AVALANCHES AND LAND-SLIPS 117 



winning hearts and charming eyes with their colour 

 and scent. You lovely roses ! You beloved thorns ! 

 But wherefore these sighs of longing ? Am I 

 not much nearer heaven up here, in these celestial 

 heights as grand as the sea, as sublime as love, and 

 just as variable and full of moods as either ! 



Cra era a a 



Cra era c k cr a a ck. 



Who does not recognise this language of our 

 northern ice ? And thus do these mountains, too, 

 suddenly drag me back from the land of dreams. 



I forget the roses and the thorns as well, and once 

 more the glistening snow-spires in the distance act 

 on me like a magnet. Onwards, into the icy morn- 

 ing ! Icy, because the sun has not yet risen. 



I have left the coolies, the tents, the wretched 

 cook, and even faithful Paul, behind. Such is the 

 will of the ibex ! Three shikaris, four bearers with 

 thick furs and blankets, baskets filled with mutton 

 and chicken, and hot thermos bottles are all that 

 are allowed me now. Each day coolies will supply 

 us with fresh provisions. 



Thank Heaven ! the sun is rising higher and 

 higher. With his advent winter departs and 

 spring appears ; the snow binds and the ice bursts. 

 But I don't believe that summer will ever come to 

 these lonely heights ! 



