DESCENT INTO THE GLACIER. 323 



an unforeseen difficulty in a wall of ice which 

 divided the well into two compartments. He 

 tried first the larger one, but finding it split 

 again into several narrow tunnels, he caused 

 himself to be raised sufficiently to enter the 

 smaller, and again proceeded on his downward 

 course without meeting any obstacle. Wholly 

 engrossed in watching the blue bands, still 

 visible in the glittering walls of ice, he was 

 only aroused to the presence of approaching 

 danger by the sudden plunge of his feet into 

 water. His first shout of distress was misun- 

 derstood, and his friends lowered him into the 

 ice-cold gulf instead of raising him. The sec- 

 ond cry was effectual, and he was drawn up, 

 though not without great difficulty, from a 

 depth of one hundred and twenty-five feet. 

 The most serious peril of the ascent was 

 caused by the huge stalactites of ice, between 

 the points of which he had to steer his way. 

 Any one of them, if detached by the friction 

 of the rope, might have caused his death. He 

 afterward said : " Had I known all its dangers, 

 perhaps I should not have started on such an 

 adventure. Certainly, unless induced by some 

 powerful scientific motive, I should not advise 

 any one to follow my example." On this per- 

 ilous journey he traced the laminated structure 



