly. The next moment
her arms were about his neck, and she was sobbing
hysterically as she hid her face in his breast.

" It is not true," she said, as she nestled closer
to him. "You couldn't—you are too true and
noble, and good. I can't help it—I am only a324

A SECRET QUEST.

weak foolish woman. Let the world think what
it likes. I do love yoti, Aleck, and if they kill
you they shall kill me too.''

"No, no, no," he said, as he held her throbbing
and trembling closer and closer to him. " They
shan't kill you, my brave, true, little woman; nor
they shan't kill me. We'll have the truth out
somehow. You've given me the spirit to work, as
well as taught me that I have something to live
for. Come, come, come, no more crying, dear."

She looked up at him with her eyes flashing with
delight, and kissed him softly on the cheek.

" No," she said, extricating herself from his em-
brace, and taking his arm with both her hands
clasped about it. "I'll be very firm now; but you
will not think me shameless and strange?"

"I?" he said tenderly, and then with a pitying
look he held out his hand to Hester, who tbok it,
and then kissed both in turn with a very loving
and sisterly kiss.

"Now," she said, quietly, as she drew a long
catching breath, " tell me what ought to be done,
Mr. Frant, to set you free."

"Nothing at present," he said. "I suppose I
shall very soon be taken away from here."

"To prison?" cried Aunt Ecclesia, wildly.

"Well; what of that? Come, be brave. It will
only be the first step toward my freedom. There
must be an examination, and we shall see how
they frame the charge. With the consul's help, I
shall get a proper advocate, and I have no doubts
about the future. We do not know that AdamA SECRET QUEST.

325

Deane is dead. It looks bad, I know. So it does
about me, when even poor old Valter suspects me,
and, in his great liking for Adam, turned upon
me as he did."

"And I hate him for it!" cried Aunt Ecclesia.

"No, no, little woman," said Frant, gently.
" He is a good fellow, and he did not turn upon
me till things looked black."

"They did not—they never looked black."

"Yes," said Frant, smiling at her, "they did.
It was so contrary to my custom to put the guide
off with an excuse, and send him alone to make
that ascent, that when -he came back to find me
scratched and bleeding from a fall--"

" But you did fall?"

"Fall? I believe I did. I was blundering
along, thinking; and though it was quite low
down, where a school-girl might go in safety, I
never had a narrower escape in my life."

"Oh!" ejaculated Aunt Ecclesia.

" But I got off with a few cuts, and of course I
bled a little. My appearance, and poor Deane's
absence, did look suspicious. But there. Cheer
up both of you; I tell you Adam is not dead."

Hester turned to him wildly, and in spite of
what had passed a pang shot through him as he
realized the intensity of her love for his friend.
" Don't raise false hopes," she faltered.

"They are not false hopes," he said, firmly.
" I cannot—I will not believe poor old Adam is
dead. It sounds mad," he continued; "but we
have been so much together, such brothers for326

A SECRET QUEST.

years, that if he had passed away I feel as if I
should have had some sign—that I should have
felt that he was dead. No, I will not believe it
till I see him lying dead before me."

At that moment the fastening of the door rattled,
was shaken again, there was a loud cough, and
the key was slowly turned. Then the door seemed
to stick, and at last was slowly pressed open.

"Yes," cried Frant, "what is it?"

The official entered quite apologetically to an-
nounce that the interview must end.

"No, not yet—another half-hour," cried Frant,
taking a napoleon from his pocket.

But the man shook his head and refused the gift.

" The ladies must now go," he said; then turned
his back upon them and stood close up to the door,
with gentlemanly consideration for the painful
parting that he knew was at hand.

"There," said Frant, cheerily; "time's up,
ladies. Let's keep a bold face on the trouble.
Good-by, dear sister. You have done more than
you can imagine by coming here. Good-by, Ec-
clesia, dearest," he said, cheerfully, as he took
her in his arms. " Be my firm, brave, little wife;
and if I send for you because I want your help,
you will come?"

"To the world's end, Aleck," she said, looking
proudly into his eyes and offering her lips as he
bent toward her.

The next moment the ladies were descending
the hotel stairs, and walked hastily with their
veils drawn toward the chalet.CHAPTER XXXIX.

