88 SPARKS FROM A GEOLOGIST'S HAMMER. 



of grasses and a few other plants. Trees we left at 

 Montanvert. These shrubs continue to diminish in size 

 as we ascend, until the huckleberries form a low, thick, 

 fur-like mat. These still grow shorter and shorter, and 

 then abruptly disappear. We are on the limit of flower- 

 ing vegetation. A desolate region of naked rocks sur- 

 rounds us. These are not boulders or transported blocks, 

 but the solid framework of the mountain shattered as if 

 smitten by a colliding world, and hurled all over the 

 surface. Smaller at the lower level, they grow more 

 massive as we ascend. Some attain the dimensions of a 

 dwelling-house, huge, angular blocks chipped out of the 

 mountain mass. They are all strongly laminated, and 

 belong to the class known as mica-schist. At length we 

 near some frowning cliffs, and observe that the stratifica- 

 tion of these rocks is nearly vertical. Their thin, sharp 

 layers sometimes present their edges at the surface like 

 an array of knives. Over these angular rocks we clam- 

 ber with great difficulty and danger of bruised shin-bones. 

 The sloping crest of the mountain is not far at our right. 

 This we succeed in scaling, and now the panorama of the 

 valley of Chamonix is spread out before us. A fresh 

 breeze meets us on this crest. The clouds are kissing 

 and embracing the unresponsive rocks on every hand. 

 They are beneath us and above us. They hasten past us 

 as if unconcerned at our presence. Nay, they have em- 

 braced us. Avaunt! cold fog. Thou art not the rosy 

 cloud which from the valley we have seen sleeping on 

 the bosom of the mountain. 



" 'Tis distance lends enchantment to the view." 

 But here, with all the exhilaration of the situation, we 



