第20章

Butwhenthemoon，havingpassedthelineofpinnacles，washiddenbehindthestupendouswhiteswellofMontBlanc，themasterpieceoftheeveningwasflungonthecanvas。 Arichgreenishradiancesprangintotheskyfrombehindthemountain，andinthissameairyshredsandribbonsofvaporfloatedabout，andbeingflushedwiththatstrangetint，wentwavingtoandfrolikepalegreenflames。Afterawhile，radiatingbars——vastbroadeningfan-shapedshadows——grewupandstretchedawaytothezenithfrombehindthemountain。 Itwasaspectacletotakeone\'sbreath，forthewonderofit，andthesublimity。 Indeed，thosemightybarsofalternatelightandshadowstreamingupfrombehindthatdarkandprodigiousformandoccupyingthehalfofthedullandopaqueheavens，wasthemostimposingandimpressivemarvelIhadeverlookedupon。Thereisnosimileforit，fornothingislikeit。Ifachildhadaskedmewhatitwas，Ishouldhavesaid，\"Humbleyourself，inthispresence，itisthegloryflowingfromthehiddenheadoftheCreator。\" Onefallsshorterofthetruththanthat，sometimes，intryingtoexplainmysteriestothelittlepeople。 Icouldhavefoundoutthecauseofthisawe-compellingmiraclebyinquiring，foritisnotinfrequentatMontBlanc，——butIdidnotwishtoknow。Wehavenotthereverentfeelingfortherainbowthatasavagehas，becauseweknowhowitismade。Wehavelostasmuchaswegainedbypryingintothematter。 Wetookawalkdownstreet，ablockortwo，andaplacewherefourstreetsmetandtheprincipalshopswereclustered，foundthegroupsofmenintheroadwaythickerthanever——forthiswastheExchangeofChamonix。 Thesemenwereinthecostumesofguidesandporters，andweretheretobehired。 Theofficeofthatgreatpersonage，theGuide-in-ChiefoftheChamonixGuildofGuides，wasnearby。Thisguildisaclosecorporation，andisgovernedbystrictlaws。 Therearemanyexcursionroutes，somedangerousandsomenot，somethatcanbemadesafelywithoutaguide，andsomethatcannot。Thebureaudeterminesthesethings。 Whereitdecidesthataguideisnecessary，youareforbiddentogowithoutone。Neitherareyouallowedtobeavictimofextortion:thelawstateswhatyouaretopay。 Theguidesserveinrotation；youcannotselectthemanwhoistotakeyourlifeintohishands，youmusttaketheworstinthelot，ifitishisturn。Aguide\'sfeerangesallthewayupfromahalf-dollar(forsometriflingexcursionofafewrods)totwentydollars，accordingtothedistancetraversedandthenatureoftheground。 Aguide\'sfeefortakingapersontothesummitofMontBlancandback，istwentydollars——andheearnsit。 Thetimeemployedisusuallythreedays，andthereisenoughearlyrisinginittomakeamanfarmore\"healthyandwealthyandwise\"thananyonemanhasanyrighttobe。 Theporter\'sfeeforthesametripistendollars。 Severalfools——no，Imeanseveraltourists——usuallygotogether，anddivideuptheexpense，andthusmakeitlight； forifonlyonef——tourist，Imean——went，hewouldhavetohaveseveralguidesandporters，andthatwouldmakethemattercostly。 WewentintotheChief\'soffice。Thereweremapsofmountainsonthewalls；alsooneortwolithographsofcelebratedguides，andaportraitofthescientistDeSaussure。 Inglasscasesweresomelabeledfragmentsofbootsandbatons，andothersuggestiverelicsandremembrancesofcasualtiesonMountBlanc。Inabookwasarecordofalltheascentswhichhaveeverbeenmade，beginningwithNos。 1and2——beingthoseofJacquesBalmatandDeSaussure，in1787，andendingwithNo。685，whichwasn\'tcoldyet。 InfactNo。685wasstandingbytheofficialtablewaitingtoreceivethepreciousofficialdiplomawhichshouldprovetohisGermanhouseholdandtohisdescendantsthathehadoncebeenindiscreetenoughtoclimbtothetopofMontBlanc。 Helookedveryhappywhenhegothisdocument；infact，hespokeupandsaidheWAShappy。 Itriedtobuyadiplomaforaninvalidfriendathomewhohadnevertraveled，andwhosedesireallhislifehasbeentoascendMontBlanc，buttheGuide-in-Chiefratherinsolentlyrefusedtosellmeone。Iwasverymuchoffended。 