A sensation of falling through space; a sudden
plunge into water which thundered in his ears;
blows, the feeling of being beaten and ground
against stones; a horrible sense of suffocation; a
sudden check which half stunned him. Then, as
his senses returned, Deane found himself suffering
agonies, in intense darkness, clinging to a mass of
stone, while some terrible creature which kept up
an incessant roar appeared to be tearing and drag-
ging at him to pull him down from where he
clung.

How long this lasted he did not know. It
might have been hours, it might have been min-
utes. But presently he sufficiently recovered from
the terrible shock to realize that he was clinging
to a mass of stone, with a rushing stream of water
up to his waist exercising a constant drag upon
him, and ready at any moment to sweep him
under.

He was too much stunned and confused at the
mpment to comprehend more, and it was instinct-
ively that he clung tightly with one hand while
feeling about in the darkness with the other till
he could get a fresh hold. Then he brought his
feet into play on the smoothly worn rock beneath
3*7328	A SECRET QUEST.

the water, tried to draw himself higher, slipped,
and was nearly borne away.

Another effort, after he had rested, panting and
frozen with horror for some time; and another,
and another; all of which exhausted him so that
he was ready to let go. But a last effort, the most
feeble of all, was happily so successful that only
the lower part of his legs were exposed to the
rush of the water. After a rest, he contrived to
get himself clear, half sitting, half lying on the
smooth rocks.

This was followed by a dull confused period,
during which everything passed away and he knew
nothing. Regaining his senses, the horror of his
position nearly drove them back, and it was only
by a tremendous effort that he was able to try and
make out what it all meant.

There was the hollow booming roar, the rush
of a torrent, a feeling of intense cold, and a dark-
ness that seemed as if it touched him, pressing so
heavily on his brain that he could not think.

Again his senses left him, and once more, after
an interval that might have been minutes or hour,
he struggled back into consciousness, but still
from that darkness there would come no answer
to the simple question, Why?

He was cold, and his clothes were drenched;
but he had not the energy to try and wring out
any of the water. He could only lie on those
smooth wet stones, and drowsily try to think, till
the effort grew so wearisome that his head sank
heavily down upon his left arm, his brow touchingA SECRET QUEST.

329

the rock about which that arm was bent; and this
time he dropped into a state of -unconsciousness
that gradually became sleep.

When he awoke the power of thought had re-
turned, and he lay wondering for a few moments
what that deafening, reverberating thunder could
be—why he was nearly paralyzed, and so stiff and
cold that he could not stir. He could not feel
that he possessed arm or leg, they were so utterly
benumbed. And always that terrific roar, and
the darkness so intense that for the moment he
felt that his eyes must be closed. He opened
them—closed them again, opened them once more,
and it was always so black that he uttered a wild
cry, which sounded muffled and strange, and
seemed to be swept away. Could he be blind?

That terrible thought acted as a spur to his
brain. Like a flash it' all came back, and he saw
himself clinging to his ice-axe, with the head just
anchored on the edge of the crevasse, gazing up
wildly into the devilish face of Anderson as the
head of the ice-axe was deliberately kicked away.

So agonizing was the reality that for the mo-
ment he found himself praying for insensibility.
But the power to think coherently came instead;
the horror grew more dull, and, like a man inured
to peril and accustomed to find himself in situ-
ations which called for all his energy, he began
to calculate his chances of escape.

It was all plain enough now. He had been
plunged into the depths of the awful crevasse, and
was lying there with his limbs broken, for still he33°

A SECRET QUEST.

could feel no sensation in hand or foot. But by
degrees there was suggestion of returning anima-
tion as he moved a little, and for the first time
something like hope began to dawn upon him.
He not only found that he could move one arm,
but that he could keep his position without slip-
ping into the rushing water which thundered just
below.

Arrived at this point, it was only a matter of
time before he realized that, though stiff with
bruises, there were no bones broken, and that he
must have been plunged into the water, which
had thrown him against the stone to which he had
instinctively clung.

He had drawn himself up now, stiff and suffer-
ing with the cold, to sit with his chin resting upon
his knees, which he clasped with his stiffened
arms, carried away once more by the agony of his
thoughts. Hester—she would think him dead.
That man had tried to murder him, and it was for
her sake—to clear a rival from his path.

For a time these thoughts were utterly pros-
trating. Then they seemed to send an electric
glow of rage through him. His blood coursed
wildly through his veins, his brain grew more
active, and again he began to think of the possi-
bility of escape.

" When was it that all this happened?" he asked
himself^ as he passed his hand over his garments.

