Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-10-05


so with him on his next climb7"
AT least I was willing enough 10 do
so when he suggested that. he was
planning to make the Stralegg Pass. l
confess that the word pass did not
sound especially formidable. for he de-
clared that guides were not at all
: necessary. So I agreed to make the
ascent with him. I did not realize that
mountain climbing. more than any
other sport. required arduous training.
The next morning at II o'clock we
started from Grlndelwald We were
provided with the. customary parapher-
MALTA Of the Alpine climber: but our
climb TO the Schwarzegg Club Hut. at
the Upper Icefall. where we we're to
spend the night. might have been
made with walking sticks instead Of
( alpenstocks. Il was for the most part
a simple path over CLASSY slopes on
z the eastern side Of the Lower Grlndel-
valid Glacier bypath winding along
the cliffs.
We were aroused the next morning
f before IT was light. and / was rather
( relieved when two guides. who were
waiting at the hut for a party expected
/ that day shook their heads az the
+ weather. and warned us that It would
not be safe 20 attempt the pass alone.
4 Ny companion laughed at their fears
/ The heavens were quite clear; the
T stars shoue family: the moon was
/ waning; there was no hint OF wind or
. storm. He assured me that the pro
/ tests Of the guides was a clumsy at
/ tempt 20 brighten us into engaging
their services They were waiting for
us; It was the usual trick. I accepted
bis explanation as plausible enough. I
was unwilling 90 disappoint him now
that we had started but for the FIRST
time felt some misgiving.
Il shall not weary you with the dc
scriptlon OF our climb. The ascent was
steep and trying in places. over ice
and rock. In about four hours we
reached the Zasenberg Chaiets and
the Central Ice-fall A sta scramble
Of an hour brought US 20 the frozen
snow Of a plateau. Here our path
seemed 70 me less clear. but my com
panion advanced with confidence. /
felt the altitude now distressingly: 4
had qualms Of mountain sickness.
Sun struggled after him. until we
came to the base OF a procipitous wall
OF ice. we had passed over the last
Of the glaciers: we had reached the
summit
II supposed now that the worst was
over But The descent was by far the
most dimcult and dangerous Part Of
our days work. Every step had 90 be
taken with extreme care. We wero
roped. % course: and annoyed Mr..
Wiioughby by being compelled 90 halt
repeatedly The fact is. was frirht.
fully exhausted though I STRUGGLED
after him as dCggedly ass 7 could
AT last the descent became less
hazardous. I believe that we should
have arrived nc Griusol safely had we
continued our way Ga a direct line
and with tho care that had character.
izod our nrst movements. But my
companion attempted more and more
dihlcult foats of climbing. AS n rule
did not follow him But presently a
mountain ledge ohstructcd our path.
Two courses were open 90 AS. we could /
make long bat safe dctour around 10. /
or we could scale Sc. NY comranloa /
decided upon the latter course /
again fastened tho rope about my
waist and followed him"
. do you wish mo 90 infer that the 4
boyish confidence Of MT Winouchby \
led 20 the tragedy" Helena asked ia 4
a passlcnless voice.
II wish you 20 infer nothing"
"But you place the blame. at least 1
tacitly. on one who Is dead and cannot !
defend himself" she insisted angrny.
81 am sorry you should think SO. / /
am trying 20 give you the facts quite /
slmply-tho absolute truth"
Il DO not wish TO wrong you" she \
said IN a low voice. 81 wish 20 be Just d
70 you. Mr.. Haddon."
Just when 7 realized that we were I
in danger I hardly know. or perhaps 1
7 should be. more honest n said that /
cannot tell Just when I began 20 feel 4
afraid. We had climbed cautiously \
and slowly around the ledge. Mr.. VIII /
ioughby was IN the lead. suddenly. as /
we rounded this shoulder. a fake OF I
snow touched my cheek.
"CiiEsing 20 the face OF tho rock. I
looked down. The ice slores were
turning yellow IN the cold early even.
Ing light. But far below they were
hidden by mists. which even as we /
looked seemed 70 gather volume and
TO roll onward and upward. threaten.
ing 10 engulf us. The sky was laden.
As we made the ledge a gust OF wind I
almost swept us from our foothoId.
The snow fell more thicxly: IL came. it
seemed. from every quarter in an in
slant.
We had made the ledge In safety.
but even as we looked about US the
mist enveloped US. II was impossible
TO see more than a few yards ahead.
Still we struggled on slowly and me-
Chemically. Rocks. which in ordinary
circumstances would have seemed
quite easy, suddenly appalled, US; for
we were unable to see where to nut
hand or foot.
Even to my inexperienced eyes We
were IN a terrible predicament. WI.
loughby. however, was cheerful and !
confident IL he had mIsgivings he
kept them 10 himself. I followed him
blindly
ssCudSarlv 70 49,