IsaidIdidnotproposetobediscriminatedagainstontheaccountofmynationality；thathehadjustsoldadiplomatothisGermangentleman，andmymoneywasagoodashis；Iwouldseetoitthathecouldn\'tkeephisshopforGermansanddenyhisproducetoAmericans； Iwouldhavehislicensetakenawayfromhimatthedroppingofahandkerchief；ifFrancerefusedtobreakhim，Iwouldmakeaninternationalmatterofitandbringonawar； thesoilshouldbedrenchedwithblood；andnotonlythat，butIwouldsetupanoppositionshowandselldiplomasathalfprice。 FortwocentsIwouldhavedonethesethings，too； butnobodyofferedmetwocents。ItriedtomovethatGerman\'sfeelings，butitcouldnotbedone；hewouldnotgivemehisdiploma，neitherwouldhesellittome。 ITOLDhimmyfriendwassickandcouldnotcomehimself，buthesaidhedidnotcareaVERDAMMTESPFENNIG，hewantedhisdiplomaforhimself——didIsupposehewasgoingtoriskhisneckforthatthingandthengiveittoasickstranger?Indeedhewouldn\'t，sohewouldn\'t。 Iresolved，then，thatIwoulddoallIcouldtoinjureMontBlanc。 Intherecord-bookwasalistofallthefatalaccidentswhichhappenedonthemountain。Itbeganwiththeonein1820whentheRussianDr。Hamel\'sthreeguideswerelostinacreviceoftheglacier，anditrecordedthedeliveryoftheremainsinthevalleybytheslow-movingglacierforty-oneyearslater。Thelatestcatastropheborethedate1877。 Westeppedoutandrovedaboutthevillageawhile。 InfrontofthelittlechurchwasamonumenttothememoryoftheboldguideJacquesBalmat，thefirstmanwhoeverstooduponthesummitofMontBlanc。Hemadethatwildtripsolitaryandalone。Heaccomplishedtheascentanumberoftimesafterward。Astretchofnearlyhalfacenturylaybetweenhisfirstascentandhislastone。 Attheripeoldageofseventy-twohewasclimbingaroundacornerofaloftyprecipiceofthePicduMidi——nobodywithhim——whenheslippedandfell。 Sohediedintheharness。 Hehadgrownveryavariciousinhisoldage，andusedtogooffstealthilytohuntfornon-existentandimpossiblegoldamongthoseperilouspeaksandprecipices。 Hewasonaquestofthatkindwhenhelosthislife。 Therewasastatuetohim，andanothertoDeSaussure，inthehallofourhotel，andametalplateonthedoorofaroomupstairsboreaninscriptiontotheeffectthatthatroomhadbeenoccupiedbyAlbertSmith。 BalmatandDeSaussurediscoveredMontBlanc——sotospeak——butitwasSmithwhomadeitapayingproperty。 HisarticlesinBLACKWOODandhislecturesonMontBlancinLondonadvertiseditandmadepeopleasanxioustoseeitasifitowedthemmoney。 Aswestrolledalongtheroadwelookedupandsawaredsignal-lightglowinginthedarknessofthemountainside。 Itseemedbutatriflingwayup——perhapsahundredyards，aclimboftenminutes。Itwasaluckypieceofsagacityinusthatweconcludedtostopamanwhomwemetandgetalightforourpipesfromhiminsteadofcontinuingtheclimbtothatlanterntogetalight，ashadbeenourpurpose。 ThemansaidthatthatlanternwasontheGrandsMulets，somesixty-fivehundredfeetabovethevalley!IknowbyourRiffelbergexperience，thatitwouldhavetakenusagoodpartofaweektogoupthere。Iwouldsoonernotsmokeatall，thantakeallthattroubleforalight。 Eveninthedaytimetheforeshadowingeffectofthismountain\'scloseproximitycreatescuriousdeceptions。 Forinstance，oneseeswiththenakedeyeacabinuptherebesidetheglacier，andalittleaboveandbeyondheseesthespotwherethatredlightwaslocated； hethinkshecouldthrowastonefromtheoneplacetotheother。Buthecouldn\'t，forthedifferencebetweenthetwoaltitudesismorethanthreethousandfeet。 Itlooksimpossible，frombelow，thatthiscanbetrue，butitistrue，nevertheless。 Whilestrollingaround，wekepttherunofthemoonallthetime，andwestillkeptaneyeonherafterwegotbacktothehotelportico。Ihadatheorythatthegravitationofrefraction，beingsubsidiarytoatmosphericcompensation，therefrangibilityoftheearth\'ssurfacewouldemphasizethiseffectinregionswheregreatmountainrangesoccur，andpossiblysoeven-handedimpacttheodicandidyllicforcestogether，theoneupontheother，astopreventthemoonfromrisinghigherthan12，200feetabovesea-level。