The answer came to his touch. It must have
been many hours before, since he had some faint
memory of the water dripping from him, and nowA SECRET QUEST.	331

the natural heat of his body had made everything
partly dry.

"Preserved so far," he cried at length, fran-
tically. " God give me my reason, and I will face
him yet."

And now he set himself resolutely to work to
understand his position. He felt about him, and
there was the slippery, well-ground stone on either
side and a few feet above him. The rocks sloped
so that in his movements he was extended face
downward, and suddenly it occurred to him that a
projection was pressing awkwardly into his chest.

The next moment he uttered a cry of joy, and
thrust his hand into. the breast of his Norfolk
jacket—to drag out his flask, which proved to be
three-parts full. A draught of the French brandy
it contained sent a thrill of energy through his
veins. His hands busied themselves about the
other pockets. In his right breast was the Colo-
nel 's cigar-case, three-parts full; in other pockets
were his tobacco-pouch and pipe, a little case of
sandwiches; and at his waist was something he
dared not for the moment take from its tiny
pocket. It seemed too much to hope that this last
adjunct to a mountaineer's equipment should be
intact.

He sat for a few moments now as he turned
himself, and the sturdy Englishman came out.
Taking pipe and pouch from his pocket, he delib-
erately filled the former, replaced the india-rubber
pouch, and then, in spite of himself, his cold hand
trembled as he thrust his fingers into the tiny332

A SECRET QUEST.

waist pocket and drew out a little silver boxf
opened it, shook out a wax match into his hand,
and wondered.

The box was warm—would the matches be dry?
If dry—would they have been spoiled by the wet?
It was some minutes before, after closing the box,
he dared strike the match on the roughened sur-
face he had touched with one finger to make out
its exact whereabouts. Then, with his teeth set
so hard that they threatened to cut through the
bone mouthpiece of his pipe, he struck the match
and there was a faint line of light.

Another sharp scratch and his heart sank—the
water must have got to them.

Once more a quick drawing of the little rounded
end over the file-like part of the box, and there
was a burst of light! The tiny taper he held on
high was burning with a clear flame, long enough
for him to see what he had already mentally
grasped—that he was seated on a tiny island of
rock in the middle of a rushing stream, facing a
black tunnel which arched over the waters before
him. He was on an island only a few feet across,
with the water on either side rushing furiously,,
while the arch above him was of ice.

He sat there thinking, with his elbows on his
knees, and the warm glow of the tobacco lighting
up his hands at every draw as he held them round
the bowl. Thinking, thinking, and seeing clearly
now that he was below the glacier, seated on the
bed rock in the tunnel, safe for the moment, until
the glacier stream should increase and bear himA SECRET QUEST.

333

away. A prisoner without a prospect of escape,
unless he cotild force his way back into the crevice
and cling there until help came. Unless, on the
other hand, he could wade or swim down to the
grotto at the glacier foot—perhaps miles below.
Taking his pipe from his lips, Deane uttered the
word "Impossible!" and told himself that there
was only one way of escape open to him to life;
and that was through the gates of death to life
eternal, where there would be no more mental
agony and pain.CHAPTER XL.

There was quite a little crowd outside the hotel
door. Every dweller in the Schnee-thal had been
attracted there—to see, perhaps for the last time,
the familiar face of the sturdy young Englishman
who was to be taken away under police escort to
the great prison, there to be examined, and then
await his trial for the murder of his companion,
the stranger who had such mad ideas about the
existence of an old gold mine.

They were both well known, for there was
hardly a peasant at whose door they had not
stopped for a draught of water, a bowl of milk, or
some bread and cheese, when out with Valter, the
guide—who was now standing with a group of
men who followed his avocation.

There were quite a dozen guides present from
the neighboring valleys, each with a tuft of flow-
ers in his felt hat; for in its way the day was a
kind of holiday. The women were attired in their
best, with flat straw hats and flowers, black velvet
bodices, and snowy-white linen, decked with silver
chains.

• There was a buzz of excitement as a gentleman
on horseback was seen coming up the mule path,
a guide leading the steed, which was stopped at
334A SECRET QUEST.

335

the hotel door. A whisper ran round that it was
the English consul from Berne.

Shortly after he had entered, Anderson came
out There was a dead silence as he passed
through the little crowd and made his way to the
chalet, pausing for a moment to gaze down the path
which led to the bridge over the falls.

