Part 68 (2/2)

”I shall skirt the edge of those steep bits, herr. You will see.”

In half an hour they were once more afoot, with the sun beginning to blaze down upon them and the snow dazzling their eyes; but the descent to the first bare rocks was steadily made, and the exploration began, with the result during the next two hours of four crevices being discovered, each lined with crystals that, at the first sight, looked like ice, but a close investigation satisfied Dale that they were not worthy of his notice, and that the minor grotto in the black ravine was far superior.

”No good, herr,” said the guide sadly. ”Sehr schlecht. I hoped we should have done better.”

”Never mind. We have done the best we could, and this has been a magnificent ascent.”

”The herr is satisfied with that?”

”Yes.”

”Splendid!” added Saxe.

Then a difficult descent began, among the jagged ma.s.ses of rock, whose hollows were full of snow. After some stiff work a great couloir was reached, one which led well down in the direction the guide was now taking, and along this gully they managed to glide in safety, though twice over great stones came bounding down from the black crags overhead.

Then a ledge of ice had to be cautiously approached and pa.s.sed, one angle where there was barely foothold calling for all Saxe's fort.i.tude; but he pa.s.sed it bravely and fought very hard not to show that he had felt a slight attack of nerves. There had been a curious catching sensation in his throat, and his breath had come as he glanced once down into the blue haze in an ice gulf; but he breathed more freely as firm snow and then solid rock was reached; and the descent continued, no allusion being made to the perilous bit, though on glancing at the guide once he received a nod which evidently meant:

”Bravo! well done! You could not have faced that when you first came among the Alps.”

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE.

A CATASTROPHE.

”When are you going to give us a glissade, Melk?” cried Saxe, as they reached a piece of smooth snow descending at a moderate angle.

”The first time there is a suitable place, herr,” replied the guide quietly.

”Why not here?”

”I will show you when we get to the bottom.”

Saxe looked disappointed, and grew more so as the descent was made slowly and toilsomely, with every precaution taken and warning words uttered from time to time respecting keeping the rope taut.

”But there were no creva.s.ses here?” said Saxe, as they reached to where the slope seemed to curve over suddenly and then descend more sharply, for the continuation was out of sight.

”No, there are no creva.s.ses,” replied Melchior; ”but a slip here would have been bad.”

”This is a cornice, then, Melchior?” said Dale.

”Yes, herr, and if you two will hold me, I will step out a little way and break a hole for you to see.”

In obedience to his instructions, Saxe and Dale stepped back to the full extent of the cord, and then eased it out as the guide stepped forward, till he suddenly held up his hand.

”Now,” he said, ”let me bear out against the rope;” and, raising the ice-axe in both hands, he began to use it vigorously, cutting hard at the frozen snow, till there was a sharp crack, and he threw himself back while a huge piece of the cornice broke away and dropped down out of sight. Then all waited breathlessly till a faint hissing sound told that it had touched rock or ground somewhere below, but how far down Saxe did not realise, till Melchior made way for him to creep to the extreme edge and look.

”We have the rope tightly,” said Dale, ”so you need not hesitate.”

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