Thisdaringtheoryhadbeenreceivedwithfranticscornbysomeofmyfellow-scientists，andwithaneagersilencebyothers。AmongtheformerImaymentionProf。H——y；andamongthelatterProf。T——l。Suchisprofessionaljealousy；ascientistwillnevershowanykindnessforatheorywhichhedidnotstarthimself。 Thereisnofeelingofbrotherhoodamongthesepeople。 Indeed，theyalwaysresentitwhenIcallthembrother。 Toshowhowfartheirungenerositycancarrythem，IwillstatethatIofferedtoletProf。H——ypublishmygreattheoryashisowndiscovery；Ievenbeggedhimtodoit； Ievenproposedtoprintitmyselfashistheory。 Insteadofthankingme，hesaidthatifItriedtofastenthattheoryonhimhewouldsuemeforslander。 IwasgoingtoofferittoMr。Darwin，whomIunderstoodtobeamanwithoutprejudices，butitoccurredtomethatperhapshewouldnotbeinterestedinitsinceitdidnotconcernheraldry。 ButIamgladnow，thatIwasforcedtofathermyintrepidtheorymyself，for，onthenightofwhichIamwriting，itwastriumphantlyjustifiedandestablished。MontBlancisnearlysixteenthousandfeethigh；hehidthemoonutterly； nearhimisapeakwhichis12，216feethigh；themoonslidalongbehindthepinnacles，andwhensheapproachedthatoneIwatchedherwithintenseinterest，formyreputationasascientistmuststandorfallbyitsdecision。 IcannotdescribetheemotionswhichsurgedliketidalwavesthroughmybreastwhenIsawthemoonglidebehindthatloftyneedleandpassitbywithoutexposingmorethantwofeetfourinchesofherupperrimaboveit； Iwassecure，then。Iknewshecouldrisenohigher，andIwasright。Shesailedbehindallthepeaksandneversucceededinhoistingherdiskaboveasingleoneofthem。 Whilethemoonwasbehindoneofthosesharpfingers，itsshadowwasflungathwartthevacantheavens—— along，slanting，clean-cut，darkray——withastreamingandenergeticsuggestionofFORCEaboutit，suchastheascendingjetofwaterfromapowerfulfire-engineaffords。 Itwascurioustoseeagoodstrongshadowofanearthlyobjectcastuponsointangibleafieldastheatmosphere。 Wewenttobed，atlast，andwentquicklytosleep，butI wokeup，afteraboutthreehours，withthrobbingtemples，andaheadwhichwasphysicallysore，outsideandin。 Iwasdazed，dreamy，wretched，seedy，unrefreshed。 Irecognizedtheoccasionofallthis:itwasthattorrent。 InthemountainvillagesofSwitzerland，andalongtheroads，onehasalwaystheroarofthetorrentinhisears。 Heimaginesitismusic，andhethinkspoeticthingsaboutit；heliesinhiscomfortablebedandislulledtosleepbyit。Butbyandbyhebeginstonoticethathisheadisverysore——hecannotaccountforit； insolitudeswheretheprofoundestsilencereigns，henoticesasullen，distant，continuousroarinhisears，whichislikewhathewouldexperienceifhehadsea-shellspressedagainstthem——hecannotaccountforit；heisdrowsyandabsent-minded；thereisnotenacitytohismind，hecannotkeepholdofathoughtandfollowitout； ifhesitsdowntowrite，hisvocabularyisempty，nosuitablewordswillcome，heforgetswhathestartedtodo，andremainsthere，peninhand，headtiltedup，eyesclosed，listeningpainfullytothemuffledroarofadistanttraininhisears；inhissoundestsleepthestraincontinues，hegoesonlistening，alwayslisteningintently，anxiously，andwakesatlast，harassed，irritable，unrefreshed。 Hecannotmanagetoaccountforthesethings。 Dayafterdayhefeelsasifhehadspenthisnightsinasleeping-car。Itactuallytakeshimweekstofindoutthatitisthosepersecutingtorrentsthathavebeenmakingallthemischief。ItistimeforhimtogetoutofSwitzerland，then，forassoonashehasdiscoveredthecause，themiseryismagnifiedseveralfold。Theroarofthetorrentismaddening，then，forhisimaginationisassisting；thephysicalpainitinflictsisexquisite。 Whenhefindsheisapproachingoneofthosestreams，hisdreadissolivelythatheisdisposedtoflythetrackandavoidtheimplacablefoe。 Eightorninemonthsafterthedistressofthetorrentshaddepartedfromme，theroarandthunderofthestreetsofParisbroughtitallbackagain。Imovedtothesixthstoryofthehoteltohuntforpeace。 