214 EETUEN TO AREOUND. ch. ix. 



and the clouds had changed from their ordinary condition 

 of light, separate fleecy masses gathered round the higher 

 ridges during the day to a dense canopy stretching con- 

 tinuously over the visible portion of the sky. If choice 

 had been left to us we should not have selected this 

 morning for our excursion; but, after overcoming so 

 many difficulties, there was no thought of letting weather 

 stand in our way, and we could only resolve to make the 

 best of it whatever it might be. On this occasion we had 

 rather more time to spare than two days before, and we 

 added a good deal to our previous collections in the 

 valley, though less than we could have done if the 

 precious morning hours had not been wasted in con- 

 troversy. 



We had many an occasion for admiring the sureness 

 of foot of the mules and horses in this country ; but we 

 also noticed that, like their fellows elsewhere, they have 

 some peculiarities of disposition that a traveller should 

 take note of. Maw's mule, hitherto remarkably steady, 

 had a trick of keeping to the outer verge of the path in 

 steep places, and when his head was turned inward his 

 hind foot would go over the edge. After recovering himself 

 once or twice, he at last slipped completely. Maw saved 

 himself in good time, while the animal rolled down the 

 steep slope towards the torrent. In many places this is 

 so precipitous that the beast must have been killed ; as it 

 was, he was stopped by some thorny bushes, and was with 

 some trouble got back to the track, a sadder and a wiser 

 mule for the rest of that day at least. It is well known 

 that several fatal accidents in the Alps have occurred in 

 places of the same character from interference with a 

 mule, who should be left to take his own course. The 

 now almost familiar road to Arround, with the ascent of 

 the watercourse, seeming more objectionable each time 

 that we passed it, was accomplished without further inci- 

 dent, and no other delays than those involved in plant- 

 collecting. In six hours from Hasni we reached the 



