The man soon appeared, in the shape of a charcoal-burner, and told us that we were making the ascent much more difficult than it need be made, and also, that we should come to some awkward rock-climbing by the route we had chosen.

It was too late, however, to turn back; so we persevered.
Before long, I heard a _Meinherr_! from Christian, in a tone which I knew meant rest and some food.

He explained that he would rather take two small refreshments, one here and one at the Schafloch, than one large refreshment at the cave; so we propped ourselves on the grass, and tapped the _hotte_.

The cheese proved to be delightful--six years old, the landlady told us afterwards, and apparently as hard as a bone, but when once mastered its flavour was admirable.

Christian persuaded me to taste the wine, of which he had a high opinion, and he was electrified by the universal shudder the one taste caused.