“Why do you think so?” asked Susan, with a smile, looking up for a moment from some portion of Lewis’s nether2 integuments, which Mont Blanc had riven almost to shreds3.
“W’y do I think so?” repeated Gillie; “w’y, cos he’s not content with havin’ busted4 his boots an’ his clo’se, an’ all but busted hisself, in goin’ to the top o’ Mont Blang an’ Monty Rosa, an’ all the other Monty-thingumbobs about but he’s agoin’ off to day with that queer fish Laycrwa to hunt some where up above the clouds—in among the stars, I fancy—for shamwas.”
“Indeed!” said Susan, with a neat little laugh.
“Yes, indeed. He’s mountain-mad—mad as a Swiss March hare, if not madder—By the way, Susan, wot d’ee think o’ the French?”
Gillie propounded5 this question with the air of a philosopher.
“D’you mean French people?”
“No; I means the French lingo6, as my friend Cappen Wopper calls it.”
“Well, I can’t say that I have thought much about it yet. Missis keeps me so busy that I haven’t time.”
“Ah!” said Gillie, “you’re wastin’ of precious opportoonities, Susan. I’ve bin7 a-studdyin’ of that lingo myself, now, for three weeks—off and on.”
“Indeed!” exclaimed Susan, with an amused glance, “and what do you think of it?”
“Think of it! I think it’s the most outrageous8 stuff as ever was. The man who first inwented it must ’ave ’ad p’ralersis o’ the brain, besides a bad cold in ’is ’ead, for most o’ the enns an’ gees9 come tumblin’ through the nose, but only git half out after all, as if the speaker was afraid to let ’em go, lest he shouldn’t git hold of ’em again. There’s that there mountain, now. They can’t call it Mont Blang, with a good strong out-an’-out bang, like a Briton would do, but they catches hold o’ the gee10 when it’s got about as far as the bridge o’ the nose, half throttles11 it and shoves it right back, so that you can scarce hear it at all. An’ the best joke is, there ain’t no gee in the word at all!”
“No?” said Susan, in surprise.
“No,” repeated Gillie. “I’ve bin studdyin’ the spellin’ o’ the words in shop-winders an’ posters, an’, would you b’lieve it, they end the word Blang with a c.”
“You don’t say so!”
“Yes I do; an’ how d’ee think they spell the name o’ that feller Laycrwa?”
“I’m sure I don’t know,” answered Susan.
“They spells it,” returned Gillie, with a solemn look, “L-e-c-r-o-i-x. Now, if I had spelt it that way, I’d have pronounced it Laycroiks. Wouldn’t you?”
“Well, yes, I think I should,” said Susan.
“It seems to me,” continued Gillie, “that they goes on the plan of spellin’ one way an’ purnouncin’ another—always takin’ care to choose the most difficult way, an’ the most unnatt’ral, so that a feller has no chance to come near it except by corkin’ up one nostril12 tight, an’ borin’ a small extra hole in the other about half-way up. If you was to mix a sneeze with what you said, an’ paid little or no attention to the sense, p’raps it would be French—but I ain’t sure. I only wish you heard Cappen Wopper hoistin’ French out of hisself as if he was a wessel short-handed, an’ every word was a heavy bale. He’s werry shy about it, is the Cappen, an’ wouldn’t for the world say a word if he thought any one was near; but when he thinks he’s alone with Antoine—that’s our guide, you know—he sometimes lets fly a broadside o’ French that well-nigh takes my breath away.”
The urchin13 broke into a laugh here at the memory of the Captain’s efforts to master what he styled a furrin’ tongue, but Susan checked him by saying slily, “How could you know, Gillie, if the Captain was alone with Antoine?”
“Oh, don’t you know,” replied Gillie, trying to recover his gravity, “the Cappen he’s wery fond o’ me, and I like to gratify his feelin’s by keepin’ near him. Sometimes I keep so near—under the shadow of his huge calf14 d’ee see—that he don’t observe me on lookin’ round; an’, thinkin’ he’s all alone, lets fly his French broadsides in a way that a’most sends Antoine on his beam-ends. But Antoine is tough, he is. He gin’rally says, ‘I not un’r’stan’ English ver’ well,’ shakes his head an’ grins, but the Cappen never listens to his answers, bein’ too busy loadin’ and primin’ for another broadside.”
The man to whom he referred cut short the conversation at this point by shouting down the stair:—
“Hallo! Gillie, you powder-monkey, where are my shoes?”
“Here they are, Cappen, all ready; fit to do dooty as a lookin’-glass to shave yerself,” cried the “powder-monkey,” leaping up and leaving the room abruptly15.
Gillie’s opinion in regard to the madness of Lewis was shared by several of his friends above stairs. Doctor Lawrence, especially, felt much anxiety about him, having overheard one or two conversations held by the guides on the subject of the young Englishman’s recklessness.
“Really, Lewis,” said the Doctor, on one occasion, “you must listen to a lecture from me, because you are in a measure under my charge.”
