Butwhenthemoon，havingpassedthelineofpinnacles，washiddenbehindthestupendouswhiteswellofMontBlanc，themasterpieceoftheeveningwasflungonthecanvas。
Arichgreenishradiancesprangintotheskyfrombehindthemountain，andinthissameairyshredsandribbonsofvaporfloatedabout，andbeingflushedwiththatstrangetint，wentwavingtoandfrolikepalegreenflames。Afterawhile，radiatingbars——vastbroadeningfan-shapedshadows——grewupandstretchedawaytothezenithfrombehindthemountain。
Itwasaspectacletotakeone'sbreath，forthewonderofit，andthesublimity。
Indeed，thosemightybarsofalternatelightandshadowstreamingupfrombehindthatdarkandprodigiousformandoccupyingthehalfofthedullandopaqueheavens，wasthemostimposingandimpressivemarvelIhadeverlookedupon。Thereisnosimileforit，fornothingislikeit。Ifachildhadaskedmewhatitwas，Ishouldhavesaid，"Humbleyourself，inthispresence，itisthegloryflowingfromthehiddenheadoftheCreator。"
Onefallsshorterofthetruththanthat，sometimes，intryingtoexplainmysteriestothelittlepeople。
Icouldhavefoundoutthecauseofthisawe-compellingmiraclebyinquiring，foritisnotinfrequentatMontBlanc，——butIdidnotwishtoknow。Wehavenotthereverentfeelingfortherainbowthatasavagehas，becauseweknowhowitismade。Wehavelostasmuchaswegainedbypryingintothematter。
Wetookawalkdownstreet，ablockortwo，andaplacewherefourstreetsmetandtheprincipalshopswereclustered，foundthegroupsofmenintheroadwaythickerthanever——forthiswastheExchangeofChamonix。
Thesemenwereinthecostumesofguidesandporters，andweretheretobehired。
Theofficeofthatgreatpersonage，theGuide-in-ChiefoftheChamonixGuildofGuides，wasnearby。Thisguildisaclosecorporation，andisgovernedbystrictlaws。
Therearemanyexcursionroutes，somedangerousandsomenot，somethatcanbemadesafelywithoutaguide，andsomethatcannot。Thebureaudeterminesthesethings。
Whereitdecidesthataguideisnecessary，youareforbiddentogowithoutone。Neitherareyouallowedtobeavictimofextortion:thelawstateswhatyouaretopay。
Theguidesserveinrotation；youcannotselectthemanwhoistotakeyourlifeintohishands，youmusttaketheworstinthelot，ifitishisturn。Aguide'sfeerangesallthewayupfromahalf-dollarforsometriflingexcursionofafewrodstotwentydollars，accordingtothedistancetraversedandthenatureoftheground。
Aguide'sfeefortakingapersontothesummitofMontBlancandback，istwentydollars——andheearnsit。
Thetimeemployedisusuallythreedays，andthereisenoughearlyrisinginittomakeamanfarmore"healthyandwealthyandwise"thananyonemanhasanyrighttobe。
Theporter'sfeeforthesametripistendollars。
Severalfools——no，Imeanseveraltourists——usuallygotogether，anddivideuptheexpense，andthusmakeitlight；
forifonlyonef——tourist，Imean——went，hewouldhavetohaveseveralguidesandporters，andthatwouldmakethemattercostly。
WewentintotheChief'soffice。Thereweremapsofmountainsonthewalls；alsooneortwolithographsofcelebratedguides，andaportraitofthescientistDeSaussure。
Inglasscasesweresomelabeledfragmentsofbootsandbatons，andothersuggestiverelicsandremembrancesofcasualtiesonMountBlanc。Inabookwasarecordofalltheascentswhichhaveeverbeenmade，beginningwithNos。
1and2——beingthoseofJacquesBalmatandDeSaussure，in1787，andendingwithNo。685，whichwasn'tcoldyet。
InfactNo。685wasstandingbytheofficialtablewaitingtoreceivethepreciousofficialdiplomawhichshouldprovetohisGermanhouseholdandtohisdescendantsthathehadoncebeenindiscreetenoughtoclimbtothetopofMontBlanc。
Helookedveryhappywhenhegothisdocument；infact，hespokeupandsaidheWAShappy。
Itriedtobuyadiplomaforaninvalidfriendathomewhohadnevertraveled，andwhosedesireallhislifehasbeentoascendMontBlanc，buttheGuide-in-Chiefratherinsolentlyrefusedtosellmeone。Iwasverymuchoffended。
IsaidIdidnotproposetobediscriminatedagainstontheaccountofmynationality；thathehadjustsoldadiplomatothisGermangentleman，andmymoneywasagoodashis；Iwouldseetoitthathecouldn'tkeephisshopforGermansanddenyhisproducetoAmericans；
Iwouldhavehislicensetakenawayfromhimatthedroppingofahandkerchief；ifFrancerefusedtobreakhim，Iwouldmakeaninternationalmatterofitandbringonawar；
