Evening star., 1953-06-30

forever remain an achievement
Of the highest order, and it re-
fleets great honor upon all the
members Of the expedition.
The Sledge we had at our dis
poSal was an xtra-lightweight
Dufour luge mounted on two
skis for runners. Naturally, the
Sherpas were not familiar with
this contraption, so DR.. Oudot
and Ichac decided to make the
least injured Of us, Rebuffat, the
victim of the first try-out.
Schatz took charge of opera
tionS. with four Sherpas whom
he placed in " formation around
the sledge, and the procession
started OF about 2::30 pm. Re-
buffat was. well wrapped up and
firmly tied to the sledge in case
it should tip over. AS night fell
the four Sherpas arrived back
at camp. bringing a note from
Schatz advising, the use of six
men for subsequent descentS.
Meanwhile DR.. Oudot had
given all his patients injections
and the evening was spent in
changing the dressings.
Weather Grows Worse.
Soon after nightfall the
weather worsened. and again it
showed heavily. The others were
alarmed. and decided to get the
rest Of the casualties down be-
fore 1t was too late. AS luck
would have it, next morning
when we woke up. it was fine.
] was to be taken down first,
and before I left DR.. Oudot in
spected my feet and hands and
changed the dressings. He was
very satisfied and described my
progress as Spectacular"
The next day, while we were
at Camp !, the clouds collected
again towards II am, and it
was not long before snow began
to fall. l.
DR.. Oudot had not yet come
down from Camp II. I could hear
the avalanches rumbling down in
ever closer succession, making
an appalling noise which wore
my nerves thin.
Through the telescope Ichac
saw, towards the end of the
morning, the last tents Of Camp
II being taken down, and in the
afternoon our doctor arrived with
his Sherpas laden like donKeys.
He Sees Again.
Next morning DIR. Oudot took
on my bandage: it was wonder
full to be able to see again. /
noted that the weather was fine,
and I asked the date: the last
few days had been one long
night.
Friday. June O." Ichac told
me.
At the moment Lachenal was
being made ready to. go down to
Base Camp. He would travel in
q cacolet- arrangement of
canvas and webbing for carrying
an injured man, who sits in it on
o porter'S back.
It was an awkward and prin1i-
tive contraption and I had never
liked the look of it. Lachenal, on
the contrary, who was accuS-
toned to the thing and had him.
self carried many casualties
down by this method. was per-
fectly ready to descent this way,
though later on he wasn't quite
so enthusiastic.
Soon he started off with his
Sherpas, escorted by Couzy and
Noyelle. His legs dangled down
most uncomfortably and made
him groan. In the afternoon the
Sherpas came UP again followed
by Couzy: the descent had taken
two hours, and Rebuffat and
Lachenal were none the worse
Tor the journey.
Horrible JoIts n-Injured
While I rested the others made
up the loads. The next day, be-
fore going of, Oudot examined
me and his favorable impression
was confirmed: the injections of
acetylcholine, which had been
abominably painful, had saved
a part at least Of my feet and
hands.
Adjiba, Sarki. Foutharkey and
Pandy the Chinee were going to
take turns at carrying me in the
cacolet. The route was well
marked, there were no stones
and the going was straightfor-
ward. But ! was crushed up
against the porter and horribly
jolted at every step.
I was afraid Of falling and
clung desperately to his neck
with both arms though I tried
to do all in my power not to him
der his movements. Whenever his
step faltered I was perfectly
aware Of it. Several times both
Adjiba and Pandy slipped. and
1nSt1nctively I tried to put my
arm out, without realizing that
1t was useless. was less anxious
in the couloirs than on the steep
rock slabs where the porter
might fall. and kept on being
afraid that my hands or my feet
might knock against the rock,
"Sarki! =. Pay attention! :.
Pay attention! :" Again and
again ! repeated this cry: which
became an entreaty.
Safe ut Base Camp.
At the awkward pitches they
helped each other: one placed
the carriers feet in position, and
another would push from behind
to maintain his balance. After
many difheulties we got over
the rocky section and arrived in
view Of Base Camp.
It felt as II we had been al
day on this journey. but IN fact
1t was only two hours and q
hall. and there had not been
the slightest hitch. &c was now