The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-04-23

salo' Wnlcn is shady and cool. Ou
were stupid to want to stop under the
broiling sun. Sit down; you may; I
will let YOU
So | sat down and lighted a cigar.
| almost offered one to Noiraud; per-
haps he smoked, thought; but then
| remembered that probably he pre-
ferred lump Of sugar. He caught it
on the fly very cleverly, crunched it
between his teeth, and then lay down
at my feet and slept. Evidently he
was used to stopping here and taking
little siesta. He slept about ten
minutes; l myself was perfectly happy.
Noiraud was beginning to inspire me
with absolute confidence. decidedto
obey him blindly. At last he rose,
stretched himself, glanced at me with
that side-look that meant: "Come on,
my friend,' and again we started for
ward like two old comrades, but this
time more slowly. Noiraud felt the
charm, the silence, the beauty, of the
place. On the road, wanting to cs-
cape from the dust and heat, he had
travelled with hurried steps. He had
trotted in order to reach a goal. Now,
refreshed and rested, he walked along
for the pleasure Of walking in one Of
the most beautiful paths of Vaud. A
road led off 20 the left. Noirand hesi-
tated a moment, rejecting apparently.
Then he continued straight along, but
not without a certain troubled anxiety
in his gait. At last he stopped. He
had mistaken the road; so he retraced
his steps, and we took the path on the
left, which, after short walk, brought
us to sort of arena, where Noiraud,
his nose in the air, asked me to look
at the height of the wall of rocks
which formed its boundaries. When
Ii: thought l had looked long enough,
he turned about, and we continued on
our way along the shady path. He
had almost forgotten to show me the
rock-lined arena, but he had speedily
rectified the mistake. The road now
became very steep and rocky. walk
ed slowly and with the greatest diff
Guilty. Noiraud sprang lightly from
rock to rock, but he did not forget me.
He waited, watching me with the ut
most care. At last l heard sounds of
bubbling. Noiraud began to bark joy
fully.
"Courage!' he said to me, "courage!
we're almost there. You will at last
see the Caldron," and ut length we
reached it. A modest little stream of
water fell from an ordinary height,
splashing down upon great hollow
rock. should not have been repaid
for having undertaken so difficult a
journey to see this ordinary sight, had
| not had Noiraud for travelling
companion. He, indeed, was of much
more interest and much more wonder
than the Caldron. On either side of
the stream, in small Alpine huts, were
two dairies in charge of two young
Swiss maidstone blonde, the other
brunette Both wore the national
costume and were eagerly watching
my approach on the threshold of their
huts,-rcal little boxes, cut out by ma
chinery, rs it were. The young blonde
struck me as having very pretty eyes,
and had taken three or four steps to-
ward her when Noiraud began to bark
furiously and resolutely barred my way.
Did he prefer the brunette? Il turned
in the latter's direction. Then the dog
became quiet again, as though by ell
chantment, watching me with evident
pleasure as | sat at table, before his
young protcgees hut. l asked for a
cup of milk. Noiraud's friend went
into her hut, Noiraud following. !
watched them through a,half.opcn win
dow. The wretched animal was served
before me! He had-Ais bowl-of milk
first. | surrendered
Then Noiraud with wliteylrops cling
ing to his whiskers, came ddt to keep
me company while l drank my milk.
| gave him lump~of sugar, and both
of us sat there for a delicious half hour,
absolutely conttn nted with each other,
and breathing in the fresh invigorating
mountain air at a heigth of from three
to four hundred yards. Then Noiraud
began to show signs of impatience and
anxiety. | read his eyes now as 1
would an open page. We MUST 60.
SO | paid for the milk, rose, and start
ed to the right along the way we had
come. But Noiraud took road on
the left. He looked at me seriously,
sternly. What progress l had made
during two hours! How familiar to
me was the silent eloquence ofthc dog!
"What do you think me?" said he.
'Do you suppose am going to take
you twice along the same road? No,
indeed; am good guide: know my
trade. We shall return by another
route" The latter was much more
beautiful than the first. Noiraud skip
pied about gayly, and ran back to me
again and again, with bark oftriumph
and joy. We reached the village, and
on the station platform Noiraud was
l. Il