thesoilshouldbedrenchedwithblood；andnotonlythat，butIwouldsetupanoppositionshowandselldiplomasathalfprice。
FortwocentsIwouldhavedonethesethings，too；
butnobodyofferedmetwocents。ItriedtomovethatGerman'sfeelings，butitcouldnotbedone；hewouldnotgivemehisdiploma，neitherwouldhesellittome。
ITOLDhimmyfriendwassickandcouldnotcomehimself，buthesaidhedidnotcareaVERDAMMTESPFENNIG，hewantedhisdiplomaforhimself——didIsupposehewasgoingtoriskhisneckforthatthingandthengiveittoasickstranger?Indeedhewouldn't，sohewouldn't。
Iresolved，then，thatIwoulddoallIcouldtoinjureMontBlanc。
Intherecord-bookwasalistofallthefatalaccidentswhichhappenedonthemountain。Itbeganwiththeonein1820whentheRussianDr。Hamel'sthreeguideswerelostinacreviceoftheglacier，anditrecordedthedeliveryoftheremainsinthevalleybytheslow-movingglacierforty-oneyearslater。Thelatestcatastropheborethedate1877。
Westeppedoutandrovedaboutthevillageawhile。
InfrontofthelittlechurchwasamonumenttothememoryoftheboldguideJacquesBalmat，thefirstmanwhoeverstooduponthesummitofMontBlanc。Hemadethatwildtripsolitaryandalone。Heaccomplishedtheascentanumberoftimesafterward。Astretchofnearlyhalfacenturylaybetweenhisfirstascentandhislastone。
Attheripeoldageofseventy-twohewasclimbingaroundacornerofaloftyprecipiceofthePicduMidi——nobodywithhim——whenheslippedandfell。
Sohediedintheharness。
Hehadgrownveryavariciousinhisoldage，andusedtogooffstealthilytohuntfornon-existentandimpossiblegoldamongthoseperilouspeaksandprecipices。
Hewasonaquestofthatkindwhenhelosthislife。
Therewasastatuetohim，andanothertoDeSaussure，inthehallofourhotel，andametalplateonthedoorofaroomupstairsboreaninscriptiontotheeffectthatthatroomhadbeenoccupiedbyAlbertSmith。
BalmatandDeSaussurediscoveredMontBlanc——sotospeak——butitwasSmithwhomadeitapayingproperty。
HisarticlesinBLACKWOODandhislecturesonMontBlancinLondonadvertiseditandmadepeopleasanxioustoseeitasifitowedthemmoney。
Aswestrolledalongtheroadwelookedupandsawaredsignal-lightglowinginthedarknessofthemountainside。
Itseemedbutatriflingwayup——perhapsahundredyards，aclimboftenminutes。Itwasaluckypieceofsagacityinusthatweconcludedtostopamanwhomwemetandgetalightforourpipesfromhiminsteadofcontinuingtheclimbtothatlanterntogetalight，ashadbeenourpurpose。
ThemansaidthatthatlanternwasontheGrandsMulets，somesixty-fivehundredfeetabovethevalley!IknowbyourRiffelbergexperience，thatitwouldhavetakenusagoodpartofaweektogoupthere。Iwouldsoonernotsmokeatall，thantakeallthattroubleforalight。
Eveninthedaytimetheforeshadowingeffectofthismountain'scloseproximitycreatescuriousdeceptions。
Forinstance，oneseeswiththenakedeyeacabinuptherebesidetheglacier，andalittleaboveandbeyondheseesthespotwherethatredlightwaslocated；
hethinkshecouldthrowastonefromtheoneplacetotheother。Buthecouldn't，forthedifferencebetweenthetwoaltitudesismorethanthreethousandfeet。
Itlooksimpossible，frombelow，thatthiscanbetrue，butitistrue，nevertheless。
Whilestrollingaround，wekepttherunofthemoonallthetime，andwestillkeptaneyeonherafterwegotbacktothehotelportico。Ihadatheorythatthegravitationofrefraction，beingsubsidiarytoatmosphericcompensation，therefrangibilityoftheearth'ssurfacewouldemphasizethiseffectinregionswheregreatmountainrangesoccur，andpossiblysoeven-handedimpacttheodicandidyllicforcestogether，theoneupontheother，astopreventthemoonfromrisinghigherthan12，200feetabovesea-level。Thisdaringtheoryhadbeenreceivedwithfranticscornbysomeofmyfellow-scientists，andwithaneagersilencebyothers。AmongtheformerImaymentionProf。H——y；andamongthelatterProf。T——l。Suchisprofessionaljealousy；ascientistwillnevershowanykindnessforatheorywhichhedidnotstarthimself。
Thereisnofeelingofbrotherhoodamongthesepeople。
Indeed，theyalwaysresentitwhenIcallthembrother。
Toshowhowfartheirungenerositycancarrythem，IwillstatethatIofferedtoletProf。H——ypublishmygreattheoryashisowndiscovery；Ievenbeggedhimtodoit；
