ASCENT OF MONT BLANC. 47 



to wait until the guide before me removed his foot 

 before I could put my hand into the notch. I looked 

 down below two or three times, but was not at all 

 giddy, although the depth lost itself in a blue haze. 



For upwards of half an hour we kept on slowly 

 mounting this iceberg, until we reached the foot of 

 the last ascent the calotte as it is called the " cap" 

 of Mont Blanc. The danger was now over, but not 

 the labour, for this dome of ice was difficult to mount. 

 The axe was again in requisition ; and everybody was 

 so " blown," in common parlance, that we had to stop 

 every three or four minutes. My young companions 

 kept bravely on, like fine fellows as they were, getting 

 ahead even of some of the guides ; but I was perfectly 

 done up. Honest Tairraz had no sinecure to pull me 

 after him, for I was stumbling about as though com- 

 pletely intoxicated. I could not keep my eyes open, 

 and planted my feet anywhere but in the right place. 

 I know I was exceedingly cross. I have even a re- 

 collection of having scolded my " team," because they 

 did not go quicker ; and I was excessively indignant 

 when one of them dared to call my attention to Monte 

 Rosa. At last one or two went in front, and thus 

 somewhat quickened our progress. Gradually our 

 speed increased, until I was scrambling almost on my 

 hands and knees ; and then, as I found myself on a 

 level, it suddenly stopped. I looked round, and saw 

 there was nothing higher. The batons were stuck in 

 the snow, and the guides were grouped about, some 