“I’m all attention, sir,” said Lewis meekly16, as he sat down on the edge of his bed and folded his hands in his lap.
“Well then, to begin,” said the Doctor, with a half-serious smile, “I won’t trouble you with my own opinion, to which you attach no weight—”
“Pardon me, Lawrence, I attach great weight to it—or, rather, it has so much weight that I can scarcely bear it.”
“Just so, and therefore you shan’t have it. But you must admit that the opinion of a good guide is worth something. Now, I heard Antoine Grennon the other day laying down some unquestionable principles to the Professor—”
“What! lecturing the Professor?” interrupted Lewis, “how very presumptuous17.”
“He said,” continued the Doctor, “that the dangers connected with the ascent18 of these Swiss mountains are real, and, unless properly provided against, may become terrible, if not fatal. He instanced your own tendency to go roving about among the glaciers20 alone. With a comrade or a guide attached to you by a rope there is no danger worth speaking of, but it must be as clear to you as it is to me that it when out on the mountains alone, you step on a snow-covered crevasse21 and break through, your instant death is inevitable22.”
“Yes, but,” objected Lewis, with that unwillingness23 to be convinced which is one of the chief characteristics of youth, “I always walk, when alone on the glaciers, with the utmost caution, sounding the snow in front of me with the long handle of my axe25 at every step as I go.”
“If the guides do not find this always a sufficient protection for themselves, by what amazing power of self-sufficiency do you persuade yourself that it is sufficient for you?” demanded Lawrence.
“Your question suffices, Doctor,” said Lewis, laughing; “go on with your lecture, I’m all attention and, and humility26.”
“Not my lecture,” retorted Lawrence, “the guide’s. He was very strong, I assure you, on the subject of men going on the high glaciers without a rope, or, which comes to the same thing, alone, and he was not less severe on those who are so foolhardy, or so ignorant, as to cross steep slopes of ice on new-fallen snow. Nothing is easier, the new snow affording such good foothold, as you told us the other day when describing your adventures under the cliffs of Monte Rosa, and yet nothing is more dangerous, says Antoine, for if the snow were to slip, as it is very apt to do, you would be smothered27 in it, or swept into a crevasse by it. Lives are lost in the Alps every year, I am told, owing to indifference28 to these two points. The guides say—and their opinions are corroborated29 by men of science and Alpine30 experience—that it is dangerous to meddle31 with any slope exceeding 30 degrees for several days after a heavy fall, and yet it is certain that slopes exceeding this angle are traversed annually32 by travellers who are ignorant, or reckless, or both. Did you not say that the slope which you crossed the other day was a steeper angle than this, and the snow on it not more than twenty-four hours’ old?”
“Guilty!” exclaimed Lewis, with a sigh.
“I condemn33 you, then,” said Lawrence, with a smile, “to a continuation of this lecture, and, be assured, the punishment is much lighter34 than you deserve. Listen:— There are three unavoidable dangers in Alpine climbing—”
“Please don’t be long on each head,” pleaded Lewis, throwing himself back in his bed, while his friend placed the point of each finger of his right hand on a corresponding point of the left, and crossed his legs.
“I won’t. I shall be brief—brief as your life is likely to be if you don’t attend to me. The three dangers are, as I have said, unavoidable; but two of them may be guarded against; the other cannot. First, there is danger from falling rocks. This danger may be styled positive. It hangs over the head like the sword of Damocles. There is no avoiding it except by not climbing at all, for boulders35 and ice-blocks are perched here, and there, and everywhere, and no one can tell the moment when they shall fall. Secondly37, there is danger from crevasses38—the danger of tumbling into one when crossing a bridge of snow, and the danger of breaking through a crust of snow which conceals39 one. This may be called a negative danger. It is reduced to almost nothing if you are tied to your comrade by a rope, and if the leader sounds with his staff as he walks along; but it changes from a negative to a positive danger to the man who is so mad as to go out alone. Thirdly, there is danger from new snow on steep slopes, which is positive if you step on it when recently fallen, and when the slope is very steep; but is negative when you allow sufficient time for it to harden. While, however, it is certain that many deaths occur from these three dangers being neglected, it is equally true that the largest number of accidents which occur in the Alps arise chiefly from momentary40 indiscretions, from false steps, the result of carelessness or self-confidence, and from men attempting to do what is beyond their powers. Men who are too old for such fatigue41, and men who, though young, are not sufficiently42 strong, usually come to grief. I close my lecture with a quotation43 from the writings of a celebrated44 mountaineer—‘In all cases the man rather than the mountain is at fault.’”
“There is truth in what you say,” observed Lewis, rising, with a yawn.
“Nay, but,” returned his friend, seriously, “your mother, who is made very anxious by your reckless expeditions, begged me to impress these truths on you. Will you promise me, like a good fellow, to consider them?”