Ievenproposedtoprintitmyselfashistheory。
Insteadofthankingme，hesaidthatifItriedtofastenthattheoryonhimhewouldsuemeforslander。
IwasgoingtoofferittoMr。Darwin，whomIunderstoodtobeamanwithoutprejudices，butitoccurredtomethatperhapshewouldnotbeinterestedinitsinceitdidnotconcernheraldry。
ButIamgladnow，thatIwasforcedtofathermyintrepidtheorymyself，for，onthenightofwhichIamwriting，itwastriumphantlyjustifiedandestablished。MontBlancisnearlysixteenthousandfeethigh；hehidthemoonutterly；
nearhimisapeakwhichis12，216feethigh；themoonslidalongbehindthepinnacles，andwhensheapproachedthatoneIwatchedherwithintenseinterest，formyreputationasascientistmuststandorfallbyitsdecision。
IcannotdescribetheemotionswhichsurgedliketidalwavesthroughmybreastwhenIsawthemoonglidebehindthatloftyneedleandpassitbywithoutexposingmorethantwofeetfourinchesofherupperrimaboveit；
Iwassecure，then。Iknewshecouldrisenohigher，andIwasright。Shesailedbehindallthepeaksandneversucceededinhoistingherdiskaboveasingleoneofthem。
Whilethemoonwasbehindoneofthosesharpfingers，itsshadowwasflungathwartthevacantheavens——
along，slanting，clean-cut，darkray——withastreamingandenergeticsuggestionofFORCEaboutit，suchastheascendingjetofwaterfromapowerfulfire-engineaffords。
Itwascurioustoseeagoodstrongshadowofanearthlyobjectcastuponsointangibleafieldastheatmosphere。
Wewenttobed，atlast，andwentquicklytosleep，butI
wokeup，afteraboutthreehours，withthrobbingtemples，andaheadwhichwasphysicallysore，outsideandin。
Iwasdazed，dreamy，wretched，seedy，unrefreshed。
Irecognizedtheoccasionofallthis:itwasthattorrent。
InthemountainvillagesofSwitzerland，andalongtheroads，onehasalwaystheroarofthetorrentinhisears。
Heimaginesitismusic，andhethinkspoeticthingsaboutit；heliesinhiscomfortablebedandislulledtosleepbyit。Butbyandbyhebeginstonoticethathisheadisverysore——hecannotaccountforit；
insolitudeswheretheprofoundestsilencereigns，henoticesasullen，distant，continuousroarinhisears，whichislikewhathewouldexperienceifhehadsea-shellspressedagainstthem——hecannotaccountforit；heisdrowsyandabsent-minded；thereisnotenacitytohismind，hecannotkeepholdofathoughtandfollowitout；
ifhesitsdowntowrite，hisvocabularyisempty，nosuitablewordswillcome，heforgetswhathestartedtodo，andremainsthere，peninhand，headtiltedup，eyesclosed，listeningpainfullytothemuffledroarofadistanttraininhisears；inhissoundestsleepthestraincontinues，hegoesonlistening，alwayslisteningintently，anxiously，andwakesatlast，harassed，irritable，unrefreshed。
Hecannotmanagetoaccountforthesethings。
Dayafterdayhefeelsasifhehadspenthisnightsinasleeping-car。Itactuallytakeshimweekstofindoutthatitisthosepersecutingtorrentsthathavebeenmakingallthemischief。ItistimeforhimtogetoutofSwitzerland，then，forassoonashehasdiscoveredthecause，themiseryismagnifiedseveralfold。Theroarofthetorrentismaddening，then，forhisimaginationisassisting；thephysicalpainitinflictsisexquisite。
Whenhefindsheisapproachingoneofthosestreams，hisdreadissolivelythatheisdisposedtoflythetrackandavoidtheimplacablefoe。
Eightorninemonthsafterthedistressofthetorrentshaddepartedfromme，theroarandthunderofthestreetsofParisbroughtitallbackagain。Imovedtothesixthstoryofthehoteltohuntforpeace。
Aboutmidnightthenoisesdulledaway，andIwassinkingtosleep，whenIheardanewandcurioussound；
Ilistened:evidentlysomejoyouslunaticwassoftlydancinga"doubleshuffle"intheroomovermyhead。
Ihadtowaitforhimtogetthrough，ofcourse。Fivelong，longminuteshesmoothlyshuffledaway——apausefollowed，thensomethingfellwithathumponthefloor。
Isaidtomyself"There——heispullingoffhisboots——
thankheavensheisdone。"Anotherslightpause——hewenttoshufflingagain!Isaidtomyself，"Ishetryingtoseewhathecandowithonlyonebooton?"Presentlycameanotherpauseandanotherthumponthefloor。Isaid"Good，hehaspulledoffhisotherboot——NOWheisdone。"
Buthewasn't。Thenextmomenthewasshufflingagain。
Isaid，"Confoundhim，heisatitinhisslippers!"