Aboutmidnightthenoisesdulledaway，andIwassinkingtosleep，whenIheardanewandcurioussound； Ilistened:evidentlysomejoyouslunaticwassoftlydancinga\"doubleshuffle\"intheroomovermyhead。 Ihadtowaitforhimtogetthrough，ofcourse。Fivelong，longminuteshesmoothlyshuffledaway——apausefollowed，thensomethingfellwithathumponthefloor。 Isaidtomyself\"There——heispullingoffhisboots—— thankheavensheisdone。\"Anotherslightpause——hewenttoshufflingagain!Isaidtomyself，\"Ishetryingtoseewhathecandowithonlyonebooton?\"Presentlycameanotherpauseandanotherthumponthefloor。Isaid\"Good，hehaspulledoffhisotherboot——NOWheisdone。\" Buthewasn\'t。Thenextmomenthewasshufflingagain。 Isaid，\"Confoundhim，heisatitinhisslippers!\" Afteralittlecamethatsameoldpause，andrightafteritthatthumpontheflooroncemore。Isaid，\"Hanghim，hehadonTWOpairofboots!\"Foranhourthatmagicianwentonshufflingandpullingoffbootstillhehadshedasmanyastwenty-fivepair，andIwashoveringonthevergeoflunacy。Igotmygunandstoleupthere。Thefellowwasinthemidstofanacreofsprawlingboots，andhehadabootinhishand，shufflingit——no，ImeanPOLISHINGit。 Themysterywasexplained。Hehadn\'tbeendancing。 Hewasthe\"Boots\"ofthehotel，andwasattendingtobusiness。 CHAPTERXLIV [IScaleMontBlanc——byTelescope] Afterbreakfast，thatnextmorninginChamonix，wewentoutintheyardandwatchedthegangsofexcursioningtouristsarrivinganddepartingwiththeirmulesandguidesandporters；theywetookalookthroughthetelescopeatthesnowyhumpofMontBlanc。Itwasbrilliantwithsunshine，andthevastsmoothbulgeseemedhardlyfivehundredyardsaway。WiththenakedeyewecoulddimlymakeoutthehouseatthePierrePointue，whichislocatedbythesideofthegreatglacier，andismorethanthreethousandfeetabovethelevelofthevalley； butwiththetelescopewecouldseeallitsdetails。 WhileIlooked，awomanrodebythehouseonamule，andI sawherwithsharpdistinctness；Icouldhavedescribedherdress。Isawhernodtothepeopleofthehouse，andreinuphermule，andputherhanduptoshieldhereyesfromthesun。Iwasnotusedtotelescopes； infact，Ihadneverlookedthroughagoodonebefore； itseemedincredibletomethatthiswomancouldbesofaraway。IwassatisfiedthatIcouldseeallthesedetailswithmynakedeye；butwhenItriedit，thatmuleandthosevividpeoplehadwhollyvanished，andthehouseitselfwasbecomesmallandvague。Itriedthetelescopeagain，andagaineverythingwasvivid。 Thestrongblackshadowsofthemuleandthewomanwereflungagainstthesideofthehouse，andIsawthemule\'ssilhouettewaveitsears。 Thetelescopulist——orthetelescopulariat——Idonotknowwhichisright——saidapartyweremakingagrandascent，andwouldcomeinsightontheremoteupperheights，presently；sowewaitedtoobservethisperformance。 PresentlyIhadasuperbidea。IwantedtostandwithapartyonthesummitofMontBlanc，merelytobeabletosayIhaddoneit，andIbelievedthetelescopecouldsetmewithinsevenfeetoftheuppermostman。 Thetelescoperassuredmethatitcould。IthenaskedhimhowmuchIowedhimforasfarasIhadgot?Hesaid，onefranc。Iaskedhimhowmuchitwouldcosttomaketheentireascent?Threefrancs。Iatoncedeterminedtomaketheentireascent。ButfirstIinquirediftherewasanydanger?Hesaidno——notbytelescope； saidhehadtakenagreatmanypartiestothesummit，andneverlostaman。Iaskedwhathewouldchargetoletmyagentgowithme，togetherwithsuchguidesandportersasmightbenecessary。HesaidhewouldletHarrisgofortwofrancs；andthatunlesswewereunusuallytimid，heshouldconsiderguidesandportersunnecessary； itwasnotcustomarytotakethem，whengoingbytelescope，fortheywereratheranencumbrancethanahelp。 Hesaidthatthepartynowonthemountainwereapproachingthemostdifficultpart，andifwehurriedweshouldovertakethemwithintenminutes，andcouldthenjointhemandhavethebenefitoftheirguidesandporterswithouttheirknowledge，andwithoutexpensetous。 Ithensaidwewouldstartimmediately。IbelieveI saiditcalmly，thoughIwasconsciousofashudderandofapalingcheek，inviewofthenatureoftheexploitIwassounreflectinglyengagedin。