The Essential Edward Stratemeyer Collection. Stratemeyer Edward

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СКАЧАТЬ to the sheep-station and given something to eat before telling their story.

      "But my brother--what of him?" demanded Granbury Lapham.

      "Who is your brother?" asked Samuel Hausermann.

      "Philip Lapham, the head of this expedition."

      "Oh, so you are Philip's brother. Well, he is safe--at least he was when we left him. He hurt his knee a little, slipping over some rocks, but it didn't amount to much."

      "And what of my father, David Porter?" put in Dave, anxiously. "He was with you, wasn't he?"

      "Yes, he was with us," answered Samuel Hausermann. "But he----" The man stopped speaking and looked at his companions.

      "But what? Oh, don't say something has happened to him!" cried Dave, and a sudden chill took possession of his heart.

      "We're hoping he is safe," said Charles Davis. "You see, he went out yesterday, to look for some food. It was very slippery on the rocks and the wind knocked him down and rolled him over a cliff."

      "And then----" Dave could hardly speak.

      "We tried to get to him, but couldn't," said Samuel Hausermann. "Our rope wasn't long enough. Then he tried to climb up the cliff, but the snow seemed to blind him and he lost his grip, went down, and disappeared over another cliff about a hundred feet below. And that's the last we saw or heard of him."

      CHAPTER XXVII

      DAVE STRIKES OUT ALONE

      It was dismaying news, and utterly downcast Dave followed the others to the sheep-station and listened to the details of what the newcomers had to tell. It was a long story, and while they related it a good hot meal was prepared for them.

      "We reached the top of the mountain in safety and also the plateau of the smaller mountain beyond," said Samuel Hausermann. "That was the place for which we were bound. Shortly after that the snowstorm came on, and the high winds, and it was all we could do to gain one of the old shelters up there between the rocks. In journeying around we lost a good portion of our outfit, including some of the provisions, and all we had to live on for two days was some venison--Mr. Porter shot a small red deer--and some beans and crackers. We had intended to do some more exploring, but the weather put a stop to everything of that sort. Then one of the party, Mr. Jackson, took sick and we had to do what we could to get him well again. At last Mr. Porter went out to see if he couldn't bring down something in the way of game. He could get only some small birds and they lasted only one meal. Then he went out again, after an elk he had seen at a distance. That was when he took the tumble over the cliffs."

      "Are you sure he wasn't killed?" asked Dave.

      "I am sure of nothing, my lad. But I think the chances are he fell in the deep snow, or on some of the fir trees, and that that saved his life."

      "What time was this yesterday?"

      "About noon. After that we decided to come down here, and at the same time look for your father. Philip Lapham said he would remain, to look after Jackson, who was as yet too weak to walk. We left all our provisions up there and came down here as fast as we could--and here we are."

      This was all Samuel Hausermann could tell, and Charles Davis corroborated his statement. Dave shook his head sadly.

      "Even if my father wasn't killed by the tumble he took, maybe he was starved or frozen to death," he said to Roger.

      "Hope for the best, Dave," was all the senator's son could answer.

      The Norwegian guide, Bjornhof, had agreed to go back to the mountain top with a load of provisions. He had expected to go alone, but Dave said he would go also, to see if he could not find what had become of his parent. Then Granbury Lapham said he would go also.

      "Maybe I'd better go too," said Roger.

      "No, Roger," answered Dave. "It wouldn't be fair to ask you to do that. There is too much of peril, and you must remember what you promised your mother and father. You stay here with Mr. Davis and Mr. Hausermann." And so it was finally settled.

      All of the party were provided with knapsacks, which they filled with the best provisions available. The guide also carried an extra bag of stuff, strapped across the back of his neck. He was a brawny fellow, over six feet in height, and did not seem to mind the load in the least. He had a gun, and Dave and Granbury Lapham each carried a pistol and a box of cartridges.

      "Good luck to you, Dave," said the senator's son on parting, and he shook hands warmly. "Remember, I shall be very anxious until I hear from you again." He followed his chum a short distance up the mountain trail, and the two were loath to separate.

      The route was rocky and uncertain, and during the next two hours Dave realized what climbing the Alps must be. At certain spots they had to help one another along, using a rope for that purpose. Once they crossed a split in the rocks several feet wide and of great depth, and it made Dave shudder to peer down into the dark and forbidding depths below.

      Yet he thought very little of the perils of that arduous journey. His mind was constantly on his parent. Would he find his father alive, or had the fall over the cliffs killed his parent?

      "God grant he is alive!" he said to himself, over and over again.

      They had started directly after breakfast, and by noon reached a small level spot where they took a well-deserved rest. From this place the guide pointed out the cliffs from which Mr. Porter had fallen.

      "But you cannot reach them from here," he explained, in his native dialect, to Granbury Lapham. "To get to them we must walk at least a mile further. And even then I know of no way to reach the spot to which the poor man fell."

      "I'll reach that somehow," said Dave, when the guide's words had been translated to him.

      "Well, lad, you must be careful," cautioned Granbury Lapham. "No use in your losing your life, you know."

      But Dave merely shook his head. He was bound to find his father, dead or alive, no matter what the cost. For the time being he could think of absolutely nothing else. That, and that alone, possessed him, heart and soul.

      The air was clear, with little or no wind, which was one comfort. As they went on they had to pass around great ridges of snow and over hummocks of ice, where the water had frozen while tumbling down the mountain side. There were but few trees in that vicinity, although a small forest grew at the foot of the cliffs.

      At last they reached a spot where the guide said a small and decidedly uncertain trail led to the bottom of the upper cliff--the first one over which Mr. Porter had fallen.

      "Then that is where I am going," said Dave. "Perhaps I can find out something about my father there."

      "You had better come with us," answered Granbury Lapham. "As soon as I have met my brother we can all come back to this place."

      "No, you can come back anyway--I'll stay here now and look around," replied the youth, firmly.

      Bjornhof СКАЧАТЬ