Afteralittlecamethatsameoldpause，andrightafteritthatthumpontheflooroncemore。Isaid，"Hanghim，hehadonTWOpairofboots!"Foranhourthatmagicianwentonshufflingandpullingoffbootstillhehadshedasmanyastwenty-fivepair，andIwashoveringonthevergeoflunacy。Igotmygunandstoleupthere。Thefellowwasinthemidstofanacreofsprawlingboots，andhehadabootinhishand，shufflingit——no，ImeanPOLISHINGit。
Themysterywasexplained。Hehadn'tbeendancing。
Hewasthe"Boots"ofthehotel，andwasattendingtobusiness。
CHAPTERXLIV
[IScaleMontBlanc——byTelescope]
Afterbreakfast，thatnextmorninginChamonix，wewentoutintheyardandwatchedthegangsofexcursioningtouristsarrivinganddepartingwiththeirmulesandguidesandporters；theywetookalookthroughthetelescopeatthesnowyhumpofMontBlanc。Itwasbrilliantwithsunshine，andthevastsmoothbulgeseemedhardlyfivehundredyardsaway。WiththenakedeyewecoulddimlymakeoutthehouseatthePierrePointue，whichislocatedbythesideofthegreatglacier，andismorethanthreethousandfeetabovethelevelofthevalley；
butwiththetelescopewecouldseeallitsdetails。
WhileIlooked，awomanrodebythehouseonamule，andI
sawherwithsharpdistinctness；Icouldhavedescribedherdress。Isawhernodtothepeopleofthehouse，andreinuphermule，andputherhanduptoshieldhereyesfromthesun。Iwasnotusedtotelescopes；
infact，Ihadneverlookedthroughagoodonebefore；
itseemedincredibletomethatthiswomancouldbesofaraway。IwassatisfiedthatIcouldseeallthesedetailswithmynakedeye；butwhenItriedit，thatmuleandthosevividpeoplehadwhollyvanished，andthehouseitselfwasbecomesmallandvague。Itriedthetelescopeagain，andagaineverythingwasvivid。
Thestrongblackshadowsofthemuleandthewomanwereflungagainstthesideofthehouse，andIsawthemule'ssilhouettewaveitsears。
Thetelescopulist——orthetelescopulariat——Idonotknowwhichisright——saidapartyweremakingagrandascent，andwouldcomeinsightontheremoteupperheights，presently；sowewaitedtoobservethisperformance。
PresentlyIhadasuperbidea。IwantedtostandwithapartyonthesummitofMontBlanc，merelytobeabletosayIhaddoneit，andIbelievedthetelescopecouldsetmewithinsevenfeetoftheuppermostman。
Thetelescoperassuredmethatitcould。IthenaskedhimhowmuchIowedhimforasfarasIhadgot?Hesaid，onefranc。Iaskedhimhowmuchitwouldcosttomaketheentireascent?Threefrancs。Iatoncedeterminedtomaketheentireascent。ButfirstIinquirediftherewasanydanger?Hesaidno——notbytelescope；
saidhehadtakenagreatmanypartiestothesummit，andneverlostaman。Iaskedwhathewouldchargetoletmyagentgowithme，togetherwithsuchguidesandportersasmightbenecessary。HesaidhewouldletHarrisgofortwofrancs；andthatunlesswewereunusuallytimid，heshouldconsiderguidesandportersunnecessary；
itwasnotcustomarytotakethem，whengoingbytelescope，fortheywereratheranencumbrancethanahelp。
Hesaidthatthepartynowonthemountainwereapproachingthemostdifficultpart，andifwehurriedweshouldovertakethemwithintenminutes，andcouldthenjointhemandhavethebenefitoftheirguidesandporterswithouttheirknowledge，andwithoutexpensetous。
Ithensaidwewouldstartimmediately。IbelieveI
saiditcalmly，thoughIwasconsciousofashudderandofapalingcheek，inviewofthenatureoftheexploitIwassounreflectinglyengagedin。Buttheolddaredevilspiritwasuponme，andIsaidthatasI
hadcommittedmyselfIwouldnotbackdown；IwouldascendMontBlancifitcostmemylife。Itoldthemantoslanthismachineintheproperdirectionandletusbeoff。
