THE QUESTION OF BOOTS 83 



frozen off without knowing it ! For if they had known 

 it, they could not possibly have let it go so far. The 

 fact is that in this case sensation is a somewhat doubtful 

 guide, for the feet lose all sensation. It is true that 

 there is a transitional stage, when one feels the cold 

 smarting in one's toes, and tries to get rid of it by 

 stamping the feet. As a rule this is successful; the 

 warmth returns, or the circulation is restored; but it 

 occasionally happens that sensation is lost at the very 

 moment when these precautions are taken. And then 

 one must be an old hand to know what has happened. 

 Many men conclude that, as they no longer feel the 

 unpleasant smarting sensation, all is well; and at the 

 evening inspection a frozen foot of tallow-like appearance 

 presents itself. An event of this kind may ruin the 

 most elaborately prepared enterprise, and it is therefore 

 advisable in the matter of feet to carry one's caution to 

 lengths which may seem ridiculous. 



Now, it is a fact that if one can wear soft foot-gear 

 exclusively the risk of frost-bite is far less than if one 

 is compelled to wear stiff boots; in soft foot-gear, of 

 course, the foot can move far more easily and keep 

 warm. But we were to take ski and to get full use out 

 of them, so that in any case we had to have a stiff sole 

 for the sake of the bindings. It is of no use to have a 

 good binding unless you can use it in the right way. 

 In my opinion, on a long journey such as that we had 

 before us, the ski must be perfectly steady. I do not 



