Litchfield enquirer., 1881-05-12


 more easily. But soon we were breasting the shelving curves of the Finsterasr glacier, and uncommonlY stiff they were. There was no danger to speak of, but there was an infnity of insignificant crevasses which we had to stride across or to turn. And so low as this, the snow continued to be sloppy so that the scaling became exceedingly laborious Still Mir. Lurcher's bodily strength stood him h good stead, and he showed DO signs of break ing down. But the sghs that broke from his heavlng bosom came heavier and heavier i; with doginess that did his resources consid- erable credit, he was always hitting on pre- texts for check.-now he was tying boot lace now he was casting enraptured glances behind and then Abraham was only too willing to wait for him; and again he would answer to an imaginary call, and come to 8 standstin till the matter was cleared up. And the desponding looks he cast up towards the ridge before us ought to have moved any heart that was not of stone.
 a However, everything must have an end, and so had that slow ascent. We found no seri- ous difficulties on the famous ice-wall-that year it chanced to be easy and the famous bergscltrun6 was so solidly bridged over that one might have passed without suspecting it's existence. It was only here and there we cut a shert flight of steps in itsfrozen face
 
 marked nervous quivering in MT. Lurcher's limbs when he saw the ice-axe called into requisition. We admired the view, of course with it's magnificent foreground and the bril- liant middle distances. of tumbling rivulets and cascades of ice swelling into glacier rivers and estuaries, till they discharged themselves in torrents in the expanse of the widening lakes, which were lost to our sight in the windings of the valleys. But the day was glorious, and the view would keep; and the sharp calls of the stomach Slenced the raptures of the soul .-+ .... -..e. ~.l
 ''Let us buckle to breakfast-lu whatever you like to call it." said Abraham, heartily. ''lf know anything of your con- stitution, Hooper, you must have been raven ing hours ago. and as for you, James, my poor fellow, it's high time you recruited with a square meal. You needn't laugh, Hooper he isn't hardened to this kind of thing like you; and now that come to try it second time, doubt the Strahleck was stiff bit of work to set him to-" A.~ Y ~ r5~
 ''It's made me stiff and sore too," whined James, lugubriously. Eve such stitches in my back and side as never were; and as for my legs and arms, feel as if the bones were broken in them. Please, sir, will it be very long before we get there, when once we fairly start to go down?"
 Long! Lord bless you, my good lad,- that's to say, not very long" he added, catch ing himself quickly.
 But knew as we'll as he that it would take us eight good hours at the shortest, if we made no quicker way than we had done hith- erto; and began to have grave misgvlngs as to the likelihood of James holding out. He had bodily strength enough, it was clear; and so far Abraham was justified in having set him to such a task as the Strahleck, which, though toilsome could scarcely be called per- ilous. But it was just as plain that he was chicken hearted, though he had "a tolerable head of his own; and endurance without pluck and enjoyment goes but short halfway in the higher Alps
 Why, you seem to be off.,yourfeed, James. D ejaculated Abraham, anxiously Do pass him thigh of that chicken, Hooper 1t goes down more easily than the cold mutton. ? And for once I shared Abrahams anxiety, for thought it an ominous sign when Lurch- CT, after loig fasting and exercise, turned a cold shoulder to the contents of the luncheon sack. If he did not eat to keep up his for ces the rest of us would have to carry him before all was over. On the other hand, he was very ready to drink and though Abra ham began by lacing hls cups for Linn, subse- quently he had to lay an embargo on the brandy.
 ''Take care, James, my lad; mind how you take spirits on an empty stomach" And in- deed the warning came none too soon for Jauies was waxing unpeasantly lively.
 While the descent lay over banks of snow, we accomplished it swiftly and easily enough. At first, where it was really steep, we took 1t gingerly; but afterwards, as the slopes became gentler, we went in for glissades. I remark ed that James had provided himself with a spirit flask, from which he repeatedly took stealthy sips; SO took an early opportunity of relieving him of it, when his jodellings were silenced in fit of sulks At last we were brought up by an inapasse among the lower rocks, and turned aside to strike down on the glacier. That was more easilydecid- ed upon than done. There was rather an ugly abyss yawning round the side of it. which we traced backwards for some considerable dis tance without it's appearing to get any more practicable. However, it was hardly worth while searching farther, for the guides pro- nounced the passage safe enough with very ordinary precautions. So the rope was called into requisition-we had only used it once or twice on the other side Of the pass-and care- fully attached to our persons Wildheuer took the jump first, next Cox, and then a porter, and finally myself so we had grouped ourselves into a most solid point dappui on
 
 Lurcher's turn. Animated by our example he took the leap lightly enough, but so.lehow he slipped and jumped little short. coming down upon shelving cornice of rotten snow. It crumbled beneath his boots and he subsided into the chasm, to be brought up with jerk. There was no real danger, and we hauled him up again by main force, although his hands were slightly scored in the operation. But what a change was there, when he was landed in safety on the glacier. The fictitious cour- age that came from the cognac had all evapor- ated. and his pulses were going at a ftful gallop. The colour had faded from his cheek and his eyes stared blankly into vacancy We'll, we rubbed him down and tried to cheer him up, and administered another. dose of stimulant; and then, as we were all getting impatient, we forced him to set himself m motion. Unluckily this part of the glacier was good deal crevassed, and he took to craning at each of the transverse rifts For tunately they were so narrow that, by seizing him under the armpits and applying judicious pressure from behind, we had no great diff culty in lifting him along But we were losing precious time, and the strain .on the temper was becoming insupportable. Mine went alto- gether. 'fhat precious 1'rOtege of yours is regular Jonah, Cox. He has been playing the very mischief with us all through our trip ahu uoW uc IS SpOIiiflS dS promising an eX petition as ever couple of gentlemen started on. Thanks to him, we shall have to spend the night in the open, if we don't leave our bones in the glacier, as appears likely enough"
 The softness of Abraham's answer should have turned away the wrath of any man. He apologised so humbiy for his indiscretion and the short comings of his pet, that felt my lips must be sealed till we came through our troubles. Aud my ill-bumour was turned in upon myself, 80 far as could not relieve It in smothered generations on Lurcher. How we did labnur under a glaring sun at dragging his limp dead-weight along! Now and again we made him rally for bit, but he seemed to have lost the power of sustai:ing motion. Wildheuer did his duty like man; and in his genial c0nGrGderse for Cox, he uttered no word of complaint. But his influence after a time failed to pacify his followers and the perters fairly struck for extra pay, which we were obliged topromise them then and there.
 Meanwhile Lurcher' grew limper and lim- per. ..-s
 There can be no question that he was quite nAn rC,,c vnvt& AL. . !. =