The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-08-30

Jenl offered him, sat down Tor a long cha
on mountaineering matters. He had onl,
just come over from England, where bust
ness had kept him later than usual; ant
was eager to know the condition of tn,
snow and how many high expeditions i
would be safe to undertake so late in th'
year.
81 think at present you may do any yol
like, was Jeni's favorable answer.
'Then I'll engage you for as long as thi
fine weather lasts, and we will see if We
cannot manage something altogether aston
ishing."
ssOh no, sir not this year, l am sorry
to say, for am going home again to-mor
row morning"
Perhaps Jeni was almost as disappointed
at having to say this as Stanley was to heal
it; for, notwithstanding his love for hi
wife and child, Jeni was, as he always had
been, keen mountaineer, and the pros
pect of week or two's work with such q
good walker and climber as Stanley, and
such pleasant companion, too, was very
attractive to him. From Stanley there
followed. long protestation. He did not
care for the Engadine he did not care fol
his holiday; and, in fact, he might as vel
90 straight back to England, he said, since
Jeni would not change his mind and con-
sent to stay.
"And, indeed, 1 would give the whole
thing up" he concluded, ''if it wasn't for
another fellow who is out with me, and
with whom l have promised to make at
least one or two ascents. Look here, Jenl
put off leaving Just for day, and take us
up the Piz Bernina, and l won't plague
you to do anything else, but will be eter-
nally grateful to you
"Up the Bernina You never would
be so foolish as to start with that for first
ascent p
II should not choose to do so, hut I'm
determined to go up il this year, and so is
my friend Langley. He has got into train
ing already in the Tyrol, and well, I'm
never so very much out of it, you know" "
Jeni looked at the wiry, muscular figure
of the speaker, and believed him.
Come, now, you won't refuse me this,
Stanley persuaded. "Im ready to start
tonight: and instead of your reaching
your wife tomorrow evening, why, it will
only be the evening after; for | suppose
you'll go down in the diligence now you are
4 married man. You'll do this to oblige
an old friend, am sure,
"Yes. | will do it, if you think that
everything can be got ready and another
guide found; for if your friend is going we
must have a second guide, and then, he
added suddenly, show about your friend
Is he safe ? l do not like going up the Ber-
nina with an untried man 7"
"You NAV trust me that he is all right.
am no fool to risk your life and mine
with fellow who does not know what he is
about. Langley is member of the
Alpine Club, and has this summer been
up the Ortler Spitz and Monte Cristallo'
II trust to you, Mr.. Stanley"
And they fell to arranging details of the
expedition.
The Piz Bernina is the highest noun
tain in the district, but by no means the
most difficult to ascend, and Jeni, who had
once been up it in mid-winter, taking TWEEN
ty-seven hours without any rest over the
expedition, thought lightly Of it now that
all the conditions were favorable. After
some discussion he decided to leave the
preparations to Stanley, who thoroughly
understood such matters, as he was anxious
to keep a promise he had made long ago
and visit that afternoon cousin OF his
wife in the neighborhood. Stanley sug,
gested as second guide man called
Hardt, whom Langley had brought with
him from the Tyrol, and to this Jenl con-
sented.
''T sent on my ropes to Coire yesterday,
Jeni said. "Will you see that Hard'
brings sufficient and strong ones? Stan
ley promised to do this and everything else
and Jeni having arranged to call for him
at l A. NJ, the two men separated.
Jeni was vexed with himself now the
whole thing was settled, for he disliked
having to telegraph to his wife, and ne
disliked to having, for the first time In his
life, entrusted the preparations to some one
else; however, there was no help for it now
he went to the postofice and sent the fol
lowing telegram: "Sorry, but cannot come
till the $40 p. NJ. train on the 9Th" AND
then he dutifully started to see Christina
cousin, because he knew his little wife
would be sadly vexed if he failed to do SO
He did not get back before $50 P. NJ,
when he threw himself on the bed, and
with his useful but acquired faculty oi
going to sleep and of waking at any given
time, he slept until midnight.
The two gentlemen and the two guides
met punctually at the rendezvous; it was
too dark, in spite of the lanterns they car
ried, for Jeni to examine the faces of Lang
lev and Hardt, but he saw that both were
Young and heavy, powerful-looking men
He asked Hardt if he had everything that
was necessary.
'tYes, everything.
''You are sure 2"
"Quite sure"
'sThen let us be off.
And in the silence which characterizes
men at the beginning of any long under
taking, they started, skirting the small
dark lake of St. Moritz and through the
pine woods towards the foot of the Berni
ina, When daylight broke they were climb
ing slowly up its snowy slopes; Jeni was
the only one of the party who knew the
mountain, but he had not been up it that
year, and he found the snow, after the long
hot summer they had had, unusually soft
and consequently tiring; they could moi
make as rapid progress as usual. Jen
broke long silence by announcing fact
that was by no means encouraging;
''This will be longest ascent of the Ber
nina have ever made"
"What, twenty-seven hoursY
Except that one, of course, which was
follyr'
They were toiling over long snowslop(
without much incline, and Jeni seemed i'm
patient and more out of temper than Stan
ley had ever seen him.
"Tm afraid, after all, you are abusing
me for having kept you from your home
I EFs