196 The Alps in September. 



the valley, to find at once a warmer temperature 

 and abundance of the food they seek. 



The next day, September 20, we packed up our 

 baggage, and left this health-giving spot with its 

 iced air and scented breezes, and again climbed 

 the pass on our way to Wasen, being anxious to 

 get to the head of the St. Gotthard before the fine 

 weather should desert us. I was not unwilling to 

 see my fellow-creatures again, as I had been quite 

 alone on the Stein-alp, except for a single hour 

 which an Englishman of education and intelligence 

 had made very enjoyable as he took his ' Mitta- 

 gessen ' and smoked his cigarette with me. As 

 it happened, we left just in time to enable us, as 

 the reader will learn shortly, to see things worth 

 recording at Hospenthal the following day. 



On going up the ascent from the inn, I noticed 

 that the Pipits were now in great numbers at a 

 lower level than yesterday, and this suggested the 

 conclusion that a fresh instalment had arrived from 

 below, while those of yesterday had gone still 

 higher or descended on the other side. This idea 

 was fully confirmed by what I saw afterwards ; for 

 a good many more were at or about the top, and 