“I promise,” said Lewis, becoming serious in his turn, and taking his friend’s hand; “but you must not expect sudden perfection to be exemplified in me.—Come, let’s go have a talk with Le Croix about his projected expedition after the chamois.”
Up in the mountains now,—above some of the clouds undoubtedly45, almost ’mong the stars, as Gillie put it,—Lewis wanders in company with Baptist Le Croix, half-forgetful of his promise to Lawrence. Below them lies a world of hills and valleys; above towers a fairy-land of ice, cliff, and cloud. No human habitation is near. The only indications of man’s existence are so faint, and so far off in the plains below, that houses are barely visible, and villages look like toys. A sea of cloud floats beneath them, and it is only through gaps in this sea that the terrestrial world is seen. Piercing through it are the more prominent of the Alpine peaks—the dark tremendous obelisk46 of the Matterhorn towering in one direction, the not less tremendous and far grander head of Mont Blanc looming47 in another. The sun shines brightly over all, piercing and rendering48 semi-transparent some of the clouds, gilding49 the edges and deepening the shadows of others.
“Do you see anything, Le Croix?” asked Lewis, as he reclined on a narrow ledge50 of rock recovering breath after a fatiguing51 climb, while his comrade peered intently through a telescope into the recesses52 of a dark mountain gorge53 that lay a little below them.
For some moments the hunter made no reply. Presently he closed the glass, and, with an air of satisfaction, said, “Chamois!”
“Where?” asked Lewis, rising eagerly and taking the glass.
Le Croix carefully pointed55 out the spot but no effort on the part of the inexperienced youth could bring anything resembling the light and graceful56 form of a chamois into the field of vision.
“Never mind, Le Croix,” he said, quickly returning the glass and picking up his rifle; “come along, let’s have at them.”
“Softly,” returned the hunter; “we must get well to leeward57 of them before we can venture to approach.”
“Lead where you will; you’ll find me a quiet and unquestioning follower58.”
The hunter at once turned, and, descending60 the mountain by a precipice61 which was so steep that they had in some places to drop from ledge to ledge, at last gained a position where the light air, that floated but scarce moved the clouds, came direct from the spot where the chamois lay. He then turned and made straight towards them. As they advanced the ground became more rugged62 and precipitous, so that their progress was unavoidably slow, and rendered more so by the necessity that lay on them of approaching their game without noise.
When they had reached a spot where a sheer precipice appeared to render further progress impossible, the hunter stopped and said in a low tone, “Look, they are too far off; a bullet could not reach them.”
Lewis craned his neck over the cliff, and saw the chamois grazing quietly on a small patch of green that lay among brown rocks below.
“What’s to be done?” he asked anxiously. “Couldn’t we try a long shot?”
“Useless. Your eyes are inexperienced. The distance is greater than you think.”
“What, then, shall we do?”
Le Croix did not answer. He appeared to be revolving63 some plan in his mind. Turning at last to his companion, he said—
“I counsel that you remain here. It is a place near to which they must pass if driven by some one from below. I will descend59.”
“But how descend?” asked Lewis. “I see no path by which even a goat could get down.”
“Leave that to me,” replied the hunter. “Keep perfectly64 still till you see them within range. Have your rifle ready; do not fire in haste; there will be time for a slow and sure aim. Most bad hunters owe their ill-luck to haste.”
With this advice Le Croix crept quietly round a projecting rock, and, dropping apparently66 over the precipice, disappeared.
Solitude67 is suggestive. As long as his companion was with him, Lewis felt careless and easy in mind, but now that he was left alone in one of the wildest and grandest scenes he had yet beheld68, he became solemnised, and could not help feeling, that without his guide he would be very helpless in such a place. Being alone in the mountains was not indeed new to him. As we have already said, he had acquired the character of being much too reckless in wandering about by himself; but there was a vast difference between going alone over ground which he had traversed several times with guides in the immediate69 neighbourhood of Chamouni, and being left in a region to which he had been conducted by paths so intricate, tortuous70, and difficult, that the mere71 effort to trace back in memory even the last few miles of the route confused him.
There was a mysterious stillness, too, about everything around him; and the fogs, which floated in heavy masses above and below, gave a character of changeful wildness to the scenery.
“What a place to get lost in and benighted72!” he thought. Then his mind, with that curious capacity for sudden flight, which is one of the chief characteristics of thought, leaped down the precipices73, up which he had toiled74 so slowly, sped away over hill and dale, and landed him in Chamouni at the feet of Nita Horetzki. Once there, he had no desire to move. He kept looking steadily75 in her pretty face, speculated as to the nature of the charm that rendered it so sweet, wondered what was the cause of the lines of care that at times rippled76 her smooth white brow, longed to become the sharer of her grief, and her comforter, and pondered the improbability of his ever being in a position to call her Nita—darling Nita—sweetest Nita—exquisite Nita! He was still engaged in creating adjectives at Chamouni when he was brought suddenly back to the Alpine heights by the sound of a shot. It was repeated in a hundred echoes by the surrounding cliffs, as he seized his rifle and gazed over the precipice.
