, 1889-12-22
AN ALPINE ADVENTURE.
A MOUNTAIN CLIMBER DESCRIBES
A DAY AMONG THE GLACIERS.

make the ascent of the Fisch Horn; they
had arranged it with the guide, Jules
Lessore; and they had ordered the boots
of the hotel to call them at 3 O'Clock in
the morning.
By A O'Clock they started. There was
a slight rain falling, but Jules declared
that it would clear. On leaving the ho-
tel they turned to the left, and for a
mile or two they kept to the level road.
The guide turned off to the right, and
followed by Kenyon and Marshall, be-
gan to mount a steep, narrow path. 1t
was gradually growing light.
They turned a shoulder of the rocks
which they were ~clambering, and they
saw through the rising mist the dim out
line of the huge Rinderhorn; the wild
scene had become extremely desolate.
The Hotel des Voyageurs, perched high
up on the farther side of the valley, was
the only sign of life or habitation. Now
and again a patch of snow old them
that they were leaving the snow line be-
meath them. After n time they reached
the foot of n p%recipitous mass of rocks;
the Jagged, cruel looking rocks lowered
up pitilessly above them.
Lessore stopped his regular, machine
like strides. He quickly roped Kenyon,
then Marshall, and then himself, leaving
about fifteen feet of rope between each
of them.
The snow field stretched on for rather
more than n mile, and at last they came
to the foot of the highest peak of the
mountain. 1t rose up fiercely into the
sky. The rocks forming this peak were
partially covered with snow, and they
lAAlrnI Nar~.Il- 49, - IL
But o that the goal was in view they
pressed on eagerly. 1t was a severe
scramble. The snow had made the rocks
slippery, and it was necessary in places
to Chamber like cats, but eventually they
reached the top and sat down upon the
sharp, jagged point. Every side of them
the rocks shelved down precipitously for
thousands of feet. The sun had become
overcast, clouds were gathering, it was
bitterly cold and soon it began to snow.
There was n sudden and awful roar,
lii the sound of thunder, then a deep,
terrifying vibration. "What on earth is
that?' cried Kenyon.
81 suspect it is an avalanche on the
Rinderhorn," said the guide.
There was n dead silence; then an
other terrific roar, announcing that the
avalanche was going further on its way
down the mountain. After a short rest
on the top of the peak they began to
descend in reverse order. They found
the way down more easily. The keen
air and the rest on the summit had thor
oughly braced them up. They reached
the snow field again without much diff
Guilty. They had got half way across
the snow and were congratulating them
selves that they would soon be over it,
when suddenly, without warning, Jules
and Kenyon felt a sharp jerk on the
rope. Marshall had sunk into the snow;
only his head and arms were visible.
"Hulloy" cried Jules, "what is the
matter now?'
"Quick! quickr' Marshall cried; "pull
me up or 1 shall be through. My feet
and legs are dangling in the air and l
can feel l am rapidly sinking"
Jules pulled hard upon the rope and
went closer to Marshall. Kenyon fol
lowed on behind to give play to the rope;
he and the guide drew nearer to the
dangerous spot.
Will the snow hold, Kenyon thought,
until Marshall is out? He seemed to feel
the snow giving way beneath him. Mar
shall grew pale; his nerve began to fail
him as he thought of his dear ones in
England; he had promised his wife that
he would attempt nothing hazardous and
this promise came suddenly into his
mind. The danger was imminent; life
and death were struggling in the balance;
to Kenyon's surprise Jules stood still
but only for an instant-then with a
mighty effort he pulled at the rope and
drew Marshall on to firmer foothold; but
the greatest danger was to come, for
Kenyon had still to pass.
He made a cautious step, aided by
Jules directions; he saw a yawning
black hole where Marshall had sunk
into what had seemed substantial snow.
Could he cross it? 1t seemed almost
impossible, for the o appeared to be
giving way rapidly. The footing Of
Marshall and Jules was anything but Sc
cure, and if the snow gave way alto
gether before Kenyon was past the hole
they mu all go down together.
At this instant he felt the snow give
under his feet. He seemed to be falling
as he sprang and plunged forward-he
turned giddy-something was dragging
him down; but it was Jules who pulled
vigorously at the rope and landed him on
the firm snow just as the soft mass gave
way precipitately and fell hundreds of
feet on to the rocks below.
Kenyon was dazed for a minute or two,
but then he Joined his companions as
they stood on the edge of the abyss dis
closed by the mass that had fallen; they
looked down breathless and awestruck.
If Jules had been one second later in
pulling the rope they would all Ave been
dashed to death on the sharp, jagged
rocks below.
They walked safely over the rest of
the snow field. There was some danger
GUS scrambling Town the rocks and over
loose stones, but at last they reached the
region of turf and trotted down the steep
mountain slopes with the aid of their
Alpine stocks. They came in sight of
the valley leading to the village from
which they had started. As they each
ed their hotel utterly exhausted the
clock struck 8. They had been walking
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