, 1861-02-07
An Episode of Travel.
CHAPTER !.

purpose OF seeing sunrise from the summit OF
Mount Rhigi; in the meanwhile they were dy-
ing Of hunger, or very near it. The landlord,
not expecting so many guests, had but limited
supply Of provisions. Every man was swearing
| in his own tongue, making the most abominable
concert that can be imagined. was the last
conner, and my reception by the assembled COM
pany was by no means fiattering one. | was
a new mouth in the midst Of famishod garrison.
| The glrrison became more complaisant, however,
when drew from my game-bag superb water
fowl which had shot on my way thither 1t
was not much; but in a time Of famine, every
thing is precious.
At this moment we heard, not far off, the
sound of an Alpine horn. 1t was compliment
on the part of our host, who, for want Of any
thing else, gave us serenade. We went out to
listen to the famous rdns des caches, which is said
to make the eXiled Swiss die Of homesckneSs
To US foreigners it seemed a monOtonous melO-
dy; but, in my case, it was not without the
power Of exciting emotion, for it awOke the for
midable idea that these sounds, which can be
heard at great distance, might guide an addi-
tiOnal traveller to claim share in our scanty sup
per. communicated this apprehension to my
neighbor. lie was fat Englishman, the bod
eXpanse Of whose cOuntenancc was at this mo-
mGnt Overspread with profound mclaa h hy. lie
reflected u moment; then it appeared 10 him,
undoubtedly, that my fears were well founded,
for he left the company, and, taking the horn
from the surprised shepherd, he brought it to the
landlord, saying:
"My friend, put this little instrument away;
it makes too much noise"
"But, Milford, it is the custom" demonstrated
the host; "and travellers generally like the
muse"
"In times of plenty this may be; bit not in
time of famine"
He returned to me-
:" 1t is all right, now" he said, complacently.
81 have made him put the horn away"
E" am afraid, milOrd," replied, "that it is
too late. see dark object in the distance,
which has the air Of a new conner"
1t was even so. The dark object stepped for
ward into the moonlight, and We saw plainly a
tai young man whose dress and appearance an.
nounced at once the travelling clerk Of some COM
merrial house at Paris. He advanced gaily,
swinging his mountain staff, and singing an opera
air.
"Good day, gentlemen" he began; then, see
ing the blank physiognomies Of the company, he
exclaimed, Haloo! what is the matterI"
The matter is, my dear cOuntryman," re.
piled, that unless you possess the secret Of
multiplication Of loaves and fishes, it would have
been better f you had remained at your last
stopping-place."
"Bah bah bahl When there is enough for
three, there is enough for four"
eyes, but when there is enough for four,
there i not enough for twenty-eght."
Not at all d sconcerted, he began to tell US how
he had lost his way, and had the prospect Of
spending the night out Of doors, when the sound
Of our Alpine horn had guided him to the inn,
and, turning to the stout Englishman, he said:
81 am indebted to you, my good sir, | sup
pose. for this help"
You are mistaken, sir; it was not l." replied
the Englshman, stilfly.
"Your pardon, sir; thought 1t was you
your wind seems excellent"
at may be; bat am not fond Of music"
"You are wrong, sir; and he was beginning
eulogy upon music, when supper was an
nounced.
The landlord had done all that was possible
under the circumstances The soup had ac-
Quired volume proportionate to the number Of
guests, at the expense Of its consistency; and
the fragments Of meat were lost in forest OF
parsley. The clerk offered his scrvicrs as dis
penscr, and, seating himself in the middle Of the
table, he used the spoon and the fork SO aecu-
rately that each one had enough to convince him
that neither soup nor meat was good Tor any
thing. The second course consisted Of eggs in
a variety Of forms, the water fowl and twenty
SIN III birds. The clerk cut the Waterfowl into
eight pieces, each about the size Of bird.
"Gentlemen and ladies, he said, "each per-
son can have piece Of the waterfowl, or
bird bread at discretion"
He passed the dish to the Englishman, who
helped himself to two birds.
"Look here, milord" said the clerk, "if
every one act like you. there will not be half
enough for the guests" -,
The Englishman did not appear to understand
him.
a. Al o,, .;a AZ. .1.t. ..t.;,,, 1o.,,,' Ar, 1;sh
and TO ling up pellet OF bread about the size Of
filbort-" ali you do not understand French,
| see. Wait minute, aud will speak to you
in your own language. You are big gluttOn,'
he called out presently, and threw the pellet Of
bread at the nose of the Englishn IN. The lat
ter seized bottle of wine and hu. led ii at the
head Of the clerk, who, expecting this response,
caught il on its light.
"Thanks, milord," he said; am more hun
CRY than thirsty. just now, and would rather
have had one Of your birds than your bottle.
However will not re use the toast you Olfrr." !"
And he poured some drops Of WIN into a glass
already full. "Io the pleasure Of meeting you
in another place than this, where we shall be
four in number, instead Of twenty-eght, and
where leaden bullets shall take tho place Of wine
| bottles" e
with the greatest pleasure" said the Eng
lishman, emptying his glass to the last drop.
"Come, come, gentlemen" said one Of the
guests, enough Of this; We have ladies' here"
| Nothing further passed between them during
the meal. The clerk, whose name We learned
was NJ. Alcde Jollivct, was full Of gayety; the
Eng!ishman evidently in bad humor. The
latter left the table before the rest Of the guests
and ten minutes afterwards the landlord came to
inform US that he had only beds for the la'lies.
and that the Englishman had traitorously slipped
into one of them; so that il would he necessary
for two Of the ladies to sleep together. NJ. Al
eide JOllivct offered to empty a bucket Of ice
water upon the Englishman but the wife and
daughter Of q German stopped him by the AS
| surnnce that they should Drefcr 10 sleep to-