Summit of Mount Blane. 7 
sun from the glistening snow alundet prevented us from seeing 
our path, the least deviation from which would have been 
inevitable death. Part of one of the avalanches that threat- 
ened us in our ascent, had already fallen and lay scattered 
over our path and the part that yet hung suspended above 
us seemed ready to follow its fallen half. Dreadful indeed 
was the silence in which, with hurried step, we hastened 
down the sidehill.—Fearing to raise a look from the path- 
way, and scarcely daring to breathe, we arrived near the 
bottom. The danger being now past, we turned to survey 
hanging mass ;—the eye was soon satisfi nipncanit in 
speechless meditation we resumed our wa 
At the grand Plateau we found the guide who had re- 
turned—and it was here we dis iscovere ae naaicn our slikemome- 
ter was b seine Manse Es 
nee of a sun, now more reubae Shan | 
had melted ie snow ; and after leaving the Phasshits ore 
sunk every third step, nearly to the waist. It was of no 
use to send the guides to break the way, nor to seek a new 
road—it was immaterial if we followed their track, or made 
one for ourselves—we still sunk. Our progress was further 
interrupted by some crevices that we had not seen in the 
morning—and being wide, with one side higher than the 
other, our ladder was of no use. At these places we sat on 
the snow, and slid down so fast as not to break the frail co- 
vering of the crevice. This was the most fatiguing part.of 
the whole journey, and we were happy once more to climb 
the steep sides of the Grand Mulet. ‘The sun had set upon 
the valley, but its rays yet bea ark nore our elevated | rock 
the days it seemed in pity to to lend its ts lingering, dight 
, nig , 
Fatigue had nearly lulled. us to dep sali thinkideron 
ee last journey of the morrow, some of the guides turned 
to see the path by which we had ascended the. day before. 
While yet following its traces they saw part of it lost in an 
avalanche—a mass had fallen im, and our road was iret 
a and unrefreshing were the hours of our rep 
and some co als ain the Pee eee 
d was ’exce 
constantly enflamed ues the bellows, served: to keep us from 
