Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1852-03-25

so that preferred the more ignoble but equally
exciting mode of transit first alluded 10.
Although our return to the Mulets was &C.
Icomplished in about half the time or the ascent
yet was astonished at the distance we had ira
Iversed, now that my attention was not SO much
taken away by the novelty OF the scenery and
situations. There appeared TO be no end TO the
nIonfets which divide the plateauS; and after q
time, as we descended, the progress became We.
Try troublesome, for the snow beginning TO thaw
an the sun, we went up to our knees al eve
lery step. We were now not together--ittle
parties Of three or four dottng the glacier above
and in front of us. Everybody chose his own
route, and glissaded, or skated or rolled down,
according TO his fancy. The sun was very
bright and warm-we were all very cheerful
and merry; and, although had not had any sleep
for two nights, contrived to keep up tOlsrably
well with the foremost.
At one o'clock in the afternoon we got back
to our old bivouac on the Grauds Mulels, We
had intended 10 have remained here some little
time, but the heat on the rock was 50 sitting
that we could scarcely support il; and Tairraz
announced that the glacier was becomngso so dan
Igerous to traverse, from the melting of the snow
that even now it would be matter OF some
risk to cross it. So we hastily finished our
scraps Of refreshment, and drank our last bottle
OF wine-out Of a stew-pan, by the way, for we
had lost our leathern cups in our evolutions on
the ice-and then, making up our packs, bads
.good-by to the Grands Mulets, most probably
FOR ever.
In five minutes we found that, after all, the
greatest danger Of the undertaking was TO come.
The whole surface Of the Glacier des Blossoms
had melted into perfect sludgs the ice-cli1s were
dripping in the sun, like the well at Knaresbo-
rough: every minute the bridges over the crevi-
lca f,II 4
waists in the thawing snow at ever step we
took. could see that the guides were uneasy.
All the ropes came out again, and we were tied
together in parties of three, about ten feet dis
tant from one another. And now oil the work
OF yesterday had TO be gone over again, with
much more danger attached to it. From the
state OF the snow, tho guides avowed that it was
impossible TO tell whether we should find firm
standing on any arch we arrived at, or 20
through it at once into some frightful chasm.-
They sounded every bridge we came to with
their poles, and shake OF the head was always
the signal for detour. One or two of the
tracks by which we marched up yesterday had
disappeared altogether, and fresh ones had TO be
cautiously selected. We had one tolerably
narrow eacape. Tairraz, who preceded me,
had jumped over a crevice, and on the other
side alighted on a mere bracket Of snow, which
directly gave way beneath him. With the
Squirrel-like rapid activity Of the Chamouni
guides he whirled his baton round 50 as TO cross
the crevicc, which was not %road, but OF
unknown depth, transverselys - ". 5e4gaved him,
but the shock pulled me Off. al eve& Had he
fallen, l must have followasing admIBince we
were tied together-and' OIL France would
have been dragged after m miier- king, Sore star
tied by this little accident s'rla' his Sother oc-
currence during the journen uecoraie
At length, after much an oulldlnge came to
the mordine of the glacier, IN The n not sorry
to find myself standing upohotly ag6k Of hard
granite, for honestly believe that our lives had
not been worth pcnny's purchase ever since
we left the Grands Mulets. We had a long
rest at the Pierre arEchelle, where we deposit
ted our ladder for the next aspirants, and, i'll
the absence OF everything else were content
with little water for refreshment. The cords
were now united, and we went on as we pleas
ed; but ordered Jean Carrier to 70 ahead, and
tell his pretty sweetheart at the Pavilion des
Pelerins that we should make all the party drink
her health there's promise had given day
or two prevIously-and he started of like
chamois. Jean TairraZ was sent forward to be-
speak some milk for us at the Chalet de l. Para,
and then we took our time; and, once more up
on solid Trustworthy ground, began the last des-
cent. Some mules were waiting at the Chalet,
but the road was exceedingly steep and tor
tuous that preferred my ownl legs; and by five
O'Clock we had come down the pine wood, and
found ourselves at the little cabin, with Julie
all brightness and bushes, busying about to re-
ceive US.
Several ladies and gentlemen had come thus
FAR TO meet us; and, what with the friends and
families OF the guides, we now formed very
large party indeed. Itwas here humbly suggest
ed that we should mount our mules, to render
,our entry into Chamouni as imposing as possi-
BILE; after the men had drunk with their friends
and with one another, and indeed with every
body, we formed into our order OF march across
the fells between the two villages. First went
the two Tairraz, Balmat and Carrier, with their
ice-axes, as the chiefs of the party, and spe-
cialy attached to us; then we came on our mules;
, after us walked the body OF the guides, with
such Of their families as had come to meet them
and little boys and girls proId to carry their
batons and appear TO belong 10 the procession;
and; finally, the porters and volunteers with the
! knapsacks brought up the rear. And so we went
f0sEEly sIaTSzgh che s>las that border the Arve,
in the bright afternoon sunlight, receiving little
, boquets from the girls on the way, and meeting
fresh visitdrs from Chamouni every minute.
We had heard the guns firing from Chamouni
, ever since we left the Pelerins; but as we en-
, tered the village wo were greeted with atre-
: mendous round Of Alpine artillery from the root
, of the new Hotel Royal, and the garden AM
: courtyard Of tho Hotel dc Londrss. The whole
I population was in the streets and on the bridge
: the ladies at the hotels waving their handker
: chiefs, and the men cheering; and harPist and
|, a violin player now Joined the cortege. WheT
S we got into the court of cur hotel, NJ. Edouart
9 iTairTaz had dressed q little table with som'
beautiful boquets and wax canilss, until 4 seae-
\ IA ,,nnomuonlV iiLe nm altar hut for the ball