The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1885-07-24

menced my tramp along the rough path
way which winds up and down and hither
and thither over stones, through soft
ground, steep in places, good where, but
not particularly bad for hill walking
Rather rough way for ladies TO venture
on alone, however, as the three adventur-
Gus ones referred to discovered before the
days undertaking was completed.
They were soon overtaken and proved to
be young Scotch women making their first
ascent of ''the Ben 1t is safe to predict
that they will never again try it afoot
Formality is an unknown article in such
expeditions so we are soon acquainted and
one of the lunch baskets comes into nv
charge. It's owner is already looking a
little weary and we are not fairly started
yet. At the rate they will travel, it will
require three hours and a half to reach
the top. thought |, but that did not matter
for it was early in the day and there would
be plenty of time for my descent of the
other side Little knew what the other
side would prove to be like in its nature
and surroundings. For the first hour it
was necessary for me to stop them about
once in every fifteen minutes. They
wanted to ''git there and were not con-
the first hour it was necessary to
start them about every ten minutes, for
they would stop of their own accord and
drop on the grass for rest. Away below
us could be seen the lower half of the Loch-
with the islands and steamers looking
very small in the distance, and rising from
the waters edge the rugged hills with
floating vapors on their crests and opening
glens and dark, waving bushes here and
there on their sombre sides, where. in fleet
ing tracts, the pale sunlight fell and tried to
smile. Along the shore, at rare intervals, a
cottage or hotel among the low trees.
Landward, only lonely hills and slopes,
glens and valleys, while on every hand the
view was bounded by mist-coyered sum-
mits, reached now and then by a CLEAN of
pallid light At one stop we had some
cakes out of one of the baskets. my fellow
tramps lying about on the grass and eat
ing very slowly as if about played out.
The wind was cold and getting colder, SO it
was prudent to arouse them to action to
prevent getting stiff in the joints after the
prev ious warm work. They did not wish
to abandon the ascent SO on we went all
together.
Up, up, up. Sometimes it is steep and
rough. 1t is necessary at times to look
sharply for the track, at Others it is broad
and we'll marked among the stones. being
also indicated by the plenteous presence of
corks and fragments of bottles-unfail-
ing signs of the average tourist upon the
way. Now the path is broad and smooth.
There are little pools oil water among the
rocks and we have a drink. Shreds of
mist begin to fly by us. Piles of stone'
are along the course as guides for any
who chance to be caught in a fog. Upon
each side there is scant herbage while
the sheep, quite plentiful lower down, are
HtiC Stth Dub ihlCif -AS VIC iiit
mist thickens and beads upon our eye
brows and eye-lashes, while my wooden
coat is all covered with the tiny globules.
We cannot see more than hundred yards
in any direction and sometimes not third
so far All at once the enveloping cloud
becomes translucent white. To our
right tunnel-like opening, widening
widening. Its upper space wonderful,
brilliant, fathomess blue, unlike anything
l have ever seen before, paling into an
azure which in its turn is lost in the soft,
yellow radiance resting in gentle glory on
peaceful vale and slope away off down
yonder their fresh green glamored over by
the thinned mist that. in uneven, changing
masses of white, frames around this dream
from fairy land, passing slowly away before
the chill reality of whistlng wind and
damp, driving cloud, whirling across the
mountain side and over the precipice.
Rough steep climbing now and my COM
panions begin to look as if they really wish
they hadn't come. A rabbit scuttles away
over the rocks above us. A large bird
runs distance then takes wing through
the fog which alternately lifts and thickens.
We find spring under shelter of the rocks
and take another drink Poor place to
rest, SO up we go again. More Steep rough
climbing and lots of it. Now the path is
smooth, straight and in places level; a
ridge to the right; a steep, rocky descent
to the left climb the ridge and call the
others. We are on the brink of sheer,
irregular precipice, the bottom of which is
hid. Here and there. when the cloud opens
can be seen the long snow drifts lying in
the sheltered places. Inspection at differ
ent points meets the same general result of
precipice, crag and snow. The path dips
down considerably, and, as we have as
cended the highest point visible, my COM
panions conclude to return, through fear
of going part way down the other side if
further search is made for the last peak,
which they think we have reached. Not
knowing anything about the matter have
no counsel to Offer but propose returning
to see them below the fog line. but as
strenuous objection is made and there is
really no need of my services | agree TO
to let them go alone. The way down
would naturally seem short, the path was