Half-way there, to his surprise he met the Colo-
nel, with Hester and Aunt Ecclesia, both closely
veiled. A change came over him as he caught
sight of Hester, and he drew in his breath with a
strange sound; but recovering himself, he went
on.

"Going for a walk?" he said, quietly.

" Walk, sir?—no," cried the Colonel, with asper-
ity. "They would come, both of them."

"Would come?"

"Yes, sir. That young man is to be taken
away this morning."

" Is this wise, Miss Denton?" said Anderson,
gravely.

Hester's eyes flashed through her veil, but she
did not speak; for her aunt was clinging to her
arm and whispered to her to go on.

"Wise?" cried the Colonel; "whoever said it
was?"

Anderson shrugged his shoulders.

" And for goodness sake, sir," cried the Colonel,
who was thoroughly on edge with mental pain,
" don't act like a confounded Frenchman. If ever
there was a time when we ought to be truly Eng-
lish, for the sake of our countryman, it is now."336

A SECRET QUEST.

" Indeed, Colonel Denton, it is my wish."

"Then, why in the devil's name, sir, do you
sneak off from the hotel and leave that poor fel-
low in the lurch? There, girls—come along, or
I shall be saying something rude."

Anderson darted a look at Hester, but she
turned away her head. He drew back for them
to pass, and turned and followed them. Gretchen
also, in her best, and looking flushed and excited,
came hastily out of the chalet to go to the hotel.

As soon as the little party was seen approach-
ing, there was a murmur of expectancy, the peo-
ple drawing back, and their attention being
diverted from the horses which were led out from
the side of the building. As the ladies drew near,
two of the brightest looking of the maidens pressed
forward and offered them bunches of freshly-
gathered Alpine flowers, which were accepted.
Amidst murmurs of sympathy, they were going
forward when the men all took off their hats and
saluted the stern-looking Colonel, whose lips
quivered a little as he acknowledged the salute.

The next little incident was caused by Valter's
approach. He shrank back as the Colonel waved
him away, and stood gazing after the party as
they went up to the hotel till Gretchen went up to
him and took his arm.

Then a burst of conversation rose on the soft
morning air, and the place looked as if all were
gathered for some merry-making. Never had the
valley looked more beautiful, with its bright
brown chalets—the patches of meadow dotted withA SECRET QUEST.

337

flowers, the gray rocks and clumps of tall dark
green firs, tasselled with young growth of a
brighter green; while high above all, far beyond
the rocks where the goats climbed and sent down
showers of sound from their bells, rose dazzling
fields and points of purest ice and snow.

The visitor's guilt was discussed, and popular
favor was so evidently on his side that when, a
few minutes later, one of the police came to the
door, held up his hand for silence, and ordered
the man who had the horses to bring them for-
ward, there was a low angry murmur. This was
checked on the instant as the Colonel came out,
supporting Aunt Ecclesia, and followed by Ander-
son and Hester, who at every attention shrank
from him with an instinctive feeling of horror.

The murmur died away as the Colonel stood
with the heart-broken women by the door. A
policeman came out, directly followed by another
walking beside Frant, to whom no other indignity
was offered, and a couple more followed behind.

The chief of police made a sign, the stirrup was
held ready, and Frant mounted—prisoner enough,
for one of the police now held the horse's head.
The others prepared to mount for the long ride
down the mule-track to the town.

But as Frant settled himself in the saddle and
turned to hold out his hands to his friends, there
was a tremendous shout raised, in which the wo-
men joined, waving their handkerchiefs wildly.

"Not guilty there, Colonel!" said Frant, with
forced gayety.

22338

A SECRET QUEST.

44 No, no, my lad," cried the old man, taking
Frant's hand; 44 and not guilty here !M

"Good-by, Ecclesia!" continued Prant, in a
low voice. 44 Come, for my sake be brave, or I
shall break down too; and I want them to see that
I am an Englishman."

She grasped his hand and tried to speak, but
sank back in the Colonel's arms, Hester turning
to aid her. Valter came up on the other side, hat
in hand, and sank upon one knee as he laid his
hand upon Frant's off stirrup.

44 Say you forgive me, sir," he cried, piteously.

Frant frowned as he looked in the guide's frank,
handsome face; then his own cleared.

44Yes,"he said, 441 forgive you; for I believe
you would have done as much for me."

