The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-02-04

o.to ho" oiRit, ana occasionally STOP
| ping and peering about with spread nos.
triis like q dog seeking u trail. Clearly
we were on top OF the highest elevation
| In our neighborhood, for the wind now
came point blank Din our faces out OF
the white abyss of the atmosphere, and
almost blew me on my feet.
Have you lost the way?".I asked.
TN find IT," Couttet replied.
Where are we?'
Near the Bosses"
isn't there a refuge hut on the
Bosses?"
Yes"
Can we reach IT."
Conttet did not Immediately reply,
out looked up and about, as Ii trying
70 pierce the driving snow with his
gaze. IF / could catch sight OF the
rocks" at length he said.
suddenly the gale seemed to split the
CLOUDS and for an instant q vision
opened of blue sky over our heads and
endless slopes of snow falling one be-
low another, under our feet. l saw that
we were standing on the rounded back
OF u snowy ridge. Just In front the
WMte surface dipped and disappeared
IN vast gulf of air. where flying clouds
were torn against the black Jagged
points of lower mountains. Above our
ieVei, to the left. rocks appeared pro-
1ectlng through the covering of snow
l Knew that these must belong TO the
BOSSES du Dromadaire, and that the
nut we sought was perched on one Of
them
All this the eye caught in q twlnkllng
Tor the storm curtain was lifted only
20 be as quickly dropped again, shut
ing out Doth the upper and the lower
world. and leaving US Isolated on the
slippery roof edge of Europe. At the
same time the wind Increased It's VIC
renee ana the cold became more pene-
trailing. i pulled my fingers out of the
lights of my wooden gloves and gripped
my IRON shod baton between thumb and
tknuckles. We now had our bearings
thanks to the momentary glance. and II
oehooVed us not to lose them, for the
storm was every instant growing worse.
AL times IL was not the simplest thing
n the world to keep ones feet in The
race OF the blasts. I was too fresh from
reading the history Of Mont Blanc not
% remember that few years ago Count !
Vhllanora and two guides wero blown
rom another nearby ridge into the very
abyss whose jaws had just opened be- |
tore us, and where their bodies lie undis
covered to this day. |
Moving cautiously we began to de-
scend In order to cross the neck which !
stretches between the Dome du Coulter |
ana the Bosses. When we wandered n |
little to the right the surface com
that meant-bcware! Once when we had |
veered too far to the left. staggering |
down hill under the blows of the storm
and able to sec bu. fcw feet away |
we stopped as IL n Shot had arrested us. |
Another step or two would have car
ried US over precipice of ice, whose
blue wall fell perpcndicularly from the
brittle edge at our feet into cloud chok- |
ed depths. We had gone down our roof !
to the caves. Not q word was spoken
but with instant unanimity me turned
and scrambled UP again, Couttet i'm the 4
lead, and the porter breathing hard at
my heels. Such scene In the fraction
OF second Is photographed on the
memory for q lifetime.
In little while we began to ascend
another slope, to which we had felt our
way and this was surely the swelling
hump of the first of the BOSSES. and the
rocks must be near at hand. Another
opportune gap in the clouds which left
us for an instant surrounded with re-
treating walls of vapor. confirmed that
opinion, and vindcatcd the mountain
eerlng skill of Couttct, who had found
the way though way there was none. a
quick, brcathlcss scramble up a con-
fused heap of Ice and slippery points of
rock brought us at last to the refuge
SHELTER FROM THE STORM.
Couttet shook and banged the door
making Il noise that did not penetrate
far through the whistling air, and with
cold fingers. began fumblinE ut the
latch, when, to my surprise. the door
opened and a mufled voice babe rs en-
ter. An EnCliahman who had started
with his guides at midnight from the
UrandS Mulcts. and three or four of NJ
JanSsenS portcrs. had already sought
refuge in the hut. Icicles hung about
my face, and my clothes were as stiff
rs chain nrmor. There was no fire in
the little hut and no means of making
any. My watch when was able to get
it out OF my pocket. showed the time 10
be n quarter to O.
Pulling off my shoes and putting on
dry stockings. ms quickly las possible.
we Initiated the example of the man
VINO mad let us in, and who no sooner
closed the door than he tumbled back
into his bunk and buried himself in the
rough WOODEN blankets which the Alpine
Club has provided for the use of those
who may need them.
In about an hour the storm l!ghtened
and the Englishman and the portcrs.
started fmck to the Giands Muleis I
consulted Couttct about making n dart
Tor the summit. but he thought it would
be better to wait awhile. and better still
to follow the others down the noun
talns. To his last proposition I decid-
eddy objected. although Couttct was
rlEnt. as ii turned out. for in another
hour the storm. which had not entirely
ceased at any time, whipped itself into
renewed fury. and before noon the wind
was hoWlinS and ShrickinC with dcmou