Buttheolddaredevilspiritwasuponme，andIsaidthatasI hadcommittedmyselfIwouldnotbackdown；IwouldascendMontBlancifitcostmemylife。Itoldthemantoslanthismachineintheproperdirectionandletusbeoff。 Harriswasafraidanddidnotwanttogo，butIheartenedhimupandsaidIwouldholdhishandalltheway；sohegavehisconsent，thoughhetrembledalittleatfirst。 Itookalastpatheticlookuponthepleasantsummersceneaboutme，thenboldlyputmyeyetotheglassandpreparedtomountamongthegrimglaciersandtheeverlastingsnows。 WetookourwaycarefullyandcautiouslyacrossthegreatGlacierdesBossons，overyawningandterrificcrevicesandamongimposingcragsandbuttressesoficewhichwerefringedwithiciclesofgiganticproportions。Thedesertoficethatstretchedfarandwideaboutuswaswildanddesolatebeyonddescription，andtheperilswhichbesetusweresogreatthatattimesIwasmindedtoturnback。 ButIpulledmyplucktogetherandpushedon。 Wepassedtheglaciersafelyandbegantomountthesteepsbeyond，withgreatalacrity。Whenweweresevenminutesoutfromthestarting-point，wereachedanaltitudewherethescenetookanewaspect； anapparentlylimitlesscontinentofgleamingsnowwastiltedheavenwardbeforeourfaces。Asmyeyefollowedthatawfulacclivityfarawayupintotheremoteskies，itseemedtomethatallIhadeverseenbeforeofsublimityandmagnitudewassmallandinsignificantcomparedtothis。 Werestedamoment，andthenbegantomountwithspeed。 Withinthreeminuteswecaughtsightofthepartyaheadofus，andstoppedtoobservethem。Theyweretoilingupalong，slantingridgeofsnow——twelvepersons，ropedtogethersomefifteenfeetapart，marchinginsinglefile，andstronglymarkedagainsttheclearbluesky。Onewasawoman。 Wecouldseethemlifttheirfeetandputthemdown； wesawthemswingtheiralpenstocksforwardinunison，likesomanypendulums，andthenbeartheirweightuponthem；wesawtheladywaveherhandkerchief。 Theydraggedthemselvesupwardinawornandwearyway，fortheyhadbeenclimbingsteadilyfromtheGrandMulets，ontheGlacierdesDossons，sincethreeinthemorning，anditwaseleven，now。Wesawthemsinkdowninthesnowandrest，anddrinksomethingfromabottle。 Afterawhiletheymovedon，andastheyapproachedthefinalshortdashofthehome-stretchwecloseduponthemandjoinedthem。 Presentlyweallstoodtogetheronthesummit!Whataviewwasspreadoutbelow!AwayoffunderthenorthwesternhorizonrolledthesilentbillowsoftheFarneseOberland，theirsnowycrestsglintingsoftlyinthesubduedlightsofdistance； inthenorthrosethegiantformoftheWobblehorn，drapedfrompeaktoshoulderinsablethunder-clouds； beyondhim，totheright，stretchedthegrandprocessionalsummitsoftheCisalpineCordillera，drownedinasensuoushaze；totheeastloomedthecolossalmassesoftheYodelhorn，theFuddelhorn，andtheDinnerhorn，theircloudlesssummitsflashingwhiteandcoldinthesun； beyondthemshimmeredthefaintfarlineoftheGhautsofJubbelporeandtheAigullesdesAlleghenies；inthesouthtoweredthesmokingpeakofPopocatapetlandtheunapproachablealtitudesofthepeerlessScrabblehorn； inthewest-souththestatelyrangeoftheHimalayaslaydreaminginapurplegloom；andthenceallaroundthecurvinghorizontheeyerovedoveratroubledseaofsun-kissedAlps，andnoted，hereandthere，thenobleproportionsandthesoaringdomesoftheBottlehorn，andtheSaddlehorn，andtheShovelhorn，andthePowderhorn，allbathedinthegloryofnoonandmottledwithsoftlyglidingblots，theshadowsflungfromdriftingclouds。 Overcomebythescene，weallraisedatriumphant，tremendousshout，inunison。Astartledmanatmyelbowsaid: \"Confoundyou，whatdoyouyelllikethatfor，righthereinthestreet?\" ThatbroughtmedowntoChamonix，likeaflirt。 Igavethatmansomespiritualadviceanddisposedofhim，andthenpaidthetelescopemanhisfullfee，andsaidthatwewerecharmedwiththetripandwouldremaindown，andnotreascendandrequirehimtofetchusdownbytelescope。 Thispleasedhimverymuch，forofcoursewecouldhavesteppedbacktothesummitandputhimtothetroubleofbringingushomeifwewantedto。 