441 would, sir—God knows I would, for I loved
you both."

44 Give me a little of the love still, my lad," said
Frant, softly; 44 for I never raised my hand against
my friend."

He turned now to where Hester was, just leav-
ing her aunt's side, the police making way for her
respectfully. Raising her veil, she came toward
the horse, Anderson following her, as if to hear
what she would say.

441 will not say good-by," she whispered, as
she placed her hands in Frant's, and looked up in
his face. 44 Aleck—brother—for Heaven knows—
I believe you—in-"

She had raised her eyes at the word44 Heaven,"
and directly after her utterance was broken, andA SECRET QUEST.	339

she gave forth a wild shriek as she stood with her
hands extended, gazing wildly toward the steep
slope above the hotel.

At that moment a shout was raised; and then
there was a suppressed cry of horror, as a wild-
looking, half-naked figure, whose remaining
clothes clung to him in rags, came staggering
down the mountain path. His face was bleeding,
his hands and arms were torn, and there was a
wild and ghastly look in his eyes—which were,
like his cheeks, sunken as if Tie had passed through
some terrible ordeal.

" Ah!" shouted Frant, as he flung himself from
the horse; and he would have rushed to meet the
figure but strong hands were immediately upon
his wrists.

But Valter was free, and with a shout of delight
he rushed to meet—Deane! Another guide fol-
lowed, and together they supported the much-
sought man to the front. Hester had just fainted,
when a wave of strength seemed to flow through
Deane.

" Aleck!" he cried. " Quick!—arrest that man!"

He pointed beyond the crowd to where a figure
was seen hurrying down the path, rapidly disap-
pearing amidst the pines.

But almost as his words were uttered, Valter
dashed in pursuit, and the crowd parted right and
left as Deane, throbbing with fictitious strength,
followed in pursuit of his enemy.

For a few moments no one stirred. Then a
thrill ran through the crowd, and the men rushed34°

A SECRET QUEST.

down the road to find that pursuers and pursued
had left the main track and had turned off to the
right, where the narrow path led down a steep
zig-zag to the bridge across the falls.

" He's making for the mountains," cried one of
the guides. " Valter will soon have him there."

Suddenly came the sharp, clear crack of a re-
volver, and those who followed saw Anderson
standing in the middle of the bridge, with the
smoke rising above his head. Valter, who had
seized him, was staggering onward blindly, bent
of head, with arms extended toward the other
side, where he dropped upon his knees as Deane
reached the bridge and rushed at the man in the
centre.

In another moment Deane would have had him
by the throat; but there was a flash and a puff
of smoke, twice repeated, and the half-paralyzed
descending group saw Deane fall heavily against
the rail, while Anderson turned to make for the
mountain path on the other side.

But he had not reckoned upon the guide. Val-
ter had risen from his knees on the farther rocks,
and staggered back to the bridge, to try once
more to seize his would-be murderer.

It was almost momentary—that battle of a
strong, wiry man with two whom he had disabled
by shots. Those who were descending saw Deane
rise again to make another attempt at capture,
just as, drawing himself back to give impulse to
the blow, Anderson struck out savagely at Valter,
and they closed. There was a brief struggle, andA SECRET QUEST.

341

both went down—Valter to lie immovable, with
his head over the upper side, Anderson to fall
with a crash against the stout railings, one of
which gave way. The next instant he was over
the side, clinging to the edge, shrieking wildly for
help, as he hung suspended over the horrible
chasm.

His cry was not in vain.

Deane struggled forward, as he lay upon his
breast, and caught Anderson's wrists in a clasp of
iron just as the cramped fingers were giving way.

"Help! help!" cried Deane hoarsely. He was
being slowly drawn from the plank bridge as he
gazed wildly info the distorted face of the man
he sought to save!

"Hold on a moment/' shouted the first guide
who reached them; and he checked Deane's on-
ward progress to destruction by flinging himself
across his body, and clasping the boards on either
side. "Now," he shouted, "one of you reach
down and get hold of his wrists," and as he
shouted his order the man who followed tried to
obey. He reached down to the full stretch of his
arms, being fascinated the while by the terrible
countenance below.

" Now, quick!—can you reach? Got him?"

"Ah!"

