,'504 ASCENT OF ELBRUZ. 



luountiiin as a greased pole. As we tramped over the 

 snowfields of Elbruz, 1 could not help wishing we bad some 

 of these unbelievers with us, because, while they would 

 have been compelled to admit the startling- grandeur of 

 the situation, the intense cold would have inflicted on 

 them a just punishment for their past offences. The 

 last rays of the setting moon lit up the summits of the 

 main chain, over the gaps in which we already saw 

 portions of the southern spurs. The icy sides of TJschba 

 and Tungzorun reflected the pale gleam of the sky ; a 

 dark rock-peak further west stood in deep shadow. We 

 were high enough to overlook the ridges that run out 

 from Elbruz towards the north-east, in which direction a 

 dark band of vapour, illuminated by fitful flashes of sheet- 

 lightning, overhung the distant steppe. The thick black 

 cloud was still on the mountain before us ; otherwise the 

 sky overhead was clear, and the stars shone out with pre- 

 ternatural brilliancy. 



Near the point where the snow began to slope towards 

 the base of the mountain, the crisp surface broke under 

 my feet, and 1 disappeared, as suddenly as through a trap- 

 door, into a concealed crevasse. Paul, who was next 

 behind me on the rope, was horror-struck, and his first 

 impulse was to rush to the brink to see what had become 

 of me, a course of proceeding which had to be summarily 

 checked by my companions. The crevasse was one of 

 those which gradually enlarge as they descend, but the 

 check given by the rope enabled me at once to plant my 

 feet on a ledge on one side, and my back against the other. 

 The position was more ludicrous than uncomfortable. I 

 had both hands in my pockets, and my ice-axe under my 

 arm ; and owing to the tightness of the rope, and the 

 cramped space, it was not easy to make the axe serviceable 

 without fear of dropping it into the unknown depths beloAV. 