Ijudgedwecouldgetdiplomas，now，anyhow；sowewentafterthem，buttheChiefGuideputusoff，withonepretextoranother，duringallthetimewestayedinChamonix，andweendedbynevergettingthematall。 Somuchforhisprejudiceagainstpeople\'snationality。 However，weworriedhimenoughtomakehimrememberusandourascentforsometime。Heevensaid，once，thathewishedtherewasalunaticasyluminChamonix。 Thisshowsthathereallyhadfearsthatweweregoingtodrivehimmad。Itwaswhatweintendedtodo，butlackoftimedefeatedit。 Icannotventuretoadvisethereaderonewayortheother，astoascendingMontBlanc。Isayonlythis:ifheisatalltimid，theenjoymentsofthetripwillhardlymakeupforthehardshipsandsufferingshewillhavetoendure。 But，ifhehasgoodnerve，youth，health，andabold，firmwill，andcouldleavehisfamilycomfortablyprovidedforincasetheworsthappened，hewouldfindtheascentawonderfulexperience，andtheviewfromthetopavisiontodreamabout，andtellabout，andrecallwithexultationallthedaysofhislife。 WhileIdonotadvisesuchapersontoattempttheascent，Idonotadvisehimagainstit。Butifheelectstoattemptit，lethimbewarilycarefuloftwothings:choseacalm，clearday；anddonotpaythetelescopemaninadvance。 Therearedarkstoriesofhisgettingadvancepayersonthesummitandthenleavingthemtheretorot。 AfrightfultragedywasoncewitnessedthroughtheChamonixtelescopes。Thinkofquestionsandanswerslikethese，onaninquest: CORONER。Yousawdeceasedlosehislife? WITNESS。Idid。 C。Wherewashe，atthetime? W。ClosetothesummitofMontBlanc。 C。Wherewereyou? W。InthemainstreetofChamonix。 C。Whatwasthedistancebetweenyou? W。ALITTLEOVERFIVEMILES，asthebirdflies。 Thisaccidentoccurredin1866，ayearandamonthafterthedisasterontheMatterhorn。ThreeadventurousEnglishgentlemen，[1]ofgreatexperienceinmountain-climbing，madeuptheirmindstoascendMontBlancwithoutguidesorporters。 Allendeavorstodissuadethemfromtheirprojectfailed。 PowerfultelescopesarenumerousinChamonix。Thesehugebrasstubes，mountedontheirscaffoldingsandpointedskywardfromeverychoicevantage-ground，havetheformidablelookofartillery，andgivethetownthegeneralaspectofgettingreadytorepelachargeofangels。 ThereadermayeasilybelievethatthetelescopeshadplentyofcustomonthatAugustmorningin1866，foreverybodyknewofthedangerousundertakingwhichwasonfoot，andallhadfearsthatmisfortunewouldresult。 Allthemorningthetubesremaineddirectedtowardthemountainheights，eachwithitsanxiousgrouparoundit； butthewhitedesertswerevacant。 1。SirGeorgeYoungandhisbrothersJamesandAlbert。 Atlast，towardeleveno\'clock，thepeoplewhowerelookingthroughthetelescopescriedout\"Theretheyare!\"——andsureenough，farup，ontheloftiestterracesoftheGrandPlateau，thethreepygmiesappeared，climbingwithremarkablevigorandspirit。Theydisappearedinthe\"Corridor，\"andwerelosttosightduringanhour。 Thentheyreappeared，andwerepresentlyseenstandingtogetherupontheextremesummitofMontBlanc。So，allwaswell。 TheyremainedafewminutesonthathighestpointoflandinEurope，atargetforallthetelescopes，andwerethenseentobegindescent。Suddenlyallthreevanished。 Aninstantafter，theyappearedagain，TWOTHOUSANDFEET BELOW! Evidently，theyhadtrippedandbeenshotdownanalmostperpendicularslopeoficetoapointwhereitjoinedtheborderoftheupperglacier。Naturally，thedistantwitnesssupposedtheywerenowlookinguponthreecorpses； sotheycouldhardlybelievetheireyeswhentheypresentlysawtwoofthemenrisetotheirfeetandbendoverthethird。 Duringtwohoursandahalftheywatchedthetwobusyingthemselvesovertheextendedformoftheirbrother，whoseemedentirelyinert。Chamonix\'saffairsstoodstill； everybodywasinthestreet，allinterestwascentereduponwhatwasgoingonuponthatloftyandisolatedstagefivemilesaway。Finallythetwo——oneofthemwalkingwithgreatdifficulty——wereseentobegindescent，abandoningthethird，whowasnodoubtlifeless。 