That cry was uttered in despair* for Anderson's
wrists were just beyond the guide's reach. He
could not strain over to the extent that Deane was
drawn, and the blood that trickled from a bullet-
wound in the young man's arm had made one.342

A SECRET QUEST.

wrist slip from his fast-failing hold. Anderson
swung round, hanging by one arm. He made a
desperate clutch to reach the bridge.

It was his last effort. Deane's grasp was vain;
his enemy's wrist was jerked from his failing fin-
gers, and the two guides saw the unfortunate man
disappear in the foam of the falling waters. He
was gone!

"Back, and run down the valley!" cried the
Colonel, who had now reached the scene. "You
will find him as he is swept along."

"The English Herr does not understand our
falls," said the first guide, rising and looking
down, white-faced, and as if fascinated, into the
terrible gulf. " No man who goes down there is
ever found again. Now, lads, help these two to
the hotel. Both shot. Will it kill them?" he
asked in a whisper of the Colonel, who was down
upon his knees eagerly examining the wounds.

" No," he said; " a man does not die of a bullet
through the arm, nor yet from one which passes
round outside the ribs."CHAPTER XLI.

The Colonel was right; but matters were worse
than he thought. He had Adam Deane carried
up to the chalet, instead of to the hotel. The
effect of the bullet wound, supervening upon the
shock and sufferings he had passed through,
utterly prostrated the young man, and he lay for
long hovering on the brink of death.

But it is almost impossible for a young man to
die when an angel is continually by his pillow
bidding him stay—as Hester Denton did, making
no scruple, now that he was weak and helpless, of
telling him of her love and of how had he died
she would have died too.

Deane suffered severely, but he seemed in no
hurry to get well. Valter had been for a long
climb with Frant, only carrying his arm in a
sling, weeks before Deane had grown strong
enough to take what the Colonel called an honest
walk.

"I look upon you, Adam Deane," he said one
day, when he was smoking a cigar by the sick
man's bedside, "as one of the most contemptible
humbugs under the sun."

"You are hard upon me, sir."

" Not half so hard as you deserve, sir. You be-
gin by saving our lives; then you steal my child's
343344

A SECRET QUEST.

heart, like the miserable thief that you are; then
you go and get yourself thrown down a crevasse,
and have your best friend arrested for your mur-
der; and lastly, when you turn up alive, you try
to get yourself killed! And because, out of weak
sympathy, I have you brought up here to be
nursed, do you try to get well? Not a bit of it.
You do all you can to get off into the other world.
I don't believe you want to get better."

"You are quite right, sir," said Deane, frankly.
" I do not."

" I knew it."

" I have been too happy as I am."

"God bless you, my boy!" cried the Colonel,
warmly pressing his hand; " but you must get well.
I suppose you'll be wanting to get married one of
these days. But you never told me about your
adventures in that crevasse!"

" There is little to tell? I was carried by the
torrent to a mass of rock in the great ice tunnel,
to lie there for what seemed to be weeks. To get
back against the stream was impossible; to go
down with it was possible enough; but for days I
dared not attempt it. While a drop of brandy or
the smallest scrap of tobacco or cigar remained, I
could not stir! Think of what it meant: trying
to move along in the black darkness, expecting
each moment to be carried off one's feet and
whirled into some lower water-course where air
would fail me, and where I might be wedged into
some cleft and drowned. I dared not try. It
would have been bad enough if I had been sureA SECRET QUEST.

34S

that the tunnel extended straight to the ice grotto;
but it was almost madness to hope that it would
be direct. Even now I do not know what falls
and cavities may have been in its course."

" But you waded down it?"

" I waded a little way down in the black dark-
ness, after I had grown so weak that I knew to stay
was to die. Then I was swept from my feet by the
terrible torrent; and the rest is like a dream. I
found myself, cut, bruised and nearly suffocated,
being swept along in the broad sunshine, to strug-
gle down to you as you know."

"And have you told Hester all this?"

"No; she has never pressed me to speak. I
must tell her some day, though of course she
knows nearly all."

"Yes. You talked enough in your delirium to
give us a pretty good idea of how it all happened.
Well, I'm glad the wretch did not live to be
hanged. But there, let's talk about something else.
Humph! cigar's out. I say, young man; I told
you I should ask you for that cigar-case back.
Give it to me and you shall have another."

Deane pointed out where Hester had placed the
case. The Colonel took it, drew out a penknife,
and slit the water-stained leather to draw out a
couple of blurred letters.

