The Hardin tribune-herald., 1937-11-19
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Mrs. Laurent so nervous, the deep
gully that cuts back into the flange Of
the mountain just below the climbers.
That was a place where the guides
always hurried their tourist along on
taut rope. Rock had been known to
narrow escapes from bouldersl that
came humming down past their heads.
But that usually happened in dry
years. This season there was much
snow on the peaks of the Valais and
very little stone fall.
IT think they're climbing unroped,"
said, studying the figures closely.
Then I wished that hadn't spoken
Mrs. Laurent drew in her breath SO
assured her (although it did seem a
little strange to me). They're both
plenty good enough to climb worse
pitches than that without the rope"
One of the figures reached the ledge
just above the Couloir, then the other
joined him there. Below their feet
steep ribbon of frozen snow fell away,
tance below. For moment, while they
weren't moving, lost them against the
background Of rock.
Then one of them appeared below,
black as a spider against the white
snow. could see the hump of the ruck-
sack on his back, could even make out
the rhythmical swing of his ak arm
as he cut the steps under his feet.
so long to follow him. While I was
waiting for him to appear the picture
suddenly blurred, as if someone had
breathed, on the lens. I looked up. A
wisp of cloud, clinging close to the
! mountainside. had drifted across the
gully and the rocks around it.
hot hat l,sr
rent. It's like putting cloth over the
face Of
laughed at her.
They'll be glad of it," I said. '"The
suns been boring right into them up
there"
After minute or two the face of
the mountain was clear again. Mrs.
Laurent made a motion as though to
resume her turn at the telescope. but
some impulse made me take one more
look before giving It back to her.
There was the Couloir. Nobody in it
now-they must have climbed down it
very fast. searched the rocks below.
Yes, one figure was moving there. I
looked for the other. Looked
May I have it now" Mrs. Laurent
was saying. Her voice was strained as
| may have it noW?"
|. I didn't answer. MY eye was pressed
| against the lens, searching for that
other figure. The one was plain enough
| to see. It was coming down twice as
fast as before, a pace that must be a
little dangerous even on those easy
rocks. But the other? I felt panic
rising in me as searched.
"PleaSe!"
Mrs Laurent's head was close to
mine. moved away from the lens,
watching her as her eyes focused on
the rocks. She was as still as stone,
only her eyes were alive and her lower
lip that writhed down little to show
! glimpse of her teeth.
At last She dropped her headSSiet
hert arms go limp at her side. When
she spoke her voice was flat, without
expression:
'There's only the one'
cts all right" began. "One of
hind a. rock while the other comes down
! for help But that wasn't the picture
really saw in my mind. don't think
! that Mrs. Laurent even heard me.
/ I left her and walked quickly back
to the hut: The, hut keepers wife was
standing in the doorway, weathered
silent woman, yet speaking and under.
peasants of the Nikolai-Thal.
T. "Your, oldest boy I said. "Can< he
run down very fast to zermatt?'
She nodded, looking at me incuri-
i ously.
"Then send him down. I said, ito
the guide chief. To say that he must
! start up at once. bringing as many
guides as he needs. Rescue party" And
| I told her what we had seen.
| When went back to Mrs. Laurent
she still sat, staring at the ground,
| seeing nothing
"WeII go up the path" I said, "and
meet him coming down. The route
isn't visible from here" ::
! She rose and went with me without
saying word. We climbed the hill
side beyond the hut and on through
! the bleak, stony plateau.
II think I recognized him. I said,
! ''the one who's coming down. It looked
like DR.. Laurent"
A lie, of course. No one could have
told which it was.
We climbed almost to the snout of
the glacier, then had to stop since,
beyond that point, the man coming
down might have taken more than one
way. We sat down among the rocks.
| And waited.
! What that waiting was for Mrs.
Laurent, don't know. For me it was
misery. 1t couldn't have been worse if
all my life I'd known those two above.
They were only casual acquaint-
ances of mine, the Laurents and young
Tierney, the sort Of contact you make
! in any climbers hotel. knew little or
, nothing as to who they were. But I
had been curious about them since the
first time that I saw them.
! It was at that little cafe on the main
j street Of Zermatt. the one where they
have the music. This season the pro-
prietor had imported a small orchestra
the rakish side.
table near mine when Tierney and
| Mrs. Laurent got up to dance. They
could dance too and they let them
selves go. It was Tierney's face that
! I watched For. him tEaaa ruas ranh0du