A puff77 of smoke, hanging like a cloudlet, guided his eyes. Not far in front of it he saw the fawn-like form of a chamois stretched in death upon the ground, while two others were seen bounding with amazing precision and elasticity78 over the rocks towards him.
He turned at once to an opening among the rocks at his right, for, even to his unpractised eye, it was obviously impossible that anything without wings could approach him in front or at his left.
Coolness and promptitude were characteristics of the youth; so that he sat crouching79 with the rifle, resting in the palm of his left hand, over one knee, as motionless as if he had been chiselled80 from the rock against which he leaned; but his natural coolness of deportment could not prevent, though it concealed81, a throbbing82 of anxiety lest the game should pass out of reach, or behind rocks, which would prevent his seeing it. For an instant he half-rose, intending to rush to some more commanding elevation83, but remembering the parting advice of Le Croix, he sank down again and remained steady.
Scarcely had he done so when the clatter84 of bounding hoofs85 was heard. He knew well that the open space, across which he now felt sure the chamois must pass, was only broad enough to afford the briefest possible time for an aim. He raised the rifle more than half-way to the shoulder. Another instant and a chamois appeared like an arrow shooting athwart the hill-side before him. He fired, and missed! The bullet, however, which had been destined86 for the heart of the first animal, was caught in the brain of that which followed. It sprang high into the air, and, rolling over several times, lay stretched at full length on the rocks.
We need not pause to describe the rejoicing of the young sportsman over his first chamois, or to detail Lecroix’s complimentary87 observations thereon.
Having deposited their game in a place of safety, the hunter suggested that, as there was no chance of their seeing any more in that locality, it would be well to devote the remainder of the day to exploring the higher slopes of a neighbouring glacier19, for, familiar as he was with all the grander features of the region, there were some of the minuter details, he said, with which he was unacquainted.
Lewis was a little surprised at the proposal, but, being quite satisfied with his success, and not unwilling24 to join in anything that smacked88 of exploration, he readily assented89; and, ere long, the two aspiring90 spirits were high above the spot where the chamois had fallen, and struggling with the difficulties of couloir and crevasse.
Before quitting the lower ground, they had deposited their game and rifles in a cave well known to Le Croix, in which they intended to pass the night, and they now advanced armed only with their long-handled Alpine hatchets91, without which implements92 it is impossible to travel over glaciers.
Being both of them strong in wind and limb, they did not pause often to rest, though Lewis occasionally called a momentary halt to enjoy the magnificent prospect93. During one of these pauses a dark object was seen moving over the ice far below them.
Le Croix pointed to it, and said that it approached them.
“What is it—a crow?” asked Lewis.
“More like a man; but it is neither,” returned the hunter, adjusting his telescope; “yes, it is, as I fancied, a chamois.”
“Then it cannot have seen us,” said Lewis, “else it would not approach.”
“Nay, it approaches because it has seen us. It mistakes us for relatives. Let us sit down to deceive it a little.”
They crouched94 beside a piece of ice, and the chamois advanced, until its pretty form became recognisable by the naked eye. Its motions, however, were irregular. It was evidently timid. Sometimes it came on at full gallop95, then paused to look, and uttered a loud piping sound, advancing a few paces with caution, and pausing to gaze again. Le Croix replied with an imitative whistle to its call. It immediately bounded forward with pleasure, but soon again hesitated, and stopped. At last it seemed to become aware of its mistake, for, turning at a tangent, it scoured96 away over the ice like wind swooping97 down from the mountain-summits, bounded over the crevasses like an india-rubber ball, and was quickly out of sight.
While gazing with profound interest at this graceful creature, the explorers were not at first aware that a dark mass of inky cloud was rapidly bearing down on them, and that one of those wild storms which sweep frequently over the high Alps seemed to be gathering98.
“We must make haste, if we would gain the shelter of our cave,” said Le Croix, rising.
As he spoke99, a low rumbling100 sound was heard behind them. They turned just in time to see a small avalanche101 of rocks hopping102 down the cliffs towards them. It was so far off, and looked such an innocent rolling of pebbles103, that Lewis regarded it as an insignificant104 phenomenon. His companion formed a better estimate of its character, but being at least five hundred yards to one side of the couloir or snow-slope, down which it rushed, he judged that they were safe. He was mistaken. Some of the largest stones flew past quite near them, several striking the glacier as they passed, and sending clouds of ice-dust over them, and one, as large as a hogshead, bounding, with awful force, straight over their heads.
They turned instantly to hasten from so dangerous a spot, but were arrested by another and much louder rumbling sound.
“Quick, fly, Monsieur!” exclaimed Le Croix, setting his young companion the example.
