194 THE LOST JAGEU. 



Fritz, Hans?" and unable to await his answer, sunk feebly on the 

 bench, and covered her eyes with her trembling fingers. 



Kriiger laid down his pipe ; no trifling symptom of emotion. Hans 

 was thunderstruck. Every idea but that of Fritz's danger, seemed 

 blotted from his memory. He stared and gaped for a few seconds on 

 me and Kriiger, and then, utterly forgetful of Netty's alarm, flung 

 himself blubbering upon his knees. " Oh ! for God's sake, Madehan, 

 do not tell me, Fritz went to the hunting to-day. Oh, ungluck- 

 lich ! unglucklich ! lost, lost, lost ! My poor Fritz ; my friend, my 

 best beloved!" and he would have continued longer the maudlin in- 

 coherence of his lamentations ; but the first words of his despair were 

 too much for Netty, and she sunk down upon the table, helpless, and 

 breathless. 



She seemed to be. gone for ever, it was so long before the exertions of 

 the hostess and her daughter could recall her to her senses. She 

 was conveyed to bed, and left under the care of her poor old grand- 

 mother, who had followed her from the cottage. A consultation was 

 immediately held, under the presidentship of old Kriiger ; and, notwith- 

 standing the whole collective wisdom of Grindlewald was assembled in 

 mine host's kitchen, nothing could be done. To wait till morning was 

 the only course, and with no little impatience did many a young hunts- 

 man watch for the first break of day and the subsiding of the storm. 

 Fritz was a universal favourite, so fearless, so handsome, such a shot, 

 and so good-natured withal. And then, Netty ! The little Venus of 

 Grindlewald ! There were none who would not willingly have risked 

 their lives to save him. 



With the first dawn of morning, half a dozen of the stoutest huntsmen, 

 under the guidance of Hans, started for the Rosenlain. They had made 

 every provision for overcoming the difficulties they expected to meet 

 with in their search. One of them had, from the cliffs of the Eiger, 

 seen Fritz cross the glacier the day before, and commence the ascent 

 which was previously described ; a path well known to the hunters, but 

 so perilous, as to be only practicable to those of the steadiest nerves, 

 quickest eye, and most unerring step. Their shoes were furnished with 

 cramps, a light ladder formed part of their equipage, and several short 

 coils of ropes slung over the right shoulder, and so made, that they 

 could be easily connected together, were carried by the party. They 

 had the blessings and the good wishes of all Grindlewald at their 

 departure : I accompanied them to the edge of the Rosenlain, and 

 watched the progress of their journey over its frozen waves. Slowly 

 they ascended the giddy path ; sometimes gathering into a little cluster 

 of black atoms on the face of the cliffs, sometimes scattered from ledge to 

 ledge. Then, when obliged partially to descend, an individual of the 

 party was slung by a rope from the upper platform, for the purpose of 

 fixing the ladders and securing a safe passage to the rest. " Well ! 

 which way shall we turn now," said young round-faced, light-haired, 

 ruddy-cheeked, rattle-pated, Gottfried Easier, who had blubbered like a 

 baby the night before, and, of course, like a baby, had exhausted his 

 grief before morning. " Which way are we to turn now, Hans ? I am 

 afraid, after all, we have come out on a fool's errand. There have been 

 wreaths thrown up here last night big enoug to bury Grindlewald 

 steeple ; and if poor Fritz be really lost in them, we may look till Mont 



