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Five minutes later we stood upon the top。 We looked north； south；
east and west； then we looked at one another。
〃Grand view； isn't it？〃 said Harris。
〃Magnificent；〃 I agreed。
〃Superb；〃 remarked George。
〃They have had the good sense for once；〃 said Harris； 〃to put that
restaurant out of sight。〃
〃They do seem to have hidden it；〃 said George。 〃One doesn't mind
the thing so much when it is not forced under one's nose；〃 said
Harris。
〃Of course； in its place；〃 I observed； 〃a restaurant is right
enough。〃
〃I should like to know where they have put it；〃 said George。
〃Suppose we look for it？〃 said Harris； with inspiration。
It seemed a good idea。 I felt curious myself。 We agreed to
explore in different directions； returning to the summit to report
progress。 In half an hour we stood together once again。 There was
no need for words。 The face of one and all of us announced plainly
that at last we had discovered a recess of German nature
untarnished by the sordid suggestion of food or drink。
〃I should never have believed it possible；〃 said Harris： 〃would
you？〃
〃I should say；〃 I replied； 〃that this is the only square quarter of
a mile in the entire Fatherland unprovided with one。〃
〃And we three strangers have struck it；〃 said George； 〃without an
effort。〃
〃True；〃 I observed。 〃By pure good fortune we are now enabled to
feast our finer senses undisturbed by appeal to our lower nature。
Observe the light upon those distant peaks； is it not ravishing？〃
〃Talking of nature；〃 said George； 〃which should you say was the
nearest way down？〃
〃The road to the left；〃 I replied； after consulting the guide book；
〃takes us to Sonnensteigwhere； by…the…by； I observe the 'Goldener
Adler' is well spoken ofin about two hours。 The road to the
right； though somewhat longer； commands more extensive prospects。〃
〃One prospect；〃 said Harris； 〃is very much like another prospect；
don't you think so？〃
〃Personally；〃 said George； 〃I am going by the left…hand road。〃 And
Harris and I went after him。
But we were not to get down so soon as we had anticipated。 Storms
come quickly in these regions； and before we had walked for quarter
of an hour it became a question of seeking shelter or living for
the rest of the day in soaked clothes。 We decided on the former
alternative； and selected a tree that； under ordinary
circumstances； should have been ample protection。 But a Black
Forest thunderstorm is not an ordinary circumstance。 We consoled
ourselves at first by telling each other that at such a rate it
could not last long。 Next； we endeavoured to comfort ourselves
with the reflection that if it did we should soon be too wet to
fear getting wetter。
〃As it turned out；〃 said Harris； 〃I should have been almost glad if
there had been a restaurant up here。〃
〃I see no advantage in being both wet AND hungry；〃 said George。 〃I
shall give it another five minutes； then I am going on。〃
〃These mountain solitudes；〃 I remarked； 〃are very attractive in
fine weather。 On a rainy day； especially if you happen to be past
the age when〃
At this point there hailed us a voice； proceeding from a stout
gentleman； who stood some fifty feet away from us under a big
umbrella。
〃Won't you come inside？〃 asked the stout gentleman。
〃Inside where？〃 I called back。 I thought at first he was one of
those fools that will try to be funny when there is nothing to be
funny about。
〃Inside the restaurant；〃 he answered。
We left our shelter and made for him。 We wished for further
information about this thing。
〃I did call to you from the window；〃 said the stout gentleman； as
we drew near to him； 〃but I suppose you did not hear me。 This
storm may last for another hour； you will get SO wet。〃
He was a kindly old gentleman； he seemed quite anxious about us。
I said： 〃It is very kind of you to have come out。 We are not
lunatics。 We have not been standing under that tree for the last
half…hour knowing all the time there was a restaurant； hidden by
the trees； within twenty yards of us。 We had no idea we were
anywhere near a restaurant。〃
〃I thought maybe you hadn't；〃 said the old gentleman； 〃that is why
I came。〃
It appeared that all the people in the inn had been watching us
from the windows also； wondering why we stood there looking
miserable。 If it had not been for this nice old gentleman the
fools would have remained watching us； I suppose； for the rest of
the afternoon。 The landlord excused himself by saying he thought
we looked like English。 It is no figure of speech。 On the
Continent they do sincerely believe that every Englishman is mad。
They are as convinced of it as is every English peasant that
Frenchmen live on frogs。 Even when one makes a direct personal
effort to disabuse them of the impression one is not always
successful。
It was a comfortable little restaurant； where they cooked well；
while the Tischwein was really most passable。 We stopped there for
a couple of hours； and dried ourselves and fed ourselves； and
talked about the view； and just before we left an incident occurred
that shows how much more stirring in this world are the influences
of evil compared with those of good。
A traveller entered。 He seemed a careworn man。 He carried a brick
in his hand； tied to a piece of rope。 He entered nervously and
hurriedly； closed the door carefully behind him； saw to it that it
was fastened； peered out of the window long and earnestly； and
then； with a sigh of relief； laid his brick upon the bench beside
him and called for food and drink。
There was something mysterious about the whole affair。 One
wondered what he was going to do with the brick； why he had closed
the door so carefully； why he had looked so anxiously from the
window； but his aspect was too wretched to invite conversation； and
we forbore； therefore； to ask him questions。 As he ate and drank
he grew more cheerful； sighed less often。 Later he stretched his
legs； lit an evil…smelling cigar； and puffed in calm contentment。
Then it happened。 It happened too suddenly for any detailed
explanation of the thing to be possible。 I recollect a Fraulein
entering the room from the kitchen with a pan in her hand。 I saw
her cross to the outer door。 The next moment the whole room was in
an uproar。 One was reminded of those pantomime transformation
scenes where； from among floating clouds； slow music； waving
flowers； and reclining fairies； one is suddenly transported into
the midst of shouting policemen tumbling yelling babies； swells
fighting pantaloons； sausages and harlequins； buttered slides and
clowns。 As the Fraulein of the pan touched the door it flew open；
as though all the spirits of sin had been pressed against it；
waiting。 Two pigs and a chicken rushed into the room； a cat that
had been sleeping on a beer…barrel spluttered into fiery life。 The
Fraulein threw her pan into the air and lay down on the floor。 The
gentleman with the brick sprang to his feet； upsetting the table
before him with everything upon it。
One looked to see the cause of this disaster： one discovered it at
once in the person of a mongrel terrier with pointed ears and a