IN VALAIS 



255 



LE CALVAIRE 



continue one's walk in France to Chamo- 

 nix. 



The country abounds in walks and 

 -climbs to suit the most expert or inex- 

 perienced mountaineer. First and fore- 

 most of these is the ascent of the Dent 

 •du Midi, more than 10,000 feet in height. 

 Of its seven teeth, the Haute Cime is 

 most popular and least dangerous. Par- 

 ties usually leave Champery in the after- 

 noon, sup at Bonaveau. snatch a few 

 hours of sleep, and are off before dawn 

 in order to reach the summit for a far- 

 reaching panorama of the sun-kissed 

 Alps awaking from their sleep. 



It was at this little chalet of Bonaveau 

 that one party, finding their hopes of an 



ascent shattered by torrential rain, re- 

 solved to play bridge and amuse them- 

 selves as best they could until the wee 

 sma' hours ; but "English as she is spoke" 

 and accompanying laughter evidently 

 jarred upon the proprietor's nerves, for 

 in the morning their modest bill was 

 embellished with the strange item. "Ex- 

 tra : Pour bruit fait pendant la nuit ( for 

 noise made during the night), 5 francs." 

 To return to the village, its one street 

 lined by chalets with gayly flowering 

 window-boxes and neat gardens, hotels, 

 pensions, and little shops, let us occupy 

 ourselves with the cosmopolitan throng 

 that wanders back and forth on any 

 Auffust dav. 



