238 SAGE ADVICE. 



placing it in his hand, answered, ' Tread without 

 apprehension ; it will support you as firmly as the 

 rock itself; be steady go on.' I did so, and re- 

 gained the ledge once more in safety. The possible 

 repetition of such an exploit was not by any means 

 to my taste, and I ventured to question the fore- 

 most guide as to the chance of its recurrence, and 

 the difficulties yet in store. Without pretending 

 to disguise them, he proceeded to dilate upon that 

 portion of our peregrination still in reserve, when 

 the other interrupted him impatiently, and in 

 French, instead of patois (forgetting in his anxiety 

 to enjoin silence, that I understood every word he 

 uttered), exclaimed, ' Not a word more, I entreat 

 you ; speak not to him of danger ; this is not the 

 place to excite alarm ; it is our business to cheer 

 and animate ;' and, in the true spirit of his advice, 

 he immediately pointed to a bunch of little gentians, 

 exclaiming, 'Eh, done, qu'elles sont jolies! regardez 

 ces charmants fleurs !' Long before I had half 

 accomplished the distance, and had formed a cor- 

 rect opinion as to what remained in hand, the pro- 

 priety of turning back had more than once suggested 

 itself; but, on looking round, the narrowness of 

 the shelf already passed presented so revolting an 

 appearance, that what with the risk to be incurred 

 in the very act of turning about and forming any- 

 thing like & pirouette in my present position, added 