Harriswasafraidanddidnotwanttogo，butIheartenedhimupandsaidIwouldholdhishandalltheway；sohegavehisconsent，thoughhetrembledalittleatfirst。
Itookalastpatheticlookuponthepleasantsummersceneaboutme，thenboldlyputmyeyetotheglassandpreparedtomountamongthegrimglaciersandtheeverlastingsnows。
WetookourwaycarefullyandcautiouslyacrossthegreatGlacierdesBossons，overyawningandterrificcrevicesandamongimposingcragsandbuttressesoficewhichwerefringedwithiciclesofgiganticproportions。Thedesertoficethatstretchedfarandwideaboutuswaswildanddesolatebeyonddescription，andtheperilswhichbesetusweresogreatthatattimesIwasmindedtoturnback。
ButIpulledmyplucktogetherandpushedon。
Wepassedtheglaciersafelyandbegantomountthesteepsbeyond，withgreatalacrity。Whenweweresevenminutesoutfromthestarting-point，wereachedanaltitudewherethescenetookanewaspect；
anapparentlylimitlesscontinentofgleamingsnowwastiltedheavenwardbeforeourfaces。Asmyeyefollowedthatawfulacclivityfarawayupintotheremoteskies，itseemedtomethatallIhadeverseenbeforeofsublimityandmagnitudewassmallandinsignificantcomparedtothis。
Werestedamoment，andthenbegantomountwithspeed。
Withinthreeminuteswecaughtsightofthepartyaheadofus，andstoppedtoobservethem。Theyweretoilingupalong，slantingridgeofsnow——twelvepersons，ropedtogethersomefifteenfeetapart，marchinginsinglefile，andstronglymarkedagainsttheclearbluesky。Onewasawoman。
Wecouldseethemlifttheirfeetandputthemdown；
wesawthemswingtheiralpenstocksforwardinunison，likesomanypendulums，andthenbeartheirweightuponthem；wesawtheladywaveherhandkerchief。
Theydraggedthemselvesupwardinawornandwearyway，fortheyhadbeenclimbingsteadilyfromtheGrandMulets，ontheGlacierdesDossons，sincethreeinthemorning，anditwaseleven，now。Wesawthemsinkdowninthesnowandrest，anddrinksomethingfromabottle。
Afterawhiletheymovedon，andastheyapproachedthefinalshortdashofthehome-stretchwecloseduponthemandjoinedthem。
Presentlyweallstoodtogetheronthesummit!Whataviewwasspreadoutbelow!AwayoffunderthenorthwesternhorizonrolledthesilentbillowsoftheFarneseOberland，theirsnowycrestsglintingsoftlyinthesubduedlightsofdistance；
inthenorthrosethegiantformoftheWobblehorn，drapedfrompeaktoshoulderinsablethunder-clouds；
beyondhim，totheright，stretchedthegrandprocessionalsummitsoftheCisalpineCordillera，drownedinasensuoushaze；totheeastloomedthecolossalmassesoftheYodelhorn，theFuddelhorn，andtheDinnerhorn，theircloudlesssummitsflashingwhiteandcoldinthesun；
beyondthemshimmeredthefaintfarlineoftheGhautsofJubbelporeandtheAigullesdesAlleghenies；inthesouthtoweredthesmokingpeakofPopocatapetlandtheunapproachablealtitudesofthepeerlessScrabblehorn；
inthewest-souththestatelyrangeoftheHimalayaslaydreaminginapurplegloom；andthenceallaroundthecurvinghorizontheeyerovedoveratroubledseaofsun-kissedAlps，andnoted，hereandthere，thenobleproportionsandthesoaringdomesoftheBottlehorn，andtheSaddlehorn，andtheShovelhorn，andthePowderhorn，allbathedinthegloryofnoonandmottledwithsoftlyglidingblots，theshadowsflungfromdriftingclouds。
Overcomebythescene，weallraisedatriumphant，tremendousshout，inunison。Astartledmanatmyelbowsaid:
"Confoundyou，whatdoyouyelllikethatfor，righthereinthestreet?"