Truly there was cause for haste. A sub-glacial lake among the heights above had burst its icy barriers, and, down the same couloir from which the smaller avalanche had sprung, a very ocean of boulders, mud, ice, and débris came crashing and roaring with a noise like the loudest thunder, with this difference, that there was no intermission of the roar for full quarter of an hour; only, at frequent intervals105, a series of pre-eminent peals107 were heard, when boulders, from six to ten feet in diameter, met with obstacles, and dashed them aside, or broke themselves into atoms.
Our hunters fled for their lives, and barely gained the shelter of a giant boulder36, when the skirts of the hideous108 torrent109 roared past leaped over an ice-cliff, and was swallowed up by the insatiable crevasses of the glacier below. For several minutes after they had reached, and stood panting in, a position of safety, they listened to the thunderous roar of Alpine artillery110, until it died slowly away—as if unwillingly—in the light pattering of pebbles.
Gratitude111 to the Almighty112 for deliverance from a great danger was the strongest feeling in the heart of the chamois-hunter. Profound astonishment113 and joy at having witnessed such an amazing sight, quickened the pulse of Lewis.
“That was a narrow escape, Le Croix?”
“It was. I never see such a sight without a shudder114, because I lost a brother in such an avalanche. It was on the slopes of the Jungfrau. He was literally115 broken to fragments by it.”
Lewis expressed sympathy, and his feelings were somewhat solemnised by the graphic116 recital117 of the details of the sad incident with which the hunter entertained him, as they descended118 the mountain rapidly.
In order to escape an impending119 storm, which was evidently brewing120 in the clouds above, Lewis suggested that they should diverge121 from the route by which they had ascended122, and attempt a short cut by a steeper part of the mountains.
Le Croix looked round and pondered. “I don’t like diverging123 into unknown parts when in a hurry, and with the day far spent,” he said. “One never knows when a sheer precipice will shut up the way in places like this.”
The youth, however, was confident, and the man of experience was too amiable124 and yielding. There was also urgent reason for haste. It was therefore decided125 that the steeper slopes should be attempted.
They began with a glissade. A very steep snow-slope happened to be close at hand. It stretched uninterruptedly down several hundred feet to one of the terraces, into which the precipitous mountainside at that place was cut.
“Will you try?” asked Le Croix, looking doubtfully at his companion.
“Of course I will,” replied Lewis, shortly. “Where you choose to go I will follow.”
“Have you ever done such work before?”
“Yes, often, though never on quite so steep or long a slope.”
Le Croix was apparently satisfied. He sat down on the summit of the slope, fixed126 the spiked127 end of his axe in the snow, resting heavily on the handle, in order to check his descent, and hitched128 himself forward.
“Keep steady and don’t roll over,” he cried, as he shot away. The snow rose and trailed like a white tail behind him. His speed increased almost to that of an avalanche, and in a few seconds he was at the bottom.
Lewis seated himself in precisely129 the same manner, but overbalanced himself when halfway130 down, swung round, lost self-command, let slip his axe, and finally went head over heels, with legs and arms flying wildly.
Le Croix, half-expecting something of the kind, was prepared. He had re-ascended the slope a short way, and received the human avalanche on his right shoulder, was knocked down violently as a matter of course, and the two went spinning in a heap together to the bottom.
“Not hurt, I hope?” cried Lewis, jumping up and looking at his comrade with some anxiety.
“No, Monsieur,” replied Le Croix, quietly, as he shook the snow from his garments—“And you?”
“Oh! I’m all right. That was a splendid beginning. We shall get down to our cave in no time at this rate.”
The hunter shook his head. “It is not all glissading,” he said, as they continued the descent by clambering down the face of a precipice.
Some thousands of feet below them lay the tortuous surface of a glacier, on which they hoped to be able to walk towards their intended night-bivouac, but the cliffs leading to this grew steeper as they proceeded. Some hours’ work was before them ere the glacier could be reached, and the day was already drawing towards its close. A feeling of anxiety kept them both silent as they pushed on with the utmost possible speed, save when it was necessary for one to direct the other as to his foothold.
On gaining each successive ledge of the terraced hill-side, they walked along it in the hope of reaching better ground, or another snow-slope; but each ledge ended in a precipice, so that there was no resource left but to scramble131 down to the ledge below to find a similar disappointment. The slopes also increased, rather than decreased, in steepness, yet so gradually, that the mountaineers at last went dropping from point to point down the sheer cliffs without fully54 realising the danger of their position. At a certain point they came to the head of a slope so steep, that the snow had been unable to lie on it, and it was impossible to glissade on the pure ice. It was quite possible, however, to cut foot-holes down. Le Croix had with him a stout132 Manilla rope of about three hundred feet in length. With this tied round his waist, and Lewis, firmly planted, holding on to it, he commenced the staircase. Two blows sufficed for each step, yet two hours were consumed before the work was finished. Re-ascending, he tied the rope round Lewis, and thus enabled him to descend with a degree of confidence which he could not have felt if unattached. Le Croix himself descended without this moral support, but, being as sure-footed as a chamois, it mattered little.
