The Days of a Man 



to time the mountain snapped as the water froze in 

 its joints, and occasionally we heard the loud roar 

 of rock avalanches. In the morning it was crystal 

 A majestic clear. Above and below, the whole majestic Mat- 

 outlook terhorn mass shone white with new-fallen snow or 

 glistened with frost. Over the deep valley of Zermatt 

 clouds hung white and heavy, setting us off, as it 

 were, in a glittering upper world. Far in the dis- 

 tance rose the giants of the Bernese Oberland; 

 nearer the Dent Blanche, the Weisshorn, the three 

 peaks of the Mischabel, and, to the right, the long 

 crescent of the Breithorn, Zwillinge and Lyskamm, 

 which culminates in Monte Rosa. It was the sight 

 of a lifetime. 



Our invalid awoke cold, disgusted, and impatient, 

 and his swollen eyelids looked each like a ripe 

 plum. We now decided that he must go down to 

 Zermatt with John and Victor, while Spangler and 

 I should wait until they came back for us which 

 might be the next day, and might be never! But, 

 as the Jester said in the forest of Arden, "travelers 

 must be contented." 



Shortly after they left, however, we heard shout- 

 ing from below, and soon the two Bics appeared, 

 having come up from the cabin where they (and the 

 others) had spent the night. We four then began 

 to descend very slowly, for going down was far 

 Another more trying even than going up. Once when Fran- 

 ^ o j s j^y accident hit me in the eye with the head 

 of his alpenstock, and I said nothing, he remarked 

 to Daniel: "Quelle bonne disposition!' 9 At this I 

 smiled and again said nothing. 



About noon the seven of us had all reached the 

 cabin, where we found the doctor from Zermatt 

 C 2663 



