3n a (Tllounf ain 



dangers. This I tried to do. Suddenly, however, 

 there came a fierce dash of wind and whirl of 

 snow that hid everything. Instantly I flung 

 myself flat, trying to stop quickly. Just as I did 

 this I caught the strange, weird sound made by 

 high wind as it sweeps across a canon, and at 

 once realized that we were close to a storm- 

 hidden gorge. I stopped against a rock, while 

 Scotch slid in and was hauled back with the 

 rope. 



The gorge had been encountered between 

 two out-thrusting side gorges, and between 

 these in the darkness I had a cold time feeling 

 my way out. At last I came to a cairn of stones 

 which I recognized. The way had been missed 

 by only a few yards, but this miss had been 

 nearly fatal. 



Not daring to hurry in the darkness in order 

 to get warm, I was becoming colder every mo- 

 ment. I still had a stiff climb between me and 

 the summit, with timber-line three rough miles 

 beyond. To attempt to make it would probably 

 result in freezing or tumbling into a gorge. At 

 last I realized that I must stop and spend the 



315 



