The clouds, sweeping up on every side, seemed to help them along, so that sometimes they could hardly be quite sure whether they were walking on earth or air.

Altogether, had they but dined, they would have voted the walk one of the jolliest they ever had in their lives.
Presently a strange sound above brought them suddenly to a halt.

It was music of some sort, but mingling with it the even sweeter music of plates and knives and forks; and when for a moment the music ceased, they seemed to detect voices and laughter.
"Some fellows having a picnic," said Magnus, joyfully; "keep it up, chappie, and we shall get some of the pickings--you see." "Give them a--what-do-you-call-it ?" said Joe.

Whereupon Magnus startled the air with a loud "coo-oo-ey!" The sounds above ceased all of a sudden, and the weather seemed to change to thundery.
Then a faint echo of the shout came back, and almost immediately afterwards a gentleman appeared through the mist.
He was a young-looking man, who had apparently been bathing, and had not had time to dress after it.

He wore a curious sort of cap, with a wing sticking out at either side, and carried in his hand a very elaborately carved walking-stick.
"Please, can you tell us the way down to Llanberis ?" asked Magnus, thinking it better not to appear to notice the gentleman's _deshabille_.
The gentleman stared at the two boys in a startled sort of way, and shrugged his shoulders.
"A foreigner," said Joe.