QftounfoiwCop 



place. Advancing was akin to swimming a 

 whirlpool or to wrestling one's way up a slope 

 despite the ceaseless opposition of a vigorous, 

 tireless opponent. 



At last I crawled and climbed up to the buz- 

 zing cups of the meter. So swiftly were they 

 rotating they formed a blurred circle, like a 

 fast-revolving life-preserver. The meter showed 

 that the wind was passing with a speed of from 

 one hundred and sixty-five to one hundred and 

 seventy miles an hour. The meter blew up 

 or, rather, flew to pieces during a swifter 

 spurt. 



The wind so loudly ripped and roared round 

 the top of the peak that I determined to scale 

 the summit and experience its wildest and 

 most eloquent efforts. All my strength and 

 climbing knowledge were required to prevent 

 my being literally blown out ' of converging 

 rock channels through which the wind gushed; 

 again and again I clung with all my might to 

 avoid being torn from the ledges. Fortunately 

 not a bruise was received, though many times 

 this was narrowly avoided. 



77 



