The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-18

pine instruments on which the records of
 ascents were burned in black letters.
 When they arrived in Geneva the French
 rapers were obtained. All the journals in
 the south of France had copied the &C.,
 counts of Tartarins ascent which. he
 had dictated and which they embellished
 with startling eulogies Suddenly Tartarin
 uttered a cry. In the Forum was a para
 graph which read:
 'It is reported that Vice President Cos
 tecalde of the Alpine club is about to
 leave here with a view to ascend Mont
 Blanc-to go higher up than Tartarin." "The bandit!' cried Tartarin. "He wants , to destroy the effect of my Jungfraul We'll wait will take the wind out of you and your mountainl Chamonix Is only a few miles from Geneva. I will do
 Mont Blanc before himl'
 When they burst into the hotel at i Chamonix, their usual effusive noise be-
 came greater than ever, for they found
 no less a person than Bompard there. i In the delight of this meeting with a
 compatriot they gulped down champagne
 and laughed, screamed, gesticulated, em- braced each other and sobbed. q will not leave you any more," cried
 Bompard. My Peruvians have gone
 away. I am at liberty
 "Then you will make the ascent of Monl Blanc Wlln me oAclaIneu ldr- tarn.
 Are you going to do Mont BlancY'
 asked Bompard without enthusiasm. "Yes, am going to put Costecalde's
 nose out of joint. You are with me, of coursew
 q am," said Bompard, rising to the occa sion, If the weather suits. It is
 an ascent which is not always pleas
 ant at this season"
 FpA% .1Io ant said the worthy Tartarin, wink ing at Bompard with meaning which
 the latter did not seem to under | stand.
 Let us have our coffee in the sa- | lon" said Bompard. I've will consult
 with Father Baltet He knows all
 about it. He is an old guide who has
 made the ascent 27 times" That Bompard is always exaggerat- | ing" said Tartarin severely with a ! touch of envy.
 | The invasion of the Tarasconians frightened up by champagne, gave some little entertainment to the En- ] glish tourists in the salon. They had
 never seen coffee taken with so much
 mimicry and rolling of the eyes. Long i live Pere Baltetw cried they when the old mountaineer entered the room. Ho | looked at the strangers. who sh ook his | hands and clapped him on the back, l though they never had seen him be- l fore. These gentlemen wish to ascend | Mount Blanc?" asked he, with slight. | ly ironical look.
 Tartarin hastened to mention that he had just been up the Jungfrau. "A good expedition said Father Bal | tet. looking at him with astonishment. The English women raised their heads | to look at him too, Master, tell them about the crevasew bleated Pascalon | The president of the Alpine club i smiled. "Child" said he, indulgently. 1 But he began his recital and soon l warmed up. The ladies shivered, de-
 vouring him with their cold English
 eyes, those eyes which open so widely | and so round.
 i In the silence that followed the voice
 of Bompard rose loudly: up on Chim- borazo we do not tie ourselves to cross l the crevasses"
 1 The other Tarasconians looked at him with ingenious admiration. 1 Father Ballet, taking Chimborazo ] quite seriously protested against the
 non employment of the rope. No ascent
 said he was possible without a good manila rope. linen, if one slips, the oth CTS can hold him up" said he. i This is, if the rope does not break :,
 said Tartarin, recalling a famous acci- |! dent on the Matterhorn. | The old man replied deliberately. ''The rope did not break on the Natter horn. The rear guide cut it with his 1 axe"
 | As Tartarin exclaimed against this ] he continued: You must excuse me monsieur, the guide did right. He per , ceiyed the impossibility of holding the | oth CTS, and he cut the rope to save 1 the lives of himself his son and the l traveller who had accompanied them it fnr. hi would have been seven victims instead l of four"
 1 Tartarin insisted hat once attached l to the line, it was a matter of hon l orable engagement to live or die to- l gether Then, influenced by the pres ence of the ladies, he rose to the occa l sion.
 l When, tomorrow. attach myself tc | Bompard 1t will not be only a precau. tion that I will take. but an oath be. fore heaven and my fellow men only to live with my companion. and to dit