THE GOLDEN EAGLE. 203 



self down to another ledge which he could see below. 

 So, mounting tree and rope again, he went home, 

 to return on the morrow with the second rope. It may- 

 be thought that all this might have been foreseen be- 

 forehand, and where to go and what to do have been 

 decided on by inspecting the territory well from different 

 sides. But this is not the case, as all those know who 

 have had experience in such matters. A spot which at 

 a distance seems absolutely impassable, presents on 

 nearer approach many a bit of vantage ground, where a 

 bold climber may make his way. And on the contrary, 

 also, a closer inspection will bring difficulties to light 

 which, as our eye examined the place from afar, did not 

 seem to exist. It is only by a personal acquaintance, 

 therefore, that we can decide whether a passage be prac- 

 ticable or not. For a jutting stone, a firmly rooted 

 shrub, a foot more or less in the distance we have to 

 stride or reach, is often sufficient to force us to turn 

 back or enable us to go on. " Try and see," is the only 

 course to be followed in these matters. 



To approach the eyiie itself a ledge must still be 

 passed, which, narrow as it was, might have been crossed 

 had there been any object to hold on by. But there 

 was nothing whatever ; so again recourse was had to a 

 rope, let down from above ; and holding by it the 

 Count began his difficult walk, and arrived in this 

 manner at the eyrie. But he did not take away the 



