Sitzky, their friend of uncertain origin, hurriedly finished his
work and joined the travelers in the station. Lorry and Anguish
were deeply interested in all they saw, the strange people, the
queer buildings, the odd costumes and the air of antiquity that
prevailed. Once upon the narrow, clean street they saw that
Edelweiss was truly a city of the mountain-side. They had
expected something wonderful, but were not prepared for what they
found. The city actually ran up into the clouds. There was
something so grand, so improbable, so unusual in the spectacle
confronting them that they stared like children, aghast and
stupefied. Each had the startling impression that a great
human-dotted mountain was falling over upon his head; it was
impossible to subdue the sensation of dizziness that the toppling
town inspired.

"I know how you feel," observed Sitzky, laughing. "I was just d'
same at first. Tomorrow you walk a little ways up d' side of d'
mountain an' you'll see how much of d' city dere is on level
ground down here. Dem buildings up dere ain't more'n
one-fiftieth part of d'town. Dey're mostly summer homes. It
gets hot as blazes down here in d' valley in d' middle of
d' summer and d' rich ones move up d' mountain."

"How in thunder do people get up to those houses?" demanded
Anguish.

"Mules," answered Sitzky, specifically. "Say! See dat little
old feller comin' on horseback--wid d' white uniform? Well,
dat's de chief of police, an' d' fellers behind him are police
guards. 'At's old Dangloss himself. He's a peach, dey say."