in THE VAUGACULLEN 57 



snow slope, every bit of which I had to cut steps up, 

 the snow being hard and slippery. This I found 

 extremely tiring, having no one to relieve me (as 

 is always the custom in Switzerland). However, I 

 managed to reach the top of it, when another cliff had to 

 be scaled ; this was rather too much, having had quite 

 enough of crags for one day ; one thing was evident, 

 however, which was, it was the only way up, so it had 

 to be climbed. It was steep but not really dangerous, 

 there being plenty of niches to put my feet on ; it was 

 my last push however. On reaching the top I found 

 another long steep snow slope, up which steps must be 

 cut, and then a tremendous precipice. I saw it was 

 useless ; tired as I was I could never have managed, 

 and so, not wishing to spend a night on the side of a 

 precipice not unlike the one that had given me so 

 much bother that day before, I reluctantly gave it up. 

 Had I had a companion we might have managed, but I 

 could not say for certain. Taking out my compass, I 

 made out about the line to be taken ; of course I would 

 keep as far as possible to the line I had made out 

 from the top of the ridge. This was over a small 

 narrow pass ; the approach to it was very steep, 

 but a green slope lay right up to it, on each side of 

 which there were craggy rocks, in some places very 

 precipitous. This latter was much the shortest, and 

 after considering the two I fixed on it ; I afterwards 

 found wrongly, for though the other was longer, it 

 would have been easier work, considering the amount 

 of the same kind of climbing I had had already that 

 day. I found it dreadfully hard work ; I never re- 

 member being so tired. Several times I had to lie 

 down, but dared not stop long for fear of falling asleep, 

 when a roll over would have most unsatisfactorily 

 ended my expeditions ; but * Come what come may, 



