The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-01-01

was not unlike the sharp striking OF q
hammer ON The rocks, and il broke the
stiffness peculiar TO high attitudes. 1t
seemed TO osmo from = point just below .
large fiat rock ON the outer edge Of q wide
plateau high mp on the sides Of the noun
tains, forming what are called the Higher
Alps"
Anyone experienced In Alpine climbing
would know that the sharp click among the
rocks was that Of Alpine sticks, and would
be equally sure hat some interchangeable
Tourists were projecting themselves upward
By the help Of these very convenient lifts"
Almost simultaneously two heads and
two very red faces appeared above tho edge
OF the plateau. and a moment later "
boys had thrown themseAves on the rock.
"Whew, that last pull was a mighty hard
one" painted one Of them, trying to recover
his usual breath.
Eyes, a good deal harder than it has
seemed before. but I've noticed that when
you climb q mountain the second time IL
always does seem harder. I suppose IL 10
because the first time everything 10 new
and you don't know what's ahead"
my. 1t did seem awfully steep with this
blazing sun against the rocks"
IA blazing sun; I should think it was."
said the other, land q blazing red face
TOO, I have, il it looks az red as it feels"
swell, il 10 rather red, it must be oon-
fessed," was the answer "But Just wait
until you have. crossed the glacier" point
ing to . snowy e1panse lying in a depres-
sion beyond and above them. III will be
In . pretty blaze by that time"
yours don't look half an uncomfortable
% mine feels"
"Oh, that's because I'm an old sta ger
while you are a novice, you know" There
vas something like q shrug Of impotence
on the4Yart Of the other boy. who found
Ih.sS illusions TO . superior experience be-
coming somewhat irksome, even for a ehum.
Richard Wilder and Alfred Parsons had
been playmatss in America. This was the
formers third summer among the Alps,
while the latter was having his first season.
Richard had made many ascents with an
elder brother, who was an expert climber,
and was allowed to initiate All in the de-
lights of Alpine climbing. with an under
standing on the part of both their mothers
that ho should condne himself to localities
he had already visited.
For two seasons he had attempted this
particular mountain. the first time only
reaching the shepherds hut, not far above
the tree line. and being obliged on a second
visit to turn back for lack OF time when
Ab4A e0 0A00RVAAoAAkAy 0ANAb NA6uAAO9 VI
the summit.
The boys had made an early start from a
point in the Engadine. that very high val
10y in the eastern part Of Switzerland where
thsy were spending the summer. taking a
morning post to the point from which the
climb was to be made.
They had come up by way of the shop
herds hut which Richard so we'll rsnem-
bered, whore the shepherd lad, after having
shown them the mysterious recess of his
hut and the spot where grew an unusual
abundance Of eidelweiss. had sent them on
the hut lay far beloH them looking like a
Look At julius exclaimed Richard,
who had TUNED his feldRlass on the shes-
herd lad below. .'Thsre no stands just out
side the hat. exactly as he stood when We
cam0 up this morning"
Nov then for the lunch,'' reaching for
the tin box which ALI had u%nstrappsd from
his shoulders and deposited on the rock.
II don't know how you feel, but / am hun
CRY. What oceans of this stuff I've drunk"
pouring from . bottle some cold tea into
for mountain climbing, as all the guides
will tell you"
out on the rock for a good rest before 60
ing on. What a spot for q %siesta! All
about them q vast e1panss Of Alpine peaks
W1tu 3uOlx Etx10KG laA1kllAk Vi 6uo" anu
rock. of dazzling lights and weird shad-
ows. Over them swept the soft winds, just
swaying The tufts Of grass and tiny Alpine
flowers that managed to grow in the crew
ices of the rocks. Above all was that
peculiar stiffness, that solitude which
A. in the great elevations. 1t was this
strange solitude that enwrapped these two
American lads and held them speeehlsas
and awed on the side of this mighty giant,
standing there with its other companions
in the very heart Of the Grisons-"Old
the more than usual r~uggedness of his as
whats that?'' exclaimed Alfred, raising
his head from his knapsack and sitting
bolt upright a. q shrill whistle broke the
stiffness and vent echoing among tho rocks
"a strange. weird sound that one never for
gets having once heard it in those high SOL
itudes. An explosive laugh from Richard
allayed Alf's fears.
tits only n marmot, about az big a. our
Woodchuck; looks like a great furry ball
rolling among the rocks. One of them has
sried as and is sounding the alarm. No
hope of our seeing a eRamois. That cry of
the marmot always warns them to keep out
of the way"
How ALI had longed to see a ehamois!
Richard had seen six the summer before in
one of his mountain exeursions, a fact
which he had duly impressed on All.
''Time to be going" said Richard, buck
ling on his kaapsack.
They both took a good look at the task
before them. There, toward their loft, was
: peak towering above them, jagged and
broken, q mixture of earth slides and ugly
looking p%recipices. the ascent from the
other side looking gradual and compare
lively easy.
How far mp did you go last year," in
quired ALI. Richard pointed to a sharply
jutting rock half way between the glacier
and the summit.
but don't mean to stop there" he said.
ppm going to the top
"Oh, Richard don't YOU know"
"Oh, yes, ! know" broke in Richard, re-
calling the usual stipulation to ksep on
familiar ground, "but it's only extending
the climb n little. It's not q new or differ
ent one. You $50 for yourself how safe it
looks, except Oh the one side. Besides
women are SO afraid to have one venture a
little"
The boys, fresh from their long rest, ac-
complained quickly the steep ascent to the
level wheie lay the glacier. Richard we'll
remembered the place OF his previous
crossing. A fresh fall of snow covered the
ice. and to All it was TN odd experience.
plunging into it more than ankle desp dur
ing the "dog day" season.
Look out for the crevasse," called Rich
ard, jumping nimb!y across a moderate
sized chasm.
To Alf's mind the very mention of "cre-
vase suggested unfathomable depths of
horror and darkness and probable death,
He looked into the icy assure with ita fsw
feet of depth.
~ shouldn't pet much b,,t