Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1874-07-18
In the Sierra Nevada.

As we tied ourselves together, !
told Cotter to hold himself in read
mess to jump down into one OF these
in case l fell, and started to climb
up the wall, succeeding quite well
for about twenty feet. About two
feet above my hands was crack,
which, if my arms had been long
enough to reach, would probably
have led me to the very top; but |
judged it beyond my powers, and,
with great care, descended to the
side of Cotter, who believed that
his superior length of arm would
enable him to make the reach.
Iplanted myself against the rock,
and he started cautiously up the
wall. Looking down the glare front
of ice, it was not pleasant to consid'
er at what velocity slip would
send me to the bottom, or at what
angle, and to what probable depth,
l should be projected into the ice
water. Indeed, the idea of such a
sndden bath was so annoying that l
lifted my eyes toward my compan-
ion. He reached my farthest point
without great difficulty, and made a
bold spring for the crack, reaching
it without an inch to spare, and
hoiuihs - "holly by his fingers.
He thus worked himself Slowly
along the crack toward the top, at
last getting his arms over the brink
and gradually drawing his body up
and out of sight. 1t was the most
splendid piece Of slow gymnastics |
ever witnessed. For moment he
said nothing; but when l asked if
he was all right, he cheerfully re.
peated, "All right" 1t was only
a moments work to send up the
two knapsacks and the barometer,
and receive again my end Of
the lasso. AS | tied it round my
breast, COtter said to me in an easy,
confidentialy tone, "Don't be afraid
to bear your weight l made up
my mind, however, to make that
climb without his aid, and l hus.
banded my strength as | climbed
from crack to crack. l got up with.
out difficulty to my former point,
rested there a moment, hanging
solely by my hands, gathered every
pound of strength and atom of will
for the reach, then jerked myself
upwards with swing, just getting
the tips of my fingers into the crack.
In an instant had grasped it with
my right hand also. l felt the sin
ews of my fingers relax a little, but
the picture of the slope of ice and
the blue lake affected me so strong
ly that I redoubled my grip, and
slowly along the crack I'M
til l reached the angle, and got one
arm over the edge as Cotter had |
done. AS l rested my body upon
the edge and looked up at Cotter, l
saw that, instead of a level top, he
was sitting upon smooth, roof-like
slope, where the least pull would
have dragged him over the brink.
He had no brace for his feet, nor
hold for his hands, but had seated
calmly, with the rope tied
round his breast, knowing that my
only safety lay in being able to
make the climb entirely unaided;
certain that the least waver in his
tone would have disheartened me.
and perhaps made it impossible.
The shock received on seeing this
affected me for a moment, but not
enough to throw me off my guard,
and l climbed quickly over the
edge. When we had walked back
out of danger we sat down upon
the granite for a rest. In all nv
of mountaineering
nave never known an act of such
cal, profound courage as this of
COtters.-Atlantic.