Pretty well exhausted133 by their exertions134, they now found themselves at the summit of a precipice so perpendicular135 and unbroken, that a single glance sufficed to convince them of the utter impossibility of further descent in that quarter. The ledge on which they stood was not more than three feet broad. Below them the glacier appeared in the fading light to be as far off as ever. Above, the cliffs frowned like inaccessible136 battlements. They were indeed like flies clinging to a wall, and, to add to their difficulties, the storm which had threatened now began in earnest.
A cloud as black as pitch hung in front of them. Suddenly, from its heart, there gushed137 a blinding flash of lightning, followed, almost without interval106, by a crash of thunder. The echoes took up the sounds, hurling138 them back and forward among the cliffs as if cyclopean mountain spirits were playing tennis with boulders. Rain also descended in torrents139, and for some time the whole scene became as dark as if overspread with the wing of night.
Crouching under a slight projection140 of rock, the explorers remained until the first fury of the squall was over. Fortunately, it was as short-lived as violent, but its effects were disagreeable, for cataracts141 now poured on them as they hurried along the top of the precipice vainly looking for a way of escape. At last, on coming to one of those checks which had so often met them that day, Le Croix turned and said—
“There is no help for it, Monsieur, we must spend the night here.”
“Here!” exclaimed Lewis, glancing at the cliffs above and the gulf142 below.
“It is not a pleasant resting-place,” replied the hunter, with a sad smile, “but we cannot go on. It will be quite dark in half an hour, when an effort to advance would insure our destruction. The little light that remains143 must be spent in seeking out a place to lie on.”
The two men, who were thrown thus together in such perilous144 circumstances, were possessed145 of more than average courage, yet it would be false to say that fear found no place in their breasts. On the contrary, each confessed to the other the following day that his heart had sunk within him as he thought of the tremendous cliffs against which they were stuck, with descent and ascent equally impossible, a narrow ledge on the precipice-edge for their bed, and a long, wild night before them. Cowardice146 does not consist in simple fear. It consists in the fear of trifles; in unreasonable147 fear, and in such fear as incapacitates a man for action. The situation of our explorers was not one of slight danger. They had the best of reason for anxiety, because they knew not whether escape, even in daylight, were possible. As to incapacity for action, the best proof that fear had not brought them to that condition lay in the fact, that they set about preparations for spending the night with a degree of vigour148 amounting almost to cheerfulness.
After the most careful survey, only one spot was found wider than the rest of the ledge, and it was not more than four feet wide, the difference being caused by a slight hollow under the rock, which thus might overhang them—one of them at least—and form a sensation of canopy149. At its best, a bed only four feet wide is esteemed150 narrow enough for one, and quite inadequate151 for two, but when it is considered that the bed now selected was of hard granite152, rather round-backed than flat, with a sheer precipice descending a thousand feet, more or less, on one side of it, and a slope in that direction, there will be no difficulty in conceiving something of the state of mind in which Lewis Stoutley and Baptist Le Croix lay down to repose153 till morning in wet garments, with the thermometer somewhere between thirty-two and zero, Fahrenheit154.
To prevent their rolling off the ledge when asleep, they built on the edge of the cliff a wall of the largest loose stones they could find. It was but an imaginary protection at best, for the slightest push sent some of the stones toppling over, and it necessarily curtailed155 the available space. No provisions, save one small piece of bread, had been brought, as they had intended returning to their cave to feast luxuriously156. Having eaten the bread, they prepared to lie down.
It was agreed that only one at a time should sleep; the other was to remain awake, to prevent the sleeper157 from inadvertently moving. It was also arranged, that he whose turn it was to sleep should lie on the inner side. But here arose a difference. Le Croix insisted that Lewis should have the first sleep. Lewis, on the other hand, declared that he was not sleepy; that the attempt to sleep would only waste the time of both, and that therefore Le Croix should have the first.
The contention158 was pretty sharp for a time, but the obstinacy159 of the Englishman prevailed. The hunter gave in, and at once lay down straight out with his face to the cliff, and as close to it as he could squeeze. Lewis immediately lay down outside of him, and, throwing one arm over his Lecroix’s broad chest gave him a half-jocular hug that a bear might have enjoyed, and told him to go to sleep. In doing this he dislodged a stone from the outer wall, which went clattering160 down into the dark gulf.
Almost immediately the deep, regular breathing of the wearied hunter told that he was already in the land of Nod.
It was a strange, romantic position; and Lewis rejoiced, in the midst of his anxieties, as he lay there wakefully guarding the chamois-hunter while he slept. It appeared to Lewis that his companion felt the need of a guardian161, for he grasped with both hands the arm which he had thrown round him.
