A Forlorn Hope 421 
they had kindled, I started off alone on a forlorn hope to try to 
find a way to the top of the cliff. 
Arrived at the point where the talus emerged from the chasm, 
I commenced a most painful and laborious ascent. At places the 
loose débris was on the run and it became necessary to escalade 
the face of the cliff on one side or the other of it, so as to avoid 
setting it in motion. I was further most terribly handicapped 
by my injuries which affected my heart to such an extent that 
I had constantly to lie down and gasp for breath. At last I 
found myself on a level grass patch close to the summit and over 
, 
500 ft. above our starting point. After a rest, I climbed over the 
; 
f=) 
brow and looked down towards where the nest lay. But owing 
to the general convexity of the slope of the hill it was impossible 
to see more than 20 or 30 yards in front. 
It was bitterly cold, a piercing wind swept the sierra and the 
damp clouds scudded past below me, for I was nigh 4,400 ft. above 
sea-level. The rocks were at places coated in ice whilst half- 
frozen mud and water oozed from the interstices between, the whole 
being powdered with snow which lay thick in the gullies. All 
seemed so deterring and hopeless that I almost felt inclined to 
abandon the project but then I recalled how the nest must surely 
contain eggs and how I longed for some for my collection, not 
to speak of the photographs I would get! So I hardened my heart 
and crept cautiously down the slippery slopes holding on to rocks 
from time to time until I had descended over 7o ft. The crags 
now became much steeper and it was clear that under existing 
conditions of ice and snow it was foolish to go further without 
a life-line. Working cautiously upwards to my right flank | 
reached the edge of the precipice forming one side of the chasm 
up which I had scrambled and, looking over, saw the rest of my 
party on the talus 300 ft. below me. Hailing them I asked 
them to come up and bring the ropes, saying that I felt sure we 
