Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-09-23
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WE WERE both we'll tired out,

at an early hour IN the evening" leu
remained in the parlor, busily studying
up maps and guides for an excursion
over the Mer de Glace to the Garden,
q small, fertile spot, surrounded by
eternal ice, in the very heart OF the
mountains.
Next morning he was off at four
O'Clock, leaving me to spend the day
quietly in the valley. was disturbed
but once more before rising; this time
by herd of goats, who scrambled along
under my window, with bells tinkling
lmerrily enough.
In the course of the forenoon strolled
away, book in hand, following the
course of the ArYe for little while
and then, striking off at right angles
up the banks of small brook, which
Joins the larger stream just above the
village.
The air was soft and sweet with sum-
mer sunlight, and the breath Of the
silent forests, reaching from my feet
higher and higher, until the front rank
looked on these desolate, glittering
fields of snow that crown Mount Blanc.
Beside the brook the velvety turf was
dotted with wild forget-me-nots and
,pansies, growing there as confidently as
if they were not in the very track of last
years avalanche.
At length came to spot where the
brook had in ages past strewn its own
path with fragments of huge rocks,
which it had loosened and thrown down
from some far-o1r height, where the
foot of man never trod.
One gigantic bowlder lay completely
across the original bed of the stream,
and rose like q wall beside the water,
that turned out of its way, and ran off
with q good-natured murmur.
The sun here lay warm and bright,
just counteracting the chill breeze that
came from the glaciers through the
narrow gorge. 1 gathered few dry
sticks, kindled fire, just for company,
and nestled comfortably down into an
easy corner to read the rocks, the brook,
the sky, and, If there were time left,
my book, which, if remember rightly,
was "Redgauntlet."
How long I sat there cannot tell.
1T must have been two or three hours,
for 1t was past noon when looked
iat my watch, threw the smoldering
GrebrandS into the brook ind roSa to
return to the hotel.
AS did SO, noticed half dozen
footsteps in the steep, sandy bank that
formed the side of the ravine at this
point. It suddenly occurred to me- that
Z had read in my guide book, while l
was sitting in my own room, six months
before, of a certain waterfall, which,
from the description. must surely be on
this brook. Yes, recollected the base
bf the zig-zag path. that we had seen as
we rode along the valley, on our way
from Tete Noire, late the preceding
afternoon.
I was feeling much refreshed and
rested by my siesta, and, by short cut
over this embankment, could doubt
less strike that path after three min
utes' scramble, as some one had evil
IDENTIFY done before me.
So I would have a little adventure,
and see one Of the sights of ChamouniX
all by myself.
{ Certainly those was nothing rash in
this resolve, or formidable in the I'M
dcrtaking, though a certain feebleness
resulting from recent i'll turn at Gen
eva should have warned me against
tasl1ing my strength too severely.
At any rate, at 1t went. laughing
at the easiness of the ascent as fol-
lowed the broad footsteps of my prede-
cessor. My calculation was that I
should come out on the path at a point
az to 100 feet above my starting place.
Before I had proceeded far, however,
the convenient tracks abruptly ceased.
beyond, and on each side, there was
Hothing but the gravelly bank, with
here and there big rock, which seemed
ready to drop at the lightest touch.
Plainly enough, the first climber had
become discouraged at this point, and
had picked his way to the bottom again.
AS looked back, was startled to OBJ
serve the elevation which Ihad reached,
and involuntarily crouched closer to
une earJn, win a sensation as OF tipping
over backwards.
The movement, slight as it was, dis
lodged clump of stones and sand'
which went rolling and plunging down
at great rate to the brook, the sound
of whose waters was now hardly audi
bile. No wonder the man had given it
up! Should go on, or literally back
down, as he had done?
Ny determination was stirred, and, al
though 1 heartily wished Fred was on
hand with his sympathetic courage, I
resolved to complete what l had be-
gun.
It was tough work. Hands and knees
,now-and carefully placed every time,
at that.
Once very nearly lost my balance
by the unexpected yielding Of large
stone, which gave way under my foot.
How fearfully long it was before I
heard it smite on the powders below!
II knew if slipped, or missed one step,
the impetus of yard would send me
after the stone. AS looked over my
shoulder, it seemed like clinging to the
slope of cathedral roof, where puff
of wind might be fatal.
There was no question now as to the
course / must take. 1t was Excelsior
Hin sober earnest-only didn't have the
inspiration of maiden, with tear in