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

 rather than return without himl'
 q accept the pledge for myself as well as for you, Tartarin!" exclaimed Bompard.
 It was an affecting moment.
 The English people were filled with ad- miration. A parson who was among them stepped forward and shook Tartarins hand. The rest followed. Tartarin, thrilled with emotion, broadened and his eyes glistened with tears.
 A Swedish tourist joined them next day. When they were ready to start, Bompard approached Tartarin and tried to speak with him; but the president of the Alpine club was too busy in directing the expedition and looking after the guides and porters. So he was forced to follow on till they reached the glacier Des Blossoms. where the real ascent be- gins.
 The Swede turned out to be an expert climber, and Tartarin followed him, smil- ing at the recollection of his first ascent, and comparing himself now with the neophyte that he was then. Behind them came the unhappy Bompard, undergoing many adventures
 Firmly convinced until that moment that Tartarin would not undertake the ascent, Bompard was in his ordinary cos- tune, without nails in his boots and with out an alpenstock. The mountaineers of Chimborazo he had explained in the morning, did not require themi
 At the first step he fell on his back and the second time to his hands and knees. NO, mo-" said he to the guide who of- fered to assist him; mo, noi'' And, strong in his Tarasconian habit, even in that painful moment, he added: Tt Is done on purpose. The American fashion! We climb thus on Chimborazov' He retained his attitude, advancing on all fours, his hat on the back of his head and his ulster trailing behind him-very his voice how he had climbed mountain 1000 feet high in the Andes in this fash ion.
 The stop for the night was made at the hut of the Brands -Mulets, where the old kVsper exhibited his cheerful museum of reffcs-bones and broken ropes and other horrible souvenirs of disaster Tartarin perceived from the dates that these ao- cidents had happened before tho company undertook the arrangement of dangerous ascents; yet the tales oppressed him.. and he had to go out for little fresh air. Bompard followed him. Clutching Tar urlns arm he said: 'I hope that you have had enough of this and that you will end this ridiculous expedition"
 The great man opened his eyes with some anxiety in them and asked:
  Bompard drew a moving picture of the thousand, ten thousand, one hundred thousand terrible deaths that menaced them
 "Joser!" said Tartarin, smiling. You forgee that you told me the secret of the company"
 company asked Bompard quite pug zled. The good fellow had forgotten his little invention entirely. When Tartarin repeated his story to , him he laughed. What Did you believe all that? Why, that was only a little joke. Between us people of Tarascon, you know, of course we understand each other We know that what we say is- is--"
 "Then the Jungfrau was not prepared?' asked Tartarin, very much excited. By no means"
 And if the rope had brokenT' Alas! My poor frfend!" The hero shut his eyes and became pale For a moment he did not speak. But then this brave man recovered himself. with good guides, with a companion of such proved experience as Comparable would attempt Mont Blanc, real as 1t was.
 Bompard swore that he would not. The , intrepid climber of the Chimborazo had enough. But in the end, seeing the pres ident of the Alpine club pale but deter mined, ne T1aue up HIS IIlifu tO lOllOW. Besides, there was no way to get back except alone.
 So they started to climb again next morning. Everything went well till daybreak. Then suddenly the guides stopped and began to gesticulate. "He is smoking his pipe" said the old guide, pointing to the top of Mont Blanc, still 4500 feet above them, where from the highe est peak a white smoke wae blowing toward Italy.
 That means, monsieur" said Father ! Baltet, that a snowstrom Is raging at the summit which will be on us ere long. It Is dangerous" Let us return" said Bompard, with ready presence of mind. "Yes, yes. certaily," added Tartarin. prudent as all brave men are. "No fool l ish swagger."
 But the Swedish tourist struck in. He l had paid to go up Mont Blanc and noth- ing would prevent him from going. He would ascend alone If no one would