100 SENSATIONS ON BAD GROUND. 



certainly have been considered, to say the least of it, un- 

 pleasant, even by the boldest and most experienced of 

 cragsmen. 



It is on these dangerous slopes where that trusty com- 

 panion of the mountain hunter, the iron-shod pole, affords 

 such invaluable assistance, both as a support and for digging 

 notches for foothold in the hard ground or frozen snow. It 

 will be found more serviceable for the latter purpose if, 

 instead of the usual iron point, it is shod with a light 

 triangularly-shaped spud, having its lower edge about an 

 inch and a half broad. It is almost needless to suggest that 

 one of the party should always be provided with an axe of 

 some sort, and the common little " koolharree " (wood-hatchet) 

 which almost every hill villager, when out on the mountain, 

 carries in his girdle usually a coil of rope to be used in case 

 of need answers all hunting requirements, as well as the 

 best of ice-axes. The sensation termed " giddiness " I have 

 never, in the literal acceptation of the word, experienced when 

 on dangerous ground ; but I freely confess having felt what 

 is vulgarly called " funk." Perhaps, in this case, the terms 

 are synonymous. From constant practice, however, in moun- 

 tain-climbing, one grows more confident in his feet, and more 

 callous in his nerves. But I have dwelt so long on the 

 danger of the mountain-slope, and the ideas suggested by it, 

 that, at this rate, we shall never reach the ridge. 



At last we arrived at the crest, and found, as we expected, 

 that the northern slopes were, at this height, almost free of 

 wood, except some scattered birches, rhododendron bushes, 

 and broad patches of juniper ; but the ground was in many 

 places covered with snow-fields. Soon, however, our view of 

 it became obscured by blinding snow-flakes that now began 

 whirling about us, so we struck down the ridge, which trended 

 towards our old quarters. There was still a chance of start- 

 ing a musk-deer from among the birch and rhododendron 

 bushes, for their fresh tracks were numerous, but these were 



