THE GOLDEN EAGLE. 189 



I shall lose my senses ! I'm getting quite confused ! ") 

 ^yeber. and I were now unanimously of opinion, after 

 we had taken an approximate measurement of the 

 height with the rope, that it would only be possible to 

 get at the e3rrie by means of a ladder at least one 

 hundred feet long. For to-day, therefore, we were 

 obliged to return home, after eight hours of fruitless 

 labour. During the uight I had two old ladders re- 

 paired, which were wretchedly weak and crazy ; and 

 one new one made. 



June 21. — This morning had the ladders and neces- 

 sary tools carried up by fourteen wood-cutters. Weber, 

 the steward, went up to the very top of the precipice with 

 ten men, and showed them how to direct the movement 

 of the ropes ; he then came down to the chamois-path 

 under the eyrie, with the two young hunters Baader and 

 Vogler. From this spot we were cut off from all direct 

 communication with the men above, owing to the twenty- 

 five feet of overhanging rock. As they could neither 

 see nor hear us, communication was kept up with them 

 by means of a living telegraph placed at some distance 

 sidewards, who at least could hear well and speak dis- 

 tinctly; for a misunderstood direction regarding the 

 ladders was a matter of life or death. A great difficulty 

 was to fasten the three ladders together, and then raise 

 them with the rope. The six men who stood near me 

 were all doubtful of the possibility of its accomplishment. 



