PART I.] NOTES OF A JOURNEY IN THE ALPS 117 



interesting companions ; not the least welcome being the Swiss 

 Club Moss, which mantled over the rocks in many places, 

 pushing up little fruiting stems from its green branchlets. 



The scenery now began to get very bold and striking, and, 

 after a walk of nearly two hours, we reached a village with a 

 very poor inn, where we had some black bread and wine. By 

 this time a slight misty rain had begun to fall, and bearing in 

 mind the long valley we had to traverse before reaching a place 

 where we could rest for the night, we resolved to move on 

 as rapidly as possible, and shut our eyes to all the interesting 



An Alpine Village. 



objects around us. A soaking rain helped us to carry out this 

 part of the plan. With rapid pace and eyes fixed on the stony 

 footway, on we went, the valley becoming narrower as we pro- 

 gressed, and in some parts dangerous from almost perpendicular 

 walls of loose stone. Presently a little rough weather-beaten 

 wooden cross was passed beside the footway. 



" Why a cross here?" 



" That great stone or rock you see killed, on its way down, 