How greatly he wished that his friends at Chamouni could have even a faint conception of his position that night! What would Lawrence have thought of it? And the Captain,—how would he have conducted himself in the circumstances? His mother, Emma, the Count, Antoine, Gillie, Susan—every one had a share in his thoughts, as he lay wakeful and watching on the giddy ledge—and Nita, as a great under-current like the sub-glacial rivers, kept flowing continually, and twining herself through all. Mingled162 with these thoughts was the sound of avalanches163, which ever and anon broke in upon the still night with a muttering like distant thunder, or with a startling roar as masses of ice tottered164 over the brinks of the cascades165, or boulders loosened by the recent rain lost their hold and involved a host of smaller fry in their fall. Twining and tying these thoughts together into a wild entanglement166 quite in keeping with the place, the youth never for one moment lost the sense of an ever present and imminent167 danger—he scarce knew what—and the necessity for watchfulness168. This feeling culminated169 when he beheld Nita Horetzki suddenly appear standing170 close above him on a most dangerous-looking ledge of rock!
Uttering a loud cry of alarm he sought to start up, and in so doing sent three-quarters of the protecting wall down the precipice with an appalling171 rush and rumble172. Unquestionably he would have followed it if he had not been held by the wrist as if by a vice65!
“Hallo! take care, Monsieur,” cried Le Croix, in a quick anxious tone, still holding tightly to his companion’s arm.
“Why! what? Le Croix—I saw—I—I—saw—Well, well—I do really believe I have been—I’m ashamed to say—”
“Yes, Monsieur, you’ve been asleep,” said the hunter, with a quiet laugh, gently letting go his hold of the arm as he became fully persuaded that Lewis was by that time quite awake and able to take care of himself.
“Have you been asleep too?” asked Lewis.
“Truly, no!” replied the hunter, rising with care, “but you have had full three hours of it, so it’s my turn now.”
“You don’t say so!” exclaimed Lewis.
“Indeed I do; and now, please, get next the cliff and let me lie outside, so that I may rest with an easy mind.”
Lewis opposed him no longer. He rose, and they both stood up to stamp their feet and belabour their chests for some time—the cold at such a height being intense, while their wet garments and want of covering rendered them peculiarly unfitted to withstand it. The effort was not very successful. The darkness of the night, the narrowness of their ledge, and the sleepiness of their spirits rendering extreme caution necessary.
At last the languid blood began to flow; a moderate degree of warmth was restored, and, lying down again side by side in the new position, the hunter and the student sought and found repose.
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1
negligent
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| adj.疏忽的；玩忽的；粗心大意的 | |
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nether
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| adj.下部的，下面的；n.阴间；下层社会 | |
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shreds
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| v.撕碎，切碎( shred的第三人称单数 )；用撕毁机撕毁（文件） | |
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busted
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| adj. 破产了的，失败了的，被降级的，被逮捕的，被抓到的 动词bust的过去式和过去分词 | |
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5
propounded
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| v.提出（问题、计划等）供考虑[讨论]，提议( propound的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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lingo
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| n.语言不知所云，外国话，隐语 | |
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bin
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| n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
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outrageous
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| adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的 | |
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gees
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| n.（美俚）一千元（gee的复数形式）v.驭马快走或向右（gee的第三人称单数形式） | |
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gee
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| n.马；int.向右！前进！，惊讶时所发声音；v.向右转 | |
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throttles
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| n.控制油、气流的阀门( throttle的名词复数 )；喉咙，气管v.扼杀( throttle的第三人称单数 )；勒死；使窒息；压制 | |
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12
nostril
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| n.鼻孔 | |
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13
urchin
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| n.顽童；海胆 | |
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14
calf
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| n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮 | |
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15
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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16
meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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17
presumptuous
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| adj.胆大妄为的，放肆的，冒昧的，冒失的 | |
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ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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19
glacier
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| n.冰川，冰河 | |
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glaciers
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| 冰河，冰川( glacier的名词复数 ) | |
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21
crevasse
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| n. 裂缝，破口；v.使有裂缝 | |
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22
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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23
unwillingness
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| n. 不愿意，不情愿 | |
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24
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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25
axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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26
humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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27
smothered
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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28
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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29
corroborated
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| v.证实，支持（某种说法、信仰、理论等）( corroborate的过去式 ) | |
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30
alpine
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| adj.高山的；n.高山植物 | |
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31
meddle
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| v.干预，干涉，插手 | |
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32
annually
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| adv.一年一次，每年 | |
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33
condemn
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| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
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34
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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35
boulders
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| n.卵石( boulder的名词复数 )；巨砾；（受水或天气侵蚀而成的）巨石；漂砾 | |
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36
boulder
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| n.巨砾；卵石，圆石 | |
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37
secondly
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| adv.第二，其次 | |
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38
crevasses
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| n.破口，崩溃处，裂缝( crevasse的名词复数 ) | |
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39
conceals
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的第三人称单数 ) | |
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40
momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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41
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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42
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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43
quotation
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| n.引文，引语，语录；报价，牌价，行情 | |
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44
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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46
obelisk
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| n.方尖塔 | |
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47
looming
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| n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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48
rendering
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| n.表现，描写 | |
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gilding
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| n.贴金箔，镀金 | |
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50
ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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51
fatiguing
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| a.使人劳累的 | |
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52
recesses
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| n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 )；（工作或业务活动的）中止或暂停期间；学校的课间休息；某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭 | |
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53
gorge
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| n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
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54
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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55
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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56
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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57
leeward
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| adj.背风的；下风的 | |
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58
follower
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| n.跟随者；随员；门徒；信徒 | |
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59
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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60
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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61
precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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62
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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63
revolving
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| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
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64
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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65
vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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66
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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67
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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68
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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69
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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70
tortuous
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| adj.弯弯曲曲的，蜿蜒的 | |
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71
