DAZZLING PEAKS 105 



littleness in comparison. They have, indeed, 

 shown us that the world is something greater than 

 we knew. But they have shown us also that we 

 too are something greater than we knew. The 

 peaks in their dazzling altitude have set an exacting 

 standard for us. They have incited us to rise to 

 that standard. Their call is great, but a thrill runs 

 through us as we feel ourselves responding to the 

 challenge, collecting ourselves together and gather- 

 ing up every stiffest bit of ourselves to rise to their 

 high standard. We feel nerved and steeled ; and 

 in high exhilaration we plunge down into the valley 

 to join issue with the mountains. 



Arrived on the Oprang River we can turn 

 either to the left or the right. If we turn to the 

 left we get right in under a knot of stupendous 

 peaks. Towering high and solitary above the 

 rocky wall which bounds the valley on the south is 

 a peak which may be K 2 , 28,250 feet in height, 

 which must be somewhere in the neighbourhood. 

 But the investigations of the Duke of the Abruzzi 

 throw a doubt as to whether this can be K 2 itself. 

 If it is not, it must be some unfixed and unnamed 

 peak. At any rate it is a magnificent, upstanding 

 peak rising proud and steep-sided high and clear 

 above its neighbours. Then beyond it, farther up 

 the Oprang Valley, we catch glimpses of that won- 

 drous company of Gusherbrum Peaks — four of 

 them over 26,000 feet in height, with rich glaciers 

 flowing from them. 



But if we turn to the right on descending from 

 the Aghil Pass, and if we turn again in the direction 

 of the Mustagh Pass, we come to an icy realm which 



