The children regarded us with inquisitive looks as we came away, but seemed to wish to keep at a safe distance.  Whether the double striking of the clock had had a peculiar effect on them we did not, however, wait to inquire, but after taking a drink at the fountain, proceeded on our homeward way.

Any one making a lengthened stay can find out plenty of similarly enjoyable walks; in fact, one of St. Sauveur’s chief charms lies in its favourable situation for such pursuits.  The neighbourhood is very rich in flora, small jonquils, daffodils, oxslips, hyacinths, violets, polygala, potentilla, anemones, Ramondia pyrenaica, Primula farinosa, large and small gentians, linaria, and bee orchids being among the easiest to find.

Before we started on the great drive to Luchon, we successfully accomplished a delightful day’s outing to Gavarnie, but as it is full of interest and majesty, we give it a chapter to itself.

CHAPTER VIII.

GAVARNIE.

A “falling glass”—­The wonderful echo—­Cascade Lassariou—­Sia and its bridge—­Pont de Desdouroucat—­“Changing scenes”—­Bugaret torrent—­The Pimene—­Bue—­Gedre—­Breche de Roland in the distance—­The “Grotto”—­Scenery at fivepence per head—­Daffodils—­Lofty summits—­Cascade d’Arroudet—­Chaos—­Valley of the “Ten Thousand Rocks,” Amoy—­A dirty avalanche—­The Sugar-loaf—­Travellers’ troubles —­Importunate females—­Hotel des Voyageurs—­Poc—­Guide or no guide—­Chute de Lapaca—­The guardian summits of the Cirque—­Cascade du Marbore—­Chandelles du Marbore—­The Cirque—­Its marvellous beauty—­Reluctantly returning—­“The Guide’s Auction”—­“Two women enough for a market, and three for a fair”—­A Yankee tale—­Sketching and flowers—­Tempers and appetites.

There is no excursion from Luz or St. Sauveur for which it is so necessary to have a fine day, or which is so wonderfully unique, as that to the Cirque of Gavarnie.  We were forced to wait several days; the barometer always, stupidly enough, wanting to fall, until on the third day of the moon it slowly began to rise, and gave us hopes for a start on the following morning.  The following morning arrived, and with it a heavy fall of snow, decking the hills quite low down with a white mantle, and gloomily screening the view.

However, about nine o’clock, the sun burst forth, the clouds rose, the blue sky appeared, and we felt that our opportunity had come.  The lunch and the landau, with four horses, were ordered for ten o’clock, and at 10.15 we were on our way.  Through the town, past the church and over the fine Pont Napoleon we went, our hearts—­eager to appreciate —­finding no lack of food.