LIFE IN THE ALPS. 317 



it barely possible that the snow which covered the 

 watch might, during ' my absence, have sufficiently 

 melted away to bring the watch to the surface. An 

 ascent of some hours brought us to the scene of our 

 impetuous glissade, and soon afterwards, to our sur- 

 prise and delight, the watch was found on the surface 

 of the snow. Its case must have fitted water-tight, for 

 on being wound up it began to tick immediately. It 

 is now in the possession of my godson. 



Falling stones constitute another serious, and fre- 

 quently fatal, danger in the Alps. And here the goats, 

 which roam about the upper slopes and gullies, often 

 play a mischievous part. An incident of this kind, 

 witnessed by myself, occurred many years ago about mid- 

 way between Chamounix and the Montanvert. I was 

 accompanied at the time by a friend and his son. A 

 herd of goats was observed browsing on the heights 

 above us. Their appearance suggested caution. Sud- 

 denly an ominous tapping was heard overhead, and, 

 looking up, I saw a stone in the air. Whenever it 

 touched the rock-strewn ground it was deflected, so 

 that from the direction of the stone at any moment 

 it was difficult to infer its final direction. I called out 

 to my friend, ' Beware of the stone ! ' and he, turning 

 towards his son, repeated the warning. It had scarcely 

 quitted his lips, when the missile plunged down upon 

 himself. He fell with a shout, and I was instantly at 

 his side. The stone had struck the calf of his leg, 

 embedding one of its angles in the flesh, and inflicting 

 a very ugly wound. 



By good fortune, a spring of pure water was at hand ; 

 a wet compress was rapidly prepared, and the wound 

 was bandaged. Then, hurrying down to Chamounix, 

 which was some two thousand feet below us, I brought 



