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。