" There," he said, as Deane lay back wondering;
" those were Master Anderson's aim as well as Hes-
ter. He couldn't have thought that, in pushing
you down that crevasse, he was destroying letters
for which he' was to receive a thousand pounds,"34<>

A SECRET QUEST.

" But are you sure of all this?" said Deane, after
the Colonel had made him acquainted with the
facts of the case.

" Sure? Yes. There is no suspicion this time.
The authorities requested me, as an Englishman
who had known him, to take a list of Anderson's
possessions, to examine his papers, and to help
them report to his friends. One letter was from
Lord Desborough, telling him that if these letters
were not obtained within a month he should draw
back from his bargain and offer the reward to some
one else."

"Then is it true?"

" Yes, as true as that I have communicated with
his lordship, and told him how fate played into my
hands—how I have read his letter and how his
wretched tool behaved out here. In my last letter
I called upon him to communicate with the sweet
lady whose cause, for her father's sake, I espoused.
Yesterday I heard from her, asking for her letters
back, and by the same post I received a newspaper
containing a paragraph which announces the ap-
proaching marriage between Lord Desborough and
my Indian Princess. Ah, here's my other princess.
Well, Hetty, this fellow's better."

"Papa!"

"Yes, my dear; it's all sham now, and I'm
going to turn him adrift."

"You're not, dear," cried Hester, flinging her
arms about his neck.

"Ah, you'll see. Hullo, who's this?"A SECRET QUEST.

347

"Aunt, dear; she has been for a walk."

"With that mountain maniac, of course," cried
the Colonel, rising and going to the window, while
Hester laid her hand upon her invalid's brow, to
have it removed directly to his lips.

"Hullo, murderer!" cried the Colonel.

" Morning, sir. Ready for a climb?"

"No, I'm not. Here you, Ecclesia—you must
go back to England."

"John! How can you?"

"Yes. Aren't you ashamed of yourself, going
gadding about with that boy. You are old enough
to know better."

"Really, John, I— Come in, Mr. Frant, it is
really dis-—"

They did not hear the rest, for Aunt Ecclsia
hurried indoors, and the Colonel came away from
the window chuckling.

"Poor Ecclesia! How she does hate to be
teased."

"And how you love to tease her, papa!"

"Well, yes, I do, my dear; but I suppose I am
not to have the chance much longer. I say, I did
not tell you, Deane, that I saw that chief of police
yesterday. He was full of apologies to Frant
about the arrest, and I must say he behaved very
well after the truth came out. I mean about the
legal business, and the setting of him free."

" Aleck told me he did," replied Deane.

"Humph! Well, I want a fresh cigar," said
the Colonel, looking from one to the other, half-348

A SECRET QUEST.

pleased, half-regretfully. " I shall go down yonder
and send Valter up to valet you. You must get
up."

" Ready, sir. I--" began Deane; and Hester

darted a reproachful glance at her father.

" Now, no nonsense; the day's lovely. I shall
tell the fellows to bring a chaise-h-porteurs up to the
door in half an hour, and you shall go out in the
fresh air. It will do you no end of good. I de-
clare it has made me feel quite young."

"Yes, papa, you are wonderfully better."

" But I shall be bad again when you take flight,
puss. There, I know I'll be in the fashion. Y6u
people are going to be married. Hang me, if I
don't have a wife too."

Hester laughed, for she knew him by heart; and
when early in the next spring there was a double
marriage at the English church at Berne, and the
old Colonel gave away daughter and step-sister, he
did not keep his word; neither did any one hang
him. He hung himself, and frequently, upon his
daughter's neck.

It was about six months after that wedding that
Aleck Frant came, with his girlish-looking wife, ta
stay with the Deanes. After dinner, in the course
of their chat over a cigar, Frant said to his host:

" Had a letter last week from Valter, to thank
me for my congratulations on his marriage. Hopes
to see us both again for a good climb."

"Hah!" ejaculated Deane. "Poor old Valter I
He was a good fellow, Aleck."A SECRET QUES*.

349

" Is a good fellow—is. What do you say to an-
other trip to hunt for the myth?"

"For what?"

" The gold mine."

" There is no need—I found it. 'Adam's myth'
proved to be a great and solemn truth."

"I don't quite-" began Frant.

" I found the gold mine, my dear boy—the old-
est, purest there is: the love of a true woman—
gold that is without alloy."

THE END,This book is a preservation facsimile produced for
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