The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1906-02-16
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In the Glaciers
Keeping
BY ALAN Vaudeville
A PRETTY tough climb. isn't it.

" A PRETTY tough climb. isn't it,
n MAXI"
The speaker was a tall Englishman
Of perhaps 90. but looking as hard and
tough and generally ht as most men
Of half his age
Eyes. sir" said the guide. who stood
before him at the inn door, "and Wen
have to start early if We are to get
back the same day"
Sir Robert Ballard turned and re-
entered his room. From a desk he
pulled out a sheet Of paper. and. pick
ing up pen. sat down al a table and
began letter.
My dear Harry" he wrote. Il am
afraid have not been quite fair To
you Thinking over things again. ]
can see that your foolish pranks. which
so much offended me. may have been
indeed. no doubt were the results OF
sheer youthful high spirits. am,
therefore. again altering my Will and
instead of my cousin. james Rennie.
being my residuary legatee. you will
find the bulk OF my properly will
eventually come to you trust this
will have been a lesson % you. and
that you will grow up man worthy
of the trust am rep0sing in YOU.
Your anectiOnate uncle.
Robert Ballard"
Sir Robert sealed and stamped the
letter. and then on a sheet Of foolscap
proceeded rapidly to redrait his will.
Ii seemed an easy enough matter,
and took but few minutes. You would
hardly have imagined the amount in
question was something like GS0O0O.
The rapid pen ceased fying over the
paper and Sir Robert touched the bell
Call Max Schneider" he said to the
waiter. and you, too. come in. want
you to witness this signature for me-
He signed the document. the TWO
meu affixed their signatures. and then
be folded it. placed it in an envelope
and slipped it into an inner pocket Of
his Norfolk jacket
What time do we start tomorrow,
MAXI" he asked
Not later than half-past three. sir, %
answered the guide.
Very well, then. shall 60 to bed
at once, and ! suppose youu do the
same"
And 20 minutes later he was sleep
ing like boy.
Great luck having such lovely
weather-eh. MAXI
Lovely indeed, Sir Robert; but pray
don't say anything about It till we're
clear of the ice. It's the worst Of bad
luck. sir"
Sir Robert laughcd-the laugh Of
strong man who is thoroughly pleased
with himself.
Indeed he had reason to be pleased.
Few men had ever climbed the beetling
cliffs Of the Aiguille Vert at all Few
er still could boast Of having accom-
plished the feat within the hours Of
single day.
Half an hour later they reached the
edge Of the ice. The sun had now set,
and the air, chill with approaching
night. was no longer clear as it had
been. Pale wreaths of smoky mist
hung in light bands. which seemed TO
shift and change kaleidoscopically.
though no breeze was felt
Still roped together, as they had been
during the entire time. they crossed
the moraine and started steadily
across the rough ice, whose
surface was broken by a hundred deep
riffs and lumpy. yawning crevasses.
The fog closed and fell thicker and
thicker.
Some three hours later that night
one Of the guides burst into the Mtch-
en- Of the Montvert inn.
His face was white and drawn. and
be was almost speechless with excite
ment, misery and fatigue.
At last he managed to gasp out his
piteous story-how they had missed
their way in the fog; how he had heard
a sharp cry of warning from Max, who
was leading the party; how next he
had been jerked off his feet by tre-
mendous pull at the rope round his
waist; and how he had desperately
saved himself by driving his alpen-
stock into the ice. Next thing he knew
he was alone-alone on the edge Of a
giant creyasse, whose misty depths
yawned silent as a grave.
The instant they understood him a
rescue party was formed, under the
guidance Of Herman. the innkeeper.
All night the devoted men worked,
and most Of next day. But it was use
less. The glacier does not easily give
up its prey.
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