Year: 1871




to draw myself out. I informed
my companion of this project; he
implored me to do nothing of the
kind, but my situation had become
intoIerablc. I made a notch in the
ice, high enough for me to reach to
it, and large enough for me to in
sart my hand in it; then about two
feet above the little bridge I dug a
hole sufficiently large for my foot.
I succeeded, and grasping these two
points Of support, my back resting
with all my strength against the
opposite wall, 1 was able to raise
myself firm in this new position.
descended again to the bridge and
began another notch above the first.
I battered myself that Ishould thus
be able to escape from my prison,
but single slip, a false step, would
precipitate me into the abyss.


was working diligently at my
second step, when I heard a joyous
cry above me: "Here they are!-
Three men with ropes-they are
running as fast as their legs can
carry them"


I steadied myself as firmly as
possible upon the narrow and slip |
perry bridge, so as to be able to seize
the rope they were about to lower
and tie it around me. 1 saw the
end of it swinging about two yards
above my head. ''AIy God, have
mercy upon me! it is too shortr


1--WE have another.


That was fastened to the first and
let down. I seized the end of it; I |
bound it strongly around my waist
and grasping the rope with both !
hands gave the signal for them to |
pull up.


They began-I was saved! A
minute afterwards I was standing
upon the glacisr. I had passed ff-
ty minutes in the crevasse, during |
which time had happily lost nei-
ther confidence in God nor my
presence Of mind.


When I placed my foot upon firm
ground again an overpowering feel
ing of deep gratitude to the All
mighty, who had delivered me in so !
great peril, filed my breast, and I
fell on my knees and tainted. When
I again became conscience our par
ty was preparing to start for Mont
anvert. Before leaving I wished to
cast one look into the crevasse
where 1 had nearly been buried
alive. 1 saw how completely i'm
possible it would have been for me
to get out of it as I had projected.
The opening at the top was too wide
to nave all0wed me, as I reached it;
to lean against the opposite wall,
and without that support the most
agile Of climbing animals would
have found it impossible to scale
this perpendicular wall of ice.


The gdide Had run to the inn,
where he could not find single
rope suitable for the purpose. In
despair he started for Chamourix. !
When on the way he met two mulo-
eteers. Their animals were laden
with wood, tied on with ropes, /
which he implored them to give
him to save a poor traveller who had
fallen into a crevasse. These good |
people at once unloaded their mules
and came with the guide to my as
sistance. Tying them together
there were three-the ropes reached
the depth ofthirty to forty yards,
where I had been arrested in my
fall.


Assisted by my deliverers, I was
aDIe TO feacn dORIanNeft, WneFe, III
a good bed, and with my bruises
attended to, I had leisure to dream
about the danger from which I had |
escaped, and the remembrance of /
which often haunts me both sleep |
ing and waking. I trust that fu-
ture travellers; proiting by my ex-
perience, viii not run the risk Of
penetrating into the midst of these
icy regions without providing them
selves with axes and ropes, and es-
pecially with a firm confidence in |
Gods goodness, the surest Of sup |
ports, and the best safeguard here |
ha1Ou-