ThatbroughtmedowntoChamonix，likeaflirt。
Igavethatmansomespiritualadviceanddisposedofhim，andthenpaidthetelescopemanhisfullfee，andsaidthatwewerecharmedwiththetripandwouldremaindown，andnotreascendandrequirehimtofetchusdownbytelescope。
Thispleasedhimverymuch，forofcoursewecouldhavesteppedbacktothesummitandputhimtothetroubleofbringingushomeifwewantedto。
Ijudgedwecouldgetdiplomas，now，anyhow；sowewentafterthem，buttheChiefGuideputusoff，withonepretextoranother，duringallthetimewestayedinChamonix，andweendedbynevergettingthematall。
Somuchforhisprejudiceagainstpeople'snationality。
However，weworriedhimenoughtomakehimrememberusandourascentforsometime。Heevensaid，once，thathewishedtherewasalunaticasyluminChamonix。
Thisshowsthathereallyhadfearsthatweweregoingtodrivehimmad。Itwaswhatweintendedtodo，butlackoftimedefeatedit。
Icannotventuretoadvisethereaderonewayortheother，astoascendingMontBlanc。Isayonlythis:ifheisatalltimid，theenjoymentsofthetripwillhardlymakeupforthehardshipsandsufferingshewillhavetoendure。
But，ifhehasgoodnerve，youth，health，andabold，firmwill，andcouldleavehisfamilycomfortablyprovidedforincasetheworsthappened，hewouldfindtheascentawonderfulexperience，andtheviewfromthetopavisiontodreamabout，andtellabout，andrecallwithexultationallthedaysofhislife。
WhileIdonotadvisesuchapersontoattempttheascent，Idonotadvisehimagainstit。Butifheelectstoattemptit，lethimbewarilycarefuloftwothings:choseacalm，clearday；anddonotpaythetelescopemaninadvance。
Therearedarkstoriesofhisgettingadvancepayersonthesummitandthenleavingthemtheretorot。
AfrightfultragedywasoncewitnessedthroughtheChamonixtelescopes。Thinkofquestionsandanswerslikethese，onaninquest:
CORONER。Yousawdeceasedlosehislife?
WITNESS。Idid。
C。Wherewashe，atthetime?
W。ClosetothesummitofMontBlanc。
C。Wherewereyou?
W。InthemainstreetofChamonix。
C。Whatwasthedistancebetweenyou?
W。ALITTLEOVERFIVEMILES，asthebirdflies。
Thisaccidentoccurredin1866，ayearandamonthafterthedisasterontheMatterhorn。ThreeadventurousEnglishgentlemen，[1]ofgreatexperienceinmountain-climbing，madeuptheirmindstoascendMontBlancwithoutguidesorporters。
Allendeavorstodissuadethemfromtheirprojectfailed。
PowerfultelescopesarenumerousinChamonix。Thesehugebrasstubes，mountedontheirscaffoldingsandpointedskywardfromeverychoicevantage-ground，havetheformidablelookofartillery，andgivethetownthegeneralaspectofgettingreadytorepelachargeofangels。
ThereadermayeasilybelievethatthetelescopeshadplentyofcustomonthatAugustmorningin1866，foreverybodyknewofthedangerousundertakingwhichwasonfoot，andallhadfearsthatmisfortunewouldresult。
Allthemorningthetubesremaineddirectedtowardthemountainheights，eachwithitsanxiousgrouparoundit；
butthewhitedesertswerevacant。
1。SirGeorgeYoungandhisbrothersJamesandAlbert。
Atlast，towardeleveno'clock，thepeoplewhowerelookingthroughthetelescopescriedout"Theretheyare!"——andsureenough，farup，ontheloftiestterracesoftheGrandPlateau，thethreepygmiesappeared，climbingwithremarkablevigorandspirit。Theydisappearedinthe"Corridor，"andwerelosttosightduringanhour。
Thentheyreappeared，andwerepresentlyseenstandingtogetherupontheextremesummitofMontBlanc。So，allwaswell。
TheyremainedafewminutesonthathighestpointoflandinEurope，atargetforallthetelescopes，andwerethenseentobegindescent。Suddenlyallthreevanished。
Aninstantafter，theyappearedagain，TWOTHOUSANDFEET
BELOW!
