An Ascent of Mont Ventoux 



as we are, we shall freeze on the spot at the 

 first chill of night." 



My worthy friend Bernard Verlot, who 

 had come from the Paris Jardin des Plantes 

 on purpose to climb the Ventoux in my com- 

 pany, displayed an imperturbable calmness, 

 trusting to my good sense to get us out of our 

 scrape. I drew him a little to one side, in 

 order not to increase the panic of the others, 

 and revealed my terrible fears to him. We 

 held a council of two and tried to make up by 

 the compass of reasoning for the absence of 

 the magnetic needle. 



" When the clouds came," I asked him, 

 " wasn't it from the south? " 



" From the south, certainly." 



" And, though one could hardly perceive 

 the wind, the rain slanted slightly from 

 south to north? " 



" Yes, I noticed that as long as I could see 

 anything. Isn't that enough to tell us the 

 way? Let us go down on the side from 

 which the rain comes." 



" I thought of that, but I have my doubts. 

 The wind is not strong enough to have a 

 definite direction. It may be an eddying 

 breeze, as happens on a mountain-top sur- 

 rounded by clouds. There is nothing to tell 

 225 



