CLIMBING ADVENTURES 183 



dislodged by the feet of one of my companions and 

 had hit me on the head. 



I candidly confess that I had then to summon all 

 my resolution in order not to relinquish my grip and 

 let myself fall. 



At that instant I was a double personality, consist- 

 ing of myself and another man much greater and 

 stronger than I, who spoke within me. ' Fool 1 ' he 

 cried. ' Do you not see that if you let yourself go we 

 shall all fall together? ' 



* Come, be brave ! An effort, another, all right ! ' 

 It was the imperious voice of animal instinct, a valuable 

 friend that the comfort and security of our ordinary 

 life has lulled to sleep ir\ us but that awakes in 

 moments of need. 



I had heard it before in other adventures in the 

 mountains, but it had never spoken so loud and so 

 clearly. 



1 Vous y dtes, monsieur? ' shouted Aime* just then. 



* Right ! ' I answered, though I was still shaken by 

 my internal struggle. 



' C'est bien ; alors j'avance.' 



As I climbed, each time I came into contact with the 

 rock I received a wound, I felt a pain ; the muscles 

 of my arms were growing tired with the tension of 

 continuous effort ; I began to feel how heavy my body 

 was. Something passed between me and the sun ; it 

 seemed the shadow of some body travelling rapidly 

 through space. Another shadow passed, a swish of 

 wings was heard ; a black object glided past close 

 at hand, falling from above and disappearing below 

 like a falling stone. These were the crows of the 

 Matterhorn, the lords of the place ; there was a whole 



