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He came there； nevertheless； every day； but at his own time； besides； the
hotels were full to overflowing； and it was very easy to lose one's self in
the crowd。
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To tell the truth； when Count Abel Larinski came to Saint Moritz he
was far less occupied with Mlle。 Moriaz than with a certain illustrious
chemist。 The air of the Engadine and the waters that tasted like ink had
worked marvels： in a week M。 Moriaz felt like a new man。 There had
come to him a most formidable appetite； and he could walk for hours at a
time without becoming weary。 He abused his growing strength by
constantly strolling through the mountains without a guide； hammer in
hand； and every day； in spite of the remonstrances of his daughter； he
increased the length of his excursions。 The more people know； the more
inquisitive they become； and； when one is inquisitive； one can go to great
lengths without feeling fatigue； one only becomes conscious of this after
the exertion is over。 M。 Moriaz never for a moment suspected that he was
accompanied； at a respectful distance； on these solitary expeditions； by a
stranger； who； with eyes and ears both on the alert； watched over him like
a providence。 The most peculiar part of the affair was that this providence
would gladly have caused him to take a misstep； or thrust him into some
quagmire； in order to have the pleasure of drawing him out； and bearing
him in his arms to the Hotel Badrutt。 〃If only he could fall into a hole and
break his leg！〃 Such was the daily wish of Count Abel Larinski； but
/savants/ have great license allowed them。 Although M。 Moriaz was both
corpulent and inclined to be absent…minded； he plunged into more than one
quagmire without sticking fast； more than one marsh without having his
progress impeded。
One morning he conceived the project of climbing up as high as a
certain fortress of mountains whose battlements overhang a forest of pine
and larch trees。 He was not yet sufficiently accustomed to the mountains
to realize how deceptive distances become there。 After having drained two
glasses of the chalybeate waters； and breakfasted heartily； he set out；
crossed the Inn； and began the ascent to the forest。 The slope grew more
and more abrupt； and ere long he discovered that he had wandered from
the foot…path。 He was not one to be easily disheartened； he continued
climbing； laying hold of the brushwood with his hands； planting his feet
among perfidious pine… needles； which form a carpet as smooth as a mirror；
making three steps forward and two backward。 Great drops of perspiration
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started out on his brow； and he sat down for a moment to wipe them away；
hoping that some wood…cutter might appear and show him the way back to
the path； if there was one。 But no human soul came within sight； and
plucking up his courage again he resumed the ascent； until he had nearly
reached a breastwork of rock； in which he vainly sought an opening。 He
was about retracing his steps when he remembered that from the gallery of
the hotel he had observed this breastwork of reddish rock； and it seemed to
him that he remembered also that it formed the buttress of the mountain…
stronghold of which he was in quest； and so he concluded that this would
be the last obstacle he would have to overcome。 He thought that it would
be actually humiliating to be so near the goal and yet renounce it。 The rock；
worn by the frost； presented sundry crevices and indentures； forming a
natural stairway。 Arming himself with all his strength； and making free use
of his nails； he undertook to scale it； and in five minutes had gained a sort
of plateau； which； unluckily for him； he found to be commanded by a
smooth granite wall of a fearful height。 The only satisfactory procedure for
him now was to return whence he had come； but in these perilous passages
to ascend is easier than to descend； it being impossible to choose one's
steps； descent might lead to a rather undesirable adventure。 M。 Moriaz did
not dare to risk this adventure。
He walked the whole length of the plateau where he found himself in
the hope of discovering some outlet； but the sole outlet he could discover
had already been monopolized by a mountain…torrent whose troubled
waters noisily precipitated themselves through it to the depths below。 This
torrent was much too wide to wade； and to think of leaping over it would
have been preposterous。 All retreat being cut off； M。 Moriaz began to
regret his audacity。 Seized by a sudden agony of alarm； he began to ask
himself if he was not condemned to end his days in this eagle's…nest； he
thought with envy of the felicity of the inhabitants of the plains； he cast
piteous glances at the implacable wall whose frowning visage seemed to
reproach him with his imprudence。 It seemed to him that the human mind
never had devised anything more beautiful than a great highway； and it
would have taken little to make him exclaim with Panurge； 〃Oh； thriceay；
quadruplyhappy those who plant cabbages！〃
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Although there seemed small chance of his being heard in this solitude；
he called aloud several times； he had great difficulty in raising his voice
above the noise of the cataract。 Suddenly he believed that he heard below
him a distant voice replying to his call。 He redoubled his cries； and it
seemed to him that the voice drew nearer； and soon he saw emerging from
the thicket bordering the opposite bank of the torrent a pale face with
chestnut beard； which he remembered having beheld in the cathedral at
Chur； and to have seen again at Bergun。
〃You are a prisoner； monsieur；〃 was the salutation of Count Larinski；
for； of course； the newcomer was none other than he。 〃One moment's
patience； and I am with you。〃 And his face beamed with joy。 He had him
at last； this precious game which has caused him so many steps。
He turned away； bounding from rock to rock with the agility of a
chamois。 In about twenty minutes he reappeared； bearing on his shoulder a
long plank which he had detached from the inclosure of a piece of pasture…
land。 He threw it across the torrent； secured it as well as he could； crossed
this impromptu foot…bridge of his own device； and joined M。 Moriaz； who
was quite ready to embrace him。
〃Nothing is more perfidious than the mountains；〃 said the count。
〃They are haunted by some mysterious sprite； who fairly delights in
playing tricks with venturesome people； but 'all's well that ends well。'
Before setting out from here you need something to revive you。 The
rarefied atmosphere of these high regions makes the stomach frightfully
hollow。 More prudent than you； I never undertake these expeditions
without providing myself with some refreshment。 But how pale you are！〃
he added； looking at him with sympathetic； almost tender； eyes。 〃Put on； I
beg of you； my overcoat； and I will wrap myself up in my plaid； and then
we will both be warm。〃
With these words he took off his overcoat and handed it to M。 Moriaz；
who； feeling almost frozen； offered feeble objections to donning the
garment； although he had some difficulty in getting into the sleeves。
During this time Count Abel had thrown down on the rock the wallet
he carried slung to a leathern strap over his shoulders。 He drew forth from
it a loaf of light bread； some hard…boiled eggs； a /pate/ of venison； and a
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bottle of excellent burgundy。 These provisions he spread out around him；
and then presented to M。 Moriaz a cup cut from a cocoanut…shell； and
filled it to the brim； saying； 〃Here is something that will entirely restore
you。〃 M。 Moriaz drained the cup； and soon felt his weakness disappear。
His natural good spirits returned to h