A PLEASURABLE SEXSATIOX. 237 



in a chink of the ledge, the beautiful and dazzling 

 blossom of the little Gentiana nivalis, and, stopping 

 the guides while I gathered it, I expressed great 

 satisfaction in meeting with this lovely little flower 

 on such a lonely spot. And I could scarcely help 

 smiling at the simplicity of these honest people, 

 who from that moment, whenever the difficulties 

 increased, endeavoured to divert my attention by 

 pointing out or looking for another specimen. We 

 had proceeded good part of the way, when, to my 

 dismay, the ledge, narrow as it was, became per- 

 ceptibly narrower, and at the distance of a yard or 

 two in advance I observed a point where it seemed 

 to run to nothing, interrupted by a protuberant 

 rock. I said nothing, waiting the result in silence. 

 The guide before me, when he reached the point, 

 threw one foot round the projection, till it was 

 firmly placed, and, holding on the rock, then 

 brought up the other. What was I to do ? Like 

 Arthur Philipson's guide Antonio, I could only 

 say, ' I was no goat-hunter, and had no wings to 

 transport me from cliff to cliff like a raven ;' ' I 

 cannot perform that feat/ said I to the guide ; ' I 

 shall miss the invisible footing on the other side, 

 and then !' They were prepared for the case. 

 One of them happened to have a short staff ; this 

 was handed forward, and formed a slight rail, while 

 the other, stooping down, seized my foot, and, 