Evidently，theyhadtrippedandbeenshotdownanalmostperpendicularslopeoficetoapointwhereitjoinedtheborderoftheupperglacier。Naturally，thedistantwitnesssupposedtheywerenowlookinguponthreecorpses；
sotheycouldhardlybelievetheireyeswhentheypresentlysawtwoofthemenrisetotheirfeetandbendoverthethird。
Duringtwohoursandahalftheywatchedthetwobusyingthemselvesovertheextendedformoftheirbrother，whoseemedentirelyinert。Chamonix'saffairsstoodstill；
everybodywasinthestreet，allinterestwascentereduponwhatwasgoingonuponthatloftyandisolatedstagefivemilesaway。Finallythetwo——oneofthemwalkingwithgreatdifficulty——wereseentobegindescent，abandoningthethird，whowasnodoubtlifeless。
Theirmovementswerefollowed，stepbystep，untiltheyreachedthe"Corridor"anddisappearedbehinditsridge。
Beforetheyhadhadtimetotraversethe"Corridor"
andreappear，twilightwascome，andthepowerofthetelescopewasatanend。
Thesurvivorshadamostperilousjourneybeforetheminthegatheringdarkness，fortheymustgetdowntotheGrandsMuletsbeforetheywouldfindasafestopping-place——alongandtediousdescent，andperilousenougheveningooddaylight。Theoldestguidesexpressedtheopinionthattheycouldnotsucceed；
thatallthechanceswerethattheywouldlosetheirlives。
Yetthosebravemendidsucceed。TheyreachedtheGrandsMuletsinsafety。Eventhefearfulshockwhichtheirnerveshadsustainedwasnotsufficienttoovercometheircoolnessandcourage。Itwouldappearfromtheofficialaccountthattheywerethreadingtheirwaydownthroughthosedangersfromtheclosinginoftwilightuntiltwoo'clockinthemorning，orlater，becausetherescuingpartyfromChamonixreachedtheGrandMuletsaboutthreeinthemorningandmovedthencetowardthesceneofthedisasterundertheleadershipofSirGeorgeYoung，"whohadonlyjustarrived。"
Afterhavingbeenonhisfeettwenty-fourhours，intheexhaustingworkofmountain-climbing，SirGeorgebeganthereascentattheheadofthereliefpartyofsixguides，torecoverthecorpseofhisbrother。
Thiswasconsideredanewimprudence，asthenumberwastoofewfortheservicerequired。AnotherreliefpartypresentlyarrivedatthecabinontheGrandsMuletsandquarteredthemselvestheretoawaitevents。
TenhoursafterSirGeorge'sdeparturetowardthesummit，thisnewreliefwerestillscanningthesnowyaltitudesabovethemfromtheirownhighperchamongtheicedesertstenthousandfeetabovethelevelofthesea，butthewholeforenoonhadpassedwithoutaglimpseofanylivingthingappearingupthere。
Thiswasalarming。Halfadozenoftheirnumbersetout，thenearlyintheafternoon，toseekandsuccorSirGeorgeandhisguides。Thepersonsremainingatthecabinsawthesedisappear，andthenensuedanotherdistressingwait。
Fourhourspassed，withouttidings。Thenatfiveo'clockanotherrelief，consistingofthreeguides，setforwardfromthecabin。Theycarriedfoodandcordialsfortherefreshmentoftheirpredecessors；
theytooklanternswiththem，too；nightwascomingon，andtomakemattersworse，afine，coldrainhadbeguntofall。
Atthesamehourthatthesethreebegantheirdangerousascent，theofficialGuide-in-ChiefoftheMontBlancregionundertookthedangerousdescenttoChamonix，allalone，togetreinforcements。However，acoupleofhourslater，at7P。M。，theanxioussolicitudecametoanend，andhappily。Abuglenotewasheard，andaclusterofblackspeckswasdistinguishableagainstthesnowsoftheupperheights。Thewatcherscountedthesespeckseagerly——fourteen——nobodywasmissing。Anhourandahalflatertheywereallsafeundertheroofofthecabin。
Theyhadbroughtthecorpsewiththem。SirGeorgeYoungtarriedtherebutafewminutes，andthenbeganthelongandtroublesomedescentfromthecabintoChamonix。
Heprobablyreachedthereabouttwoorthreeo'clockinthemorning，afterhavingbeenafootamongtherocksandglaciersduringtwodaysandtwonights。Hisendurancewasequaltohisdaring。
ThecauseoftheunaccountabledelayofSirGeorgeandthereliefpartiesamongtheheightswherethedisasterhadhappenedwasathickfog——or，partlythatandpartlytheslowanddifficultworkofconveyingthedeadbodydowntheperiloussteeps。
Thecorpse，uponbeingviewedattheinquest，showednobruises，anditwassometimebeforethesurgeonsdiscoveredthattheneckwasbroken。Oneofthesurvivingbrothershadsustainedsomeunimportantinjuries，buttheotherhadsufferednohurtatall。Howthesemencouldfalltwothousandfeet，almostperpendicularly，andliveafterward，isamoststrangeandunaccountablething。
