THE MONK. 79 



that I had not formed a wrong estimate of his character. The other 

 person we brought from Martigny proved to be quite a youth, and 

 but little acquainted with the pass. He began to show signs of fa- 

 tigue and exhaustion soon after we reached the snow, and was now 

 incapable of proceeding without assistance. His frequent request 

 was to sit down and rest, but this would have been at once leaving 

 him to his fate ; for when the feeling of drowsiness is yielded to in or- 

 der to get a little temporary ease, the unfortunate victim presently 

 falls into a deep sleep, from which he never more awakes. We 

 therefore urged him to proceed, I supporting him on one side, and 

 the man who had accompanied us from St. Pierre occasionally aiding 

 both, while Stierry, our experienced guide, kept a few paces in ad- 

 vance. To the exertion required in sustaining my burden, and the 

 excitement consequent upon it, I was probably indebted for my life. 

 That benumbing sensation of the extremities which is generally the 

 forerunner of complete paralysis, had begun to overpower me ; and 

 it was only by a very strong effort that I could throw it off to take 

 an active part in our present situation, which every moment became 

 more hazardous. The light had nearly faded, and an impenetrable 

 veil was fast shrouding the heavens, the breeze came in fitful 

 gusts, and the icy spicules increased in quantity. I looked towards 

 the beacon of our hope ; it was still visible through the dimness, but 

 heavy clouds rested over it, and seemed about to wrap it within 

 their dark folds. Our progress was necessarily slow, having to drag 

 our companion along at every step. To have left him in his hope- 

 less condition, was not in English or Swiss hearts. It was still half 

 a league to the Hospice, and the night was upon us. Not a word 

 was spoken, but we persevered. The path for some time had been 

 between two lofty ridges of rock, which, in some degree, screened it 

 from the storm ; but we now entered on an open exposed tract of 

 the mountain, where there was nothing to interrupt the violence 

 of the tempest, which now burst upon us with appalling fury. The 

 wind, as if hitherto disappointed of its prey, swept with resistless 

 impetuosity across the barren waste, whirling the snow round and 

 round, and dashing it against us with such force as to produce con- 

 siderable pain. It was impossible to distinguish any object, even at 

 the shortest distance, the immense quantity of falling particles to- 

 tally obscuring vision ; the breath, too^, was now drawn with in- 

 creased difficulty, and to advance was like facing a cataract. The 

 mules uttered a plaintive cry, and shrank cowering before the blast. 

 We sheltered ourselves in the best way we could behind them, and 

 waited until the extreme violence of the storm should be past ; in a 