Theirmovementswerefollowed，stepbystep，untiltheyreachedthe\"Corridor\"anddisappearedbehinditsridge。 Beforetheyhadhadtimetotraversethe\"Corridor\" andreappear，twilightwascome，andthepowerofthetelescopewasatanend。 Thesurvivorshadamostperilousjourneybeforetheminthegatheringdarkness，fortheymustgetdowntotheGrandsMuletsbeforetheywouldfindasafestopping-place——alongandtediousdescent，andperilousenougheveningooddaylight。Theoldestguidesexpressedtheopinionthattheycouldnotsucceed； thatallthechanceswerethattheywouldlosetheirlives。 Yetthosebravemendidsucceed。TheyreachedtheGrandsMuletsinsafety。Eventhefearfulshockwhichtheirnerveshadsustainedwasnotsufficienttoovercometheircoolnessandcourage。Itwouldappearfromtheofficialaccountthattheywerethreadingtheirwaydownthroughthosedangersfromtheclosinginoftwilightuntiltwoo\'clockinthemorning，orlater，becausetherescuingpartyfromChamonixreachedtheGrandMuletsaboutthreeinthemorningandmovedthencetowardthesceneofthedisasterundertheleadershipofSirGeorgeYoung，\"whohadonlyjustarrived。\" Afterhavingbeenonhisfeettwenty-fourhours，intheexhaustingworkofmountain-climbing，SirGeorgebeganthereascentattheheadofthereliefpartyofsixguides，torecoverthecorpseofhisbrother。 Thiswasconsideredanewimprudence，asthenumberwastoofewfortheservicerequired。AnotherreliefpartypresentlyarrivedatthecabinontheGrandsMuletsandquarteredthemselvestheretoawaitevents。 TenhoursafterSirGeorge\'sdeparturetowardthesummit，thisnewreliefwerestillscanningthesnowyaltitudesabovethemfromtheirownhighperchamongtheicedesertstenthousandfeetabovethelevelofthesea，butthewholeforenoonhadpassedwithoutaglimpseofanylivingthingappearingupthere。 Thiswasalarming。Halfadozenoftheirnumbersetout，thenearlyintheafternoon，toseekandsuccorSirGeorgeandhisguides。Thepersonsremainingatthecabinsawthesedisappear，andthenensuedanotherdistressingwait。 Fourhourspassed，withouttidings。Thenatfiveo\'clockanotherrelief，consistingofthreeguides，setforwardfromthecabin。Theycarriedfoodandcordialsfortherefreshmentoftheirpredecessors； theytooklanternswiththem，too；nightwascomingon，andtomakemattersworse，afine，coldrainhadbeguntofall。 Atthesamehourthatthesethreebegantheirdangerousascent，theofficialGuide-in-ChiefoftheMontBlancregionundertookthedangerousdescenttoChamonix，allalone，togetreinforcements。However，acoupleofhourslater，at7P。M。，theanxioussolicitudecametoanend，andhappily。Abuglenotewasheard，andaclusterofblackspeckswasdistinguishableagainstthesnowsoftheupperheights。Thewatcherscountedthesespeckseagerly——fourteen——nobodywasmissing。Anhourandahalflatertheywereallsafeundertheroofofthecabin。 Theyhadbroughtthecorpsewiththem。SirGeorgeYoungtarriedtherebutafewminutes，andthenbeganthelongandtroublesomedescentfromthecabintoChamonix。 Heprobablyreachedthereabouttwoorthreeo\'clockinthemorning，afterhavingbeenafootamongtherocksandglaciersduringtwodaysandtwonights。Hisendurancewasequaltohisdaring。 ThecauseoftheunaccountabledelayofSirGeorgeandthereliefpartiesamongtheheightswherethedisasterhadhappenedwasathickfog——or，partlythatandpartlytheslowanddifficultworkofconveyingthedeadbodydowntheperiloussteeps。 Thecorpse，uponbeingviewedattheinquest，showednobruises，anditwassometimebeforethesurgeonsdiscoveredthattheneckwasbroken。Oneofthesurvivingbrothershadsustainedsomeunimportantinjuries，buttheotherhadsufferednohurtatall。Howthesemencouldfalltwothousandfeet，almostperpendicularly，andliveafterward，isamoststrangeandunaccountablething。 AgreatmanywomenhavemadetheascentofMontBlanc。 AnEnglishgirl，MissStratton，conceivedthedaringidea，twoorthreeyearsago，ofattemptingtheascentinthemiddleofwinter。Shetriedit——andshesucceeded。 