“Not at the loss of it, though the stupidity of losing anything always annoys me. It’s the possible consequences I’m thinking of. It came on me all in a heap in the night that it’s just possible we may have difficulty in communicating with them at home if things are really bad. I wish to goodness we could get some definite news. I wanted very much to take you up the Eggishorn--it’s just close here, and it seems a shame to pass right under it without going up. You don’t really know what a glacier’s like till you’ve seen the Aletsch. But....” “I think we’d better go right on. We can come back some other time and see all these things. Suppose they shouldn’t have got your telegram from Leipsic! They’ll be getting frightfully anxious about us. Let us get on as quickly as possible.” “I’m afraid there’s nothing else for it,” he said regretfully. “Let’s see now--it would take us at least four days to walk down the valley to Montreux.... How much money did you say you have with you?” “I’ve got three pounds, five shillings. I’ll get it for you.” “No. Better keep it safe. I might lose it, you know. Well, four days’ tramping at the lowest possible rate means at least forty francs. It will pay us to take the train from Brigue. There’s a quick train about mid-day, I remember ... that is, if it’s still running. They may have taken the trains off also. It comes from Milan, you see, through the Simplon.” “Third class?” “Rather. I’ve come home by it more than once, and it’s generally packed with Italians, who are not the pleasantest of travelling companions. But needs must when you’re such a fool as to lose your purse,--and they’re probably all being kept at home just now anyway. We had a tough day yesterday, so to-day we’ll just jog along to Fiesch. That’s another place I wanted you to stop at. Most fascinating country, all the hillsides covered with little irrigation channels about a foot wide, and the natives spend most of their time turning them on and off. That’s where you strike up for the Eggishorn ... and the Märjelen See ... and then there’s Binn.... It’s a mighty pity to pass them all ...” and he rattled the few coins in his pocket thoughtfully. But--“Needs must!” said Lois firmly, anxious to get into touch with the outer world again and especially with the folks at home. “Wait a bit!” said Ray thoughtfully, and got down the map from its peg in the hall, and began figuring with his pencil on the back of the bill the landlady had just brought him, which came to 9.50 francs for the two of them. “Just ... you ... wait ... a bit ... my child!” and he measured and figured away with immense energy and growing enjoyment.