my words, if you are not careful, you will fall down a precipice, or be overtaken by an avalanche, or the ice will break while you are crossing it. There are a thousand ways in which you might get hurt."
"A man of ready wit with a quick eye," replied Tell complacently, "never gets hurt. The mountain has no terror for her children. I am a child of the mountain."
"You are certainly a child!" snapped Hedwig. "It is no use my arguing with you."
"Not very much," agreed Tell, "for I am just off to the town. I have an appointment with your papa and some other gentlemen."
(I forgot to say so before, but Hedwig was the daughter of Walter Fürst.)
"Now, what are you and papa plotting?" asked Hedwig. "I know there is something going on. I suspected it when papa brought