Moreover，shefrozetwoofherfingersonthewayup，shefellinlovewithherguideonthesummit，andshemarriedhimwhenshegottothebottomagain。 Thereisnothinginromance，inthewayofastriking\"situation，\"whichcanbeatthislovesceneinmidheavenonanisolatedice-crestwiththethermometeratzeroandanArticgaleblowing。 ThefirstwomanwhoascendedMontBlancwasagirlagedtwenty-two——Mlle。MariaParadis——1809。Nobodywaswithherbuthersweetheart，andhewasnotaguide。 Thesexthentookarestforaboutthirtyyears，whenaMlle。d\'Angevillemadetheascent——1838。InChamonixIpickeduparudeoldlithographofthatdaywhichpicturedher\"intheact。\" However，Ivalueitlessasaworkofartthanasafashion-plate。Missd\'Angevilleputonapairofmen\'spantaloonstoclimbit，whichwaswise；butshecrampedtheirutilitybyaddingherpetticoat，whichwasidiotic。 Oneofthemournfulestcalamitieswhichmen\'sdispositiontoclimbdangerousmountainshasresultedin，happenedonMontBlancinSeptember1870。M。D\'ArvetellsthestorybrieflyinhisHISTOIREDUMONTBLANC。 InthenextchapterIwillcopyitschieffeatures。 CHAPTERXLV ACatastropheWhichCostElevenLives[PerishedattheVergeofSafety] Onthe5thofSeptember，1870，acaravanofelevenpersonsdepartedfromChamonixtomaketheascentofMontBlanc。 Threeofthepartyweretourists；Messrs。RandallandBean，Americans，andMr。GeorgeCorkindale，aScotchgentleman； therewerethreeguidesandfiveporters。ThecabinontheGrandsMuletswasreachedthatday；theascentwasresumedearlythenextmorning，September6th。 Thedaywasfineandclear，andthemovementsofthepartywereobservedthroughthetelescopesofChamonix；attwoo\'clockintheafternoontheywereseentoreachthesummit。 Afewminuteslatertheywereseenmakingthefirststepsofthedescent；thenacloudclosedaroundthemandhidthemfromview。 Eighthourspassed，thecloudstillremained，nightcame，noonehadreturnedtotheGrandsMulets。SylvainCouttet，keeperofthecabinthere，suspectedamisfortune，andsentdowntothevalleyforhelp。Adetachmentofguideswentup，butbythetimetheyhadmadethetedioustripandreachedthecabin，aragingstormhadsetin。 Theyhadtowait；nothingcouldbeattemptedinsuchatempest。 ThewildstormlastedMORETHANAWEEK，withoutceasing； butonthe17th，Couttet，withseveralguides，leftthecabinandsucceededinmakingtheascent。Inthesnowywastesnearthesummittheycameuponfivebodies，lyingupontheirsidesinareposefulattitudewhichsuggestedthatpossiblytheyhadfallenasleepthere，whileexhaustedwithfatigueandhungerandbenumbedwithcold，andneverknewwhendeathstoleuponthem。Couttetmovedafewstepsfurtheranddiscoveredfivemorebodies。 Theeleventhcorpse——thatofaporter——wasnotfound，althoughdiligentsearchwasmadeforit。 InthepocketofMr。Bean，oneoftheAmericans，wasfoundanote-bookinwhichhadbeenpenciledsomesentenceswhichadmitus，infleshandspirit，asitwere，tothepresenceofthesemenduringtheirlasthoursoflife，andtothegrislyhorrorswhichtheirfadingvisionlookeduponandtheirfailingconsciousnesstookcognizanceof: TUESDAY，SEPT。6。IhavemadetheascentofMontBlanc，withtenpersons——eightguides，andMr。CorkindaleandMr。Randall。Wereachedthesummitathalfpast2。 Immediatelyafterquittingit，wewereenvelopedincloudsofsnow。Wepassedthenightinagrottohollowedinthesnow，whichaffordedusbutpoorshelter，andI wasillallnight。 SEPT。7——MORNING。Thecoldisexcessive。Thesnowfallsheavilyandwithoutinterruption。Theguidestakenorest。 EVENING。MyDearHessie，wehavebeentwodaysonMontBlanc，inthemidstofaterriblehurricaneofsnow，wehavelostourway，andareinaholescoopedinthesnow，atanaltitudeof15，000feet。Ihavenolongeranyhopeofdescending。 Theyhadwanderedaround，andaround，intheblindingsnow-storm，hopelesslylost，inaspaceonlyahundredyardssquare；andwhencoldandfatiguevanquishedthematlast，theyscoopedtheircaveandlaydowntheretodiebyinches，UNAWARETHATFIVESTEPSMOREWOULDHAVE BROUGHTTHEMINTOTHETRUTHPATH。Theyweresoneartolifeandsafetyasthat，anddidnotsuspectit。