UP THE MOUNTAIN. 249 



giving way to others as you approach, but the whole land 

 bursts upon your vision at once, and your senses make 

 you feel, by the sudden weight that presses on them, how 

 great the vastness that the mind is labouring to take in. 

 You have a consciousness of extent, and range, and space, 

 for some minutes before reason informs you about them, 

 — a sensation that takes you by surprise, that comes 

 rushing in upon you, and lording it for the moment over 

 the faculties of the mind j and though this eventually 

 gives place to a calm comprehension of extent, reaching 

 further than the eye can follow, it is after all that first 

 impression which is remembered long afterwards, — that 

 first sensation of being in presence of a vast thing, but as 

 yet uncertain, vague, and undefined ; for later, when Ave 

 look about for forms and mark particular outlines, there 

 is already a diminution of the glory. 



Lying on the earth we wound forwards, and taking 

 off our hats we looked down into the green valley. Far, 

 far below chamois were seen : out came the telescopes 

 quickly, and we counted seventeen of them. On the side 

 of the mountain we could everywhere see their traces in 

 the snow. 



" They have been here early this morning," said Neu- 

 ner : ■" we are rather late ; those other chamois kept us 

 so long. That is the essential thing, to be at the top 

 early. What a bad wind we have ! it comes up from 

 behind us, without blowing up from the valley in front 

 too." 



" We could not do anything, even if they were not so 

 far ; we should never be able to reach them." 



" Besides," said Neuner, who was still watching the 

 chamois through his glass, " there is not a buck among 

 them : they are all does." 



We lay there awhile, examining the herd, and follow- 



