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Exciting Adventures in the Alps

PERILS always attend We commenced the ascent of the gully the Alpine tourist, leading to a point in the ridge, just to the a fact well illus- east of Mont Bans. So far the route had trated by the story been nothing more than a steep grind in of an exploring an angle where little could be seen, but party given by one now views opened out in several direcof the number. tions, and the way began to be interesting.

Our course, he It was more so, perhaps, to us than to our says, was north- companion, M. Reynaud, who had no rest north-west, and was prodig- in the last night. He was, moreover, iously steep. In less than heavily laden. Science was to be regarded two miles' difference of lati- - his pockets were stuffed with books; tude we rose one mile of ab- heights and angles were to be observedsolute height. But the route his knapsack was filled with instruments; was so far from being an ex- hunger was to be guarded against-his ceptionally difficult one that shoulders were ornamented with a huge soon we stood on the summit nimbus of bread, and a leg of mutton of the pass, having made an swung behind from his knapsack, looking Like a good-hearted fellow, he had ascent of more than five thousand feet in like an overgrown tail. five hours, inclusive of halts.

We commenced to descend by a slope of brought this food, thinking we might be the level of the sea. It is the highest in need of it. As it happened, we were pass in Dauphine. well provided for, and, having our own packs to carry, could not relieve him of his superfluous burdens, which, naturally, he did not like to throw away. As the angles steepened the strain on his strength became more and more apparent. At last he began to groan. At first a most gentle and mellow groan, but as we rose so did his groans, till at last the cliffs were groaning in echo and we were moved to laughter.

Our sturdy guide, Croz, cut the way with unflagging energy throughout the whole of the ascent, and at length we stood on the summit of our pass, intending to refresh ourselves with a good halt; but just at that moment a mist, which had been playing about the ridge, swooped down and blotted out the whole of the view on the northern side.

Croz was the only one who caught a glimpse of the descent, and it was deemed advisable to push on immediately, while its recollection was fresh in his memory. We are, consequently, unable to tell anything about the summit of the pass, smooth ice, the face of which, according except that it lies immediately to the east to measurement, had an inclination of of Mont Bans, and is elevated about fifty-four degrees! Croz still led, and the eleven thousand three hundred feet above others followed at intervals of about fif