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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72
benighted
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| adj.蒙昧的 | |
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73
precipices
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| n.悬崖，峭壁( precipice的名词复数 ) | |
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74
toiled
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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75
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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76
rippled
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| 使泛起涟漪（ripple的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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77
puff
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| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
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78
elasticity
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| n.弹性，伸缩力 | |
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79
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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80
chiselled
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| adj.凿过的，凿光的； （文章等）精心雕琢的v.凿，雕，镌( chisel的过去式 ) | |
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81
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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82
throbbing
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| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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83
elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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84
clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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85
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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86
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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87
complimentary
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| adj.赠送的，免费的，赞美的，恭维的 | |
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88
smacked
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| 拍，打，掴( smack的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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89
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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90
aspiring
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| adj.有志气的；有抱负的；高耸的v.渴望；追求 | |
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91
hatchets
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| n.短柄小斧( hatchet的名词复数 )；恶毒攻击；诽谤；休战 | |
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92
implements
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| n.工具( implement的名词复数 )；家具；手段；[法律]履行（契约等）v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 )；执行；贯彻；使生效 | |
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93
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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94
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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scoured
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| 走遍（某地）搜寻（人或物）( scour的过去式和过去分词 )； （用力）刷； 擦净； 擦亮 | |
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swooping
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| 俯冲，猛冲( swoop的现在分词 ) | |
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98
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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99
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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100
rumbling
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| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
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101
avalanche
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| n.雪崩，大量涌来 | |
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102
hopping
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| n. 跳跃 动词hop的现在分词形式 | |
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103
pebbles
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| [复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) | |
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104
insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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105
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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106
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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107
peals
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| n.（声音大而持续或重复的）洪亮的响声( peal的名词复数 )；隆隆声；洪亮的钟声；钟乐v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的第三人称单数 ) | |
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108
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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109
torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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111
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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112
almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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113
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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114
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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115
literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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116
graphic
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| adj.生动的，形象的，绘画的，文字的，图表的 | |
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117
recital
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| n.朗诵，独奏会，独唱会 | |
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118
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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120
brewing
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| n. 酿造, 一次酿造的量 动词brew的现在分词形式 | |
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121
diverge
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| v.分叉，分歧，离题，使...岔开，使转向 | |
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122
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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123
diverging
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| 分开( diverge的现在分词 )； 偏离； 分歧； 分道扬镳 | |
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124
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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spiked
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| adj.有穗的；成锥形的；有尖顶的 | |
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128
hitched
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| （免费）搭乘他人之车( hitch的过去式和过去分词 )； 搭便车； 攀上； 跃上 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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scramble
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| v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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perpendicular
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| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
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inaccessible
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| adj.达不到的，难接近的 | |
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gushed
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| v.喷，涌( gush的过去式和过去分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话 | |
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hurling
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| n.爱尔兰式曲棍球v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的现在分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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139
torrents
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| n.倾注；奔流( torrent的名词复数 )；急流；爆发；连续不断 | |
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projection
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| n.发射，计划，突出部分 | |
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141
cataracts
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| n.大瀑布( cataract的名词复数 )；白内障 | |
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gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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143
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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canopy
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| n.天篷，遮篷 | |
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esteemed
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| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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inadequate
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| adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的 | |
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granite
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| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 | |
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153
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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154
Fahrenheit
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| n./adj.华氏温度；华氏温度计(的) | |
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155
curtailed
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| v.截断，缩短( curtail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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156
luxuriously
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| adv.奢侈地，豪华地 | |
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157
sleeper
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| n.睡眠者，卧车，卧铺 | |
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contention
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| n.争论，争辩，论战；论点，主张 | |
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obstinacy
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| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
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160
clattering
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| 发出咔哒声（clatter的现在分词形式） | |
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161
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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162
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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163
avalanches
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| n.雪崩( avalanche的名词复数 ) | |
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tottered
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| v.走得或动得不稳( totter的过去式和过去分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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cascades
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| 倾泻( cascade的名词复数 )； 小瀑布（尤指一连串瀑布中的一支）； 瀑布状物； 倾泻（或涌出）的东西 | |
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166
entanglement
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| n.纠缠，牵累 | |
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167
imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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168
watchfulness
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| 警惕，留心； 警觉（性） | |
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169
culminated
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| v.达到极点( culminate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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170
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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172
rumble
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| n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说 | |
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