"There is no possibility of getting out of this valley," said Mr. George, "except by going all the way back to Thun,--and that I am not willing to do." "Is there no _possible_ way?" asked Rollo. "No," said Mr. George, "unless we go over the Brunig Pass on foot." "Well," said Rollo, "let us do that." "We might possibly do that," continued Mr. George, still looking intently at his map. "We should have to go over the Brunig to Lungern on foot, with a horse for our baggage. Then we should have to take a car from Lungern down the valleys to the shore of Lake Lucerne, and there get a boat, for six or eight miles, on the lake to the town." "Well," said Rollo, joyfully, "I should like that." Rollo liked the idea of making the journey in the way that his uncle George had described, on account of the numerous changes which would be necessary in it, in respect to the modes of conveyance. It was for this very reason that his uncle did _not_ like it. "Yes, uncle George," said Rollo, again. "That will be an excellent way to go to Lucerne. Don't you think it will?" "No," said Mr. George. "It will be so much trouble. We shall have three different arrangements to make for conveyance, in one day." "No matter for that, uncle George," said Rollo. "I will do all that. Let me be the courier, uncle George, and I'll take you from here to Lucerne without your having the least trouble. I will make all the arrangements, so that you shall have nothing to do. You may read, if you choose, the whole of the way." "How will you find out what to do?" asked Mr. George. "O, I'll study the guide book carefully," replied Rollo; "and, besides, I'll inquire of the landlord here." "Well," said Mr. George, hesitatingly, "I have a great mind to try it." "Only you must pay me," said Rollo. "I can't be courier without being paid." "How much must I pay?" asked Mr. George. "Why, about a quarter of a dollar," replied Rollo. "It is worth more than that," said Mr. George. "I will give you half a dollar if you make all the arrangements and get me safe to Lucerne without my having any care or trouble. But then if you get into difficulty in any case, and have to appeal to me, you lose your whole pay. If you carry me through, I give you half a dollar. If you don't really carry me through, you have nothing." Rollo agreed to these conditions, and Mr. George proceeded to shut up the map and the guide book, and to put them in his hands. "I will sit down here now," said Rollo, "and study the map and the guide book until I have learned all I can from them, and then I will go and talk with the landlord." Mr. George did not make any reply to this remark, but taking out a small portfolio, containing writing materials, from his pocket, he set himself at work writing some letters; having, apparently, dismissed the whole subject of the mode of crossing the Brunig entirely from his mind.