The Argosy — page 156: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

142 From Salzburg to Gastein. IT wondered whether she had any one to keep hercompany in that dull desert-like habitation. | It was getting late when we.reached the inn. Over and above re- warding the lad for his trouble, we gave hima brand new piece of silver money, with strict injunctions never to change it, but to keep it in memory of the evening. He faithfully promised, though his anxious inquiry as to its value was not to be received without suspicion. One would almost dread now to inquire how long it remained unbroken. Finally we parted : he probably to cultivate more tender relations with his apple ; we to our rooms and the luxury of unconsciousness. But if fora moment I had indulged in the vain hope of a good night’s rest, I was destined to be termbly undeceived. Whether the Gollingers are inclined to deafness ; or whether their hard, daily work blesses them at night with sleep so sound that nothing will awaken them ; cannot be told. Never, certes, was Reap ieee night passed in a more complete wilderness of noise. To begin with, once an hour a watchman patrolled the village, singing a verse of a hymn.in one of the most unearthly voices ever heard. This seemed to irritate a company of dogs to so great an extent that they kept up an incessant barking and howling: and no one could wonder at their vigorous protest. One noise after another kept on in rapid succession until two o’clock. Then the diligence from Gastein came rattling over the stones of the street with a noise like thunder. The coachman cracked his whip as only the Tyrolese know how to do it, and the hornble machine with its two pair of cattle, dashed up to a standstill at the very door of the inn. A loud bell pealed through the empty. spaces ofthe straggling building, and in a short time, which yet seemed an age, doors were unbarred and swung back, and there followed a clatter as of the changing horses. The conductor and a passenger jumped out of the interior; and in about twenty minutes the whole concern crashed off again towards Gastein. The coachman had evidently treated his whip to beer as well as him- self, for the cracks echoed amongst the hills like a volley of rifles; the horses shook their heads and switched their tails: and like a faint roar of contending elements the sounds died away in the distance. Soon after, as if to mock the hope of sleep that had begun to settle on heavy eyelids, the watchman reappeared upon the scene with his perpetual hymn tune and hideous tones. Then, ere long, darkness seemed to lift itself, and creep away from the room; gradually one object after another grew visible ; the stars paled and flickered and went out ; the sky opened; and daybreak was proclaimed with an in- sane chorus of cock-crowing. The dogs, now hoarse and weary, com- posed themselves to sleep; the watchman went in ; but it was time for the world to turn out. The baker’s house opposite was the first to uprouse. The shutters swung back, and a rush of ‘vapour‘and ‘a ‘whole- ECoOMmicloooks (CW) —_) mu a