of the Old World. 437 



playing at bowls. However, my companions were 

 Mussulmen and fatalists, and if my long residence 

 in the East had not imbued me with the same 

 feelings I was reckless and insensible to fear, for 

 as soon as the storm had passed we continued 

 our route. Another long and tedious fag, and we 

 had attained our object, for we stood upon the " lower 

 bluff" of the summit of the El-Bruz, being most 

 likely the first of the human race who had ever set 

 foot upon it. 



It was a moment of intense gratification, far sur- 

 passing every preconceived idea, for the panorama 

 that suddenly burst upon our eyes was so grand, so 

 overpoweringly sublime, that inexpressible feelings of 

 awe and strange emotions, impossible to define, 

 seemed to pervade the whole of our number. I 

 was the first to scramble up, and gave vent to the 

 exuberance of my exhilaration by a loud huzza, the 

 Briton's cry, 



" Whene'er" his "soul is up and pulse beats high 

 Whether it hail the wine-cup or the fight, 

 And bid each arm be strong or bid each heart be light." 



Lt is heard when he expresses his devotion and greets 

 his Queen; it rings through the air in the van of 

 the fight, above the pealing of death-shots or the 

 shrieks of the dying ; it is the shout of victory when 

 the field is won, and may be heard round the social 

 board when friend meets friend and the glorious past 



