A Perilous Descent. 91 



ment state of the weather, to proceed any further, 

 we turned to retrace our steps, but the snow was 

 so thick that in a little time we could not see our 

 tracks, and eventually lost ourselves. Affairs began 

 to look serious as far as getting back that night was 

 concerned ; though we comforted ourselves by the 

 knowledge that we had wherewithal to sustain 

 nature until the snow ceased, the doctor having 

 taken the precaution of putting a couple of biscuits 

 in his pocket, and each of us being provided with 

 a small flask containing brandy and water. 



Knowing that we had come with the wind at our 

 backs, and keeping close together for better security, 

 we shaped a course head to wind. 



The snow beating into our faces was positively 

 blinding, making our eyes sorely ache. As it fell 

 it froze upon our faces and clothes, and we were 

 soon a complete mass of ice, though the exercise of 

 walking, and the exertion constantly necessary to 

 prevent ourselves from tumbling, kept us in a per- 

 fect glow of heat. 



On one occasion I gave myself up for lost. 

 Everything around was perfectly white, and it was 

 impossible to say whether we were walking on a 

 level piece of ground or on a steep decline. Sud- 

 denly my feet slipped, and in an instant I was 

 sliding down the frozen surface of what I imagined 

 to be the side of a glacier, which I was convinced 

 would take me to the edge of the ravine and pre- 

 cipitate me into the gaping gulf beneath. I felt 



