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seek！〃
He was descending the mountain now； scanning the depths closely；
and from time to time shouting； uttering a loud； prolonged
familiar cry which soon died away in that silent vastness。 Then；
he put his ear to the ground； to listen。 He thought he could
distinguish a voice； and so he began to run and shout again。 But
he heard nothing more and sat down； worn out and in despair。
Toward midday he breakfasted and gave Sam； who was as tired as
himself； something to eat also； then he recommenced his search。
When evening came he was still walking； having traveled more than
thirty miles over the mountains。 As he was too far away to return
home； and too tired to drag himself along any further； he dug a
hole in the snow and crouched in it with his dog； under a blanket
which he had brought with him。 The man and the dog lay side by
side； warming themselves one against the other； but frozen to the
marrow； nevertheless。 Ulrich scarcely slept； his mind haunted by
visions and his limbs shaking with cold。
Day was breaking when he got up。 His legs were as stiff as iron
bars； and his spirits so low that he was ready to weep； while his
heart was beating so that he almost fell with excitement whenever
he thought he heard a noise。
Suddenly he imagined that he ALSO was going to die of cold in the
midst of this vast solitude。 The terror of such a death roused
his energies and gave him renewed vigor。 He was descending toward
the inn； falling down and getting up again； and followed at a
distance by Sam； who was limping on three legs。 They did not
reach Schwarenbach until four o'clock in the afternoon。 The house
was empty； and the young man made a fire； had something to eat；
and went to sleep； so worn…out that he did not think of anything
more。
He slept for a long time； for a very long time； the unconquerable
sleep of exhaustion。 But suddenly a voice； a cry； a name：
〃Ulrich；〃 aroused him from his profound slumber； and made him sit
up in bed。 Had he been dreaming？ Was it one of those strange
appeals which cross the dreams of disquieted minds？ No； he heard
it still； that reverberating cry；which had entered at his ears
and remained in his brain；thrilling him to the tips of his
sinewy fingers。 Certainly； somebody had cried out； and called：
〃Ulrich！〃 There was somebody there； near the house； there could
be no doubt of that； and he opened the door and shouted： 〃Is it
you； Gaspard？〃 with all the strength of his lungs。 But there was
no reply； no murmur； no groan； nothing。 It was quite dark； and
the snow looked wan。
The wind had risen； that icy wind which cracks the rocks； and
leaves nothing alive on those deserted heights。 It came in sudden
gusts； more parching and more deadly than the burning wind of the
desert； and again Ulrich shouted： 〃Gaspard！ Gaspard！ Gaspard！〃
Then he waited again。 Everything was silent on the mountain！ Then
he shook with terror； and with a bound he was inside the inn。 He
shut and bolted the door； and then fell into a chair； trembling
all over； for he felt certain that his comrade had called him at
the moment of dissolution。
He was certain of that； as certain as one is of conscious life or
of taste when eating。 Old Gaspard Hari had been dying for two
days and three nights somewhere； in some hole； in one of those
deep； untrodden ravines whose whiteness is more sinister than
subterranean darkness。 He had been dying for two days and three
nights and he had just then died； thinking of his comrade。 His
soul； almost before it was released； had taken its flight to the
inn where Ulrich was sleeping； and it had called him by that
terrible and mysterious power which the spirits of the dead
possess。 That voiceless soul had cried to the worn…out soul of
the sleeper； it had uttered its last farewell； or its reproach；
or its curse on the man who had not searched carefully enough。
And Ulrich felt that it was there； quite close to him； behind the
wall； behind the door which he had just fastened。 It was
wandering about； like a night bird which skims a lighted window
with his wings； and the terrified young man was ready to scream
with horror。 He wanted to run away； but did not dare go out； he
did not dare； and would never dare in the future； for that
phantom would remain there day and night； round the inn； as long
as the old man's body was not recovered and deposited in the
consecrated earth of a churchyard。
Daylight came； and Kunsi recovered some of his courage with the
return of the bright sun。 He prepared his meal； gave his dog some
food； and then remained motionless on a chair； tortured at heart
as he thought of the old man lying on the snow。 Then； as soon as
night once more covered the mountains； new terrors assailed him。
He now walked up and down the dark kitchen； which was scarcely
lighted by the flame of one candle。 He walked from one end of it
to the other with great strides； listening； listening to hear the
terrible cry of the preceding night again break the dreary
silence outside。 He felt himself alone； unhappy man； as no man
had ever been alone before！ Alone in this immense desert of snow；
alone five thousand feet above the inhabited earth； above human
habitations； above that stirring； noisy； palpitating life； alone
under an icy sky！ A mad longing impelled him to run away； no
matter where； to get down to Loeche by flinging himself over the
precipice； but he did not even dare to open the door； as he felt
sure that the other； the DEAD； man would bar his road； so that he
might not be obliged to remain up there alone。
Toward midnight； tired with walking； worn…out by grief and fear；
he fell into a doze in his chair； for he was afraid of his bed；
as one is of a haunted spot。 But suddenly the strident cry of the
preceding evening pierced his ears； so shrill that Ulrich
stretched out his arms to repulse the ghost； and he fell on to
his back with his chair。
Sam； who was awakened by the noise； began to howl as frightened
dogs do； and trotted all about the house trying to find out where
the danger came from。 When he got to the door； he sniffed beneath
it； smelling vigorously； with his coat bristling and his tail
stiff while he growled angrily。 Kunsi； who was terrified； jumped
up； and holding his chair by one leg； cried： 〃Don't come in；
don't come in； or I shall kill you。〃 And the dog； excited by this
threat； barked angrily at that invisible enemy who defied his
master's voice。 By degrees； however； he quieted down； came back
and stretched himself in front of the fire。 But he was uneasy；
and kept his head up； and growled between his teeth。
Ulrich； in turn； recovered his senses； but as he felt faint with
terror； he went and got a bottle of brandy out of the sideboard；
and drank off several glasses； one after another； at a gulp。 His
ideas became vague； his courage revived； and a feverish glow ran
through his veins。
He ate scarcely anything the next day； and limited himself to
alcohol； so he lived for several days； like a drunken brute。 As
soon as he thought of Gaspard Hari he began to drink again； and
went on drinking until he fell on to the floor； overcome by
intoxication。 And there he remained on his face； dead drunk