52 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



hurt or harm, on the summit of Mont Blanc. We did 

 not feel much inclined to eat, but our mn ordinaire 

 was perfect nectar; and the bottle of champagne 

 brought up on purpose to be drunk on the summit 

 was considered a finer wine than had ever been met 

 with. We all shook each other by the hand, and 

 laughed at such small pleasantries so heartily that it 

 was quite diverting ; and a rapid programme of toasts 

 went round, of which the most warmly drunk was 

 " Her," according to each of our separate opinions on 

 that point. We made no " scientific observations, "- 

 the acute and honest De Saussure had done everything 

 that was wanted by the world of that kind; and 

 those who have since worried themselves during the 

 ascent about " elevations " and temperatures, have 

 added nothing to what he told us sixty years ago. 

 But we had beheld all the wonders and horrors of 

 the glacier world in their wildest features ; we had 

 gazed on scenery of such fantastic yet magnificent 

 nature as we might not hope to see again ; we had 

 laboured with all the nerve and energy we could 

 command to achieve a work of downright unceasing 

 danger and difficulty, which not more than one-half 

 of those who try are able to accomplish, and the 

 triumph of which is, even now, shared but by 

 a comparative handful of travellers : and we had 

 succeeded ! 



Although the cold was by no means severe when 

 the air was still, yet, as I have before stated, the 



