It was easy enough going; the turf was crisp and soft, and as they got up a little, flowers began to peep out. Though they could not see through the mists, they fancied they could catch the sound of birds and the splash of water. The clouds, sweeping up on every side, seemed to help them along, so that sometimes they could hardly be quite sure whether they were walking on earth or air. Altogether, had they but dined, they would have voted the walk one of the jolliest they ever had in their lives. Presently a strange sound above brought them suddenly to a halt. It was music of some sort, but mingling with it the even sweeter music of plates and knives and forks; and when for a moment the music ceased, they seemed to detect voices and laughter. "Some fellows having a picnic," said Magnus, joyfully; "keep it up, chappie, and we shall get some of the pickings--you see." "Give them a--what-do-you-call-it?" said Joe. Whereupon Magnus startled the air with a loud "coo-oo-ey!" The sounds above ceased all of a sudden, and the weather seemed to change to thundery. Then a faint echo of the shout came back, and almost immediately afterwards a gentleman appeared through the mist. He was a young-looking man, who had apparently been bathing, and had not had time to dress after it. He wore a curious sort of cap, with a wing sticking out at either side, and carried in his hand a very elaborately carved walking-stick. "Please, can you tell us the way down to Llanberis?" asked Magnus, thinking it better not to appear to notice the gentleman's _deshabille_. The gentleman stared at the two boys in a startled sort of way, and shrugged his shoulders. "A foreigner," said Joe. "Try him in--what's-its--name--French." "_S'il vous plait, pouvez vous dire nous le chemin a bas a Llanberis_?" said Magnus, who was a capital French scholar. It was not at all certain that the gentleman understood even this. He pointed with his thumb over his shoulder up at the clouds, which was certainly not the shortest way down to Llanberis. But as it was the direction from which the sound of the knives and forks had proceeded, it seemed as if nothing would be lost by following. The gentleman, who in his excitement had clean forgotten about his garments, hurried the boys up the hill at a terrific pace, until all of a sudden they got out of the clouds and saw clear ahead. The scene was a remarkable one--Magnus's idea of a picnic had been a correct, one. But such a picnic!