He and Beppo served it and repacked the hampers, entirely ignored by the others of the party.

Poor Tony was beginning to realize that a donkey-man lives on a desert island in so far as any companionship goes.

But his moment was coming.

As they were about to start on, Constance spied high above their heads, where the stream burst from the rocks, a clump of starry white blossoms.
'Edelweiss!' she cried.

'Oh, I must have it--it's the first I ever saw growing; I hadn't supposed we were high enough.' She glanced at the officers.
The ascent was not dangerous, but it was undeniably muddy, and they both wore white; with very good cause they hesitated.