M.Thury's list states that the glaciere known as the Schafloch is on the Rothhorn, in the Canton of Berne, 4,500 metres of horizontal distance from Merligen, a village on the shore of the lake; and from these data I was to find the cave.

Gonten was apparently the nearest station to Merligen, and as soon as the small boat which meets the steamer had deposited me on the shore, I asked my way, first to the _auberge_, and then to Merligen.

The _auberge_ was soon found, and coffee and bread were at once ordered for breakfast; but when the people learned my eventual destination, they would not let me go to Merligen.

A man, to whom--for no particular reason--I had given two-pence, called a council of the village upon me, and they proceeded to determine whether I must have a guide from Gonten, or only from a nameless chalet higher up.

The discussion was noisy, and was conducted without words: they do not speak, those men of Gonten--they merely grunt, and each interprets the grunts as he wills.