366 ASCENT OF ELBRUZ, 



we were at a height of over 16,000 feet, and had now 

 reached the rocks which form the upper portion of the 

 cone. Finding what shelter we could among them, we 

 stood shivering, kicking our feet against the rock, and 

 beating our fingers, to preserve them if possible from 

 frostbite, while the debate, as to whether we should turn 

 back or not, was carried on in voices almost inaudible from 

 the chattering of our teeth. On the one hand, the wind 

 did not abate, and the risk of frostbites was growing- 

 serious ; Tucker and Fran9ois had no sensation in their 

 fingers, and my toes were similarly affected. On the 

 other hand, the rocks were less cold to the feet, and gave 

 some shelter from the weather. Looking back, we saw, 

 to our surprise, two of the porters advancing rapidly in 

 our footsteps. We had almost decided to turn when they 

 came up to us, looking fairly comfortable in their big 

 sheepskin cloaks, and quite unaffected by the cold. A 

 third, however, who had started with them, had, like Paul, 

 given in. I said, ' If a porter goes on, I will go with him.' 

 'If one goes, all go,' added Moore. The decision was 

 accepted, and we again set our faces to the mountain. 



From this time the cold, though severe, ceased to be 

 painful. A long climb up easy rocks, mostly broken 

 small, with here and there a large knob projecting from the 

 surface, brought us to the foot of a low cliff, to surmount 

 which a few steps were cut in an ice-couloir, the only 

 approach to a difficulty on the mountain. Arrived on the 

 top of what had for long been our skyline, we saw as 

 much more rock above us. Doubts were even now felt, 

 and expressed, as to our success. We persevered, however, 

 making but few and short halts, until the base of some 

 bold crags, we had taken long to reach, was passed. 

 Almost suddenly, at the last, we found ourselves on a level 

 with their tops, and stepped on to a broad crest, running 



