386 



SHORT STALKS 



of Capua, and took the path to the Pierre Pointue, which is 

 on the route for the ascent to Mont BLanc, with a vague 

 idea of forcing our way somewhere, over the highest part 

 of the chain, and descendincr on the Italian side to Cour- 

 mayeur. As we walked, our plan took shape, and ulti- 

 mately we determined to go over the Dome du Gouter and 

 descend l)y the southern Glacier de Miage. The host of 

 the Pierre Pointue was prepared with " encore un gigot," 



JAKOB. 



as he always was, because experience taught him that 

 the enduring Englishman would 1)c persuaded to Iniy it. 

 While waiting for this, we amused ourselves by examining 

 the wonderful assortment of garments which were then 

 considered necessary to a successful ascent of Mont Blanc. 

 The most remarkable of these was a kind of knitted helmet 

 of mediaeval shape and ferocious appearance. I have the 

 best reason to remember it, for once, when 1 was very 