AgreatmanywomenhavemadetheascentofMontBlanc。
AnEnglishgirl，MissStratton，conceivedthedaringidea，twoorthreeyearsago，ofattemptingtheascentinthemiddleofwinter。Shetriedit——andshesucceeded。
Moreover，shefrozetwoofherfingersonthewayup，shefellinlovewithherguideonthesummit，andshemarriedhimwhenshegottothebottomagain。
Thereisnothinginromance，inthewayofastriking"situation，"whichcanbeatthislovesceneinmidheavenonanisolatedice-crestwiththethermometeratzeroandanArticgaleblowing。
ThefirstwomanwhoascendedMontBlancwasagirlagedtwenty-two——Mlle。MariaParadis——1809。Nobodywaswithherbuthersweetheart，andhewasnotaguide。
Thesexthentookarestforaboutthirtyyears，whenaMlle。d'Angevillemadetheascent——1838。InChamonixIpickeduparudeoldlithographofthatdaywhichpicturedher"intheact。"
However，Ivalueitlessasaworkofartthanasafashion-plate。Missd'Angevilleputonapairofmen'spantaloonstoclimbit，whichwaswise；butshecrampedtheirutilitybyaddingherpetticoat，whichwasidiotic。
Oneofthemournfulestcalamitieswhichmen'sdispositiontoclimbdangerousmountainshasresultedin，happenedonMontBlancinSeptember1870。M。D'ArvetellsthestorybrieflyinhisHISTOIREDUMONTBLANC。
InthenextchapterIwillcopyitschieffeatures。
CHAPTERXLV
ACatastropheWhichCostElevenLives[PerishedattheVergeofSafety]
Onthe5thofSeptember，1870，acaravanofelevenpersonsdepartedfromChamonixtomaketheascentofMontBlanc。
Threeofthepartyweretourists；Messrs。RandallandBean，Americans，andMr。GeorgeCorkindale，aScotchgentleman；
therewerethreeguidesandfiveporters。ThecabinontheGrandsMuletswasreachedthatday；theascentwasresumedearlythenextmorning，September6th。
Thedaywasfineandclear，andthemovementsofthepartywereobservedthroughthetelescopesofChamonix；attwoo'clockintheafternoontheywereseentoreachthesummit。
Afewminuteslatertheywereseenmakingthefirststepsofthedescent；thenacloudclosedaroundthemandhidthemfromview。
Eighthourspassed，thecloudstillremained，nightcame，noonehadreturnedtotheGrandsMulets。SylvainCouttet，keeperofthecabinthere，suspectedamisfortune，andsentdowntothevalleyforhelp。Adetachmentofguideswentup，butbythetimetheyhadmadethetedioustripandreachedthecabin，aragingstormhadsetin。
Theyhadtowait；nothingcouldbeattemptedinsuchatempest。
ThewildstormlastedMORETHANAWEEK，withoutceasing；
butonthe17th，Couttet，withseveralguides，leftthecabinandsucceededinmakingtheascent。Inthesnowywastesnearthesummittheycameuponfivebodies，lyingupontheirsidesinareposefulattitudewhichsuggestedthatpossiblytheyhadfallenasleepthere，whileexhaustedwithfatigueandhungerandbenumbedwithcold，andneverknewwhendeathstoleuponthem。Couttetmovedafewstepsfurtheranddiscoveredfivemorebodies。
Theeleventhcorpse——thatofaporter——wasnotfound，althoughdiligentsearchwasmadeforit。
InthepocketofMr。Bean，oneoftheAmericans，wasfoundanote-bookinwhichhadbeenpenciledsomesentenceswhichadmitus，infleshandspirit，asitwere，tothepresenceofthesemenduringtheirlasthoursoflife，andtothegrislyhorrorswhichtheirfadingvisionlookeduponandtheirfailingconsciousnesstookcognizanceof:
TUESDAY，SEPT。6。IhavemadetheascentofMontBlanc，withtenpersons——eightguides，andMr。CorkindaleandMr。Randall。Wereachedthesummitathalfpast2。
Immediatelyafterquittingit，wewereenvelopedincloudsofsnow。Wepassedthenightinagrottohollowedinthesnow，whichaffordedusbutpoorshelter，andI
wasillallnight。
SEPT。7——MORNING。Thecoldisexcessive。Thesnowfallsheavilyandwithoutinterruption。Theguidestakenorest。
EVENING。MyDearHessie，wehavebeentwodaysonMontBlanc，inthemidstofaterriblehurricaneofsnow，wehavelostourway，andareinaholescoopedinthesnow，atanaltitudeof15，000feet。Ihavenolongeranyhopeofdescending。
Theyhadwanderedaround，andaround，intheblindingsnow-storm，hopelesslylost，inaspaceonlyahundredyardssquare；andwhencoldandfatiguevanquishedthematlast，theyscoopedtheircaveandlaydowntheretodiebyinches，UNAWARETHATFIVESTEPSMOREWOULDHAVE
BROUGHTTHEMINTOTHETRUTHPATH。Theyweresoneartolifeandsafetyasthat，anddidnotsuspectit。