134 ASCENT OP SKID DAW. 



Instead of one path, as marked on his map, he 

 finds three ; and perhaps the one he relies on may 

 have disappeared under recent accidents, or have 

 lapsed into swamp. He finds himself on the edg-e 

 of a precipice, and does not know how far to go 

 back. He finds the bog" deepen, and thinks he can 

 scarcely be in the rig-ht road. He finds a landslip, 

 which compels him to make a wider circuit, and 

 meantime it is growing dusk. Worst of all, a fog 

 may come on at any moment ; and there is an end 

 of all security to one who does not know the little 

 wayside- marks which guide the shepherd in such 

 a case. Tales are current through the region of 

 the deaths of natives, even in the summer-months, 

 through fog, wet, fatigue, or fall, — the native 

 having a better chance than the stranger, ten 

 times over. And why should the risk be run ? 

 It cannot be to save the fee, in the case of a 

 journey of pleasure. The guide is worth more 

 than his pay for the information he has to g'ive, 

 to say nothing of the comfort of his carrying the 

 knapsack, — as many knapsacks as there are walk- 

 ers. If solitude be desired, the meditative gentle- 

 man will soon find that anxiety about the way, and 

 an internal conflict with apprehensiveness, are sad 

 spoilers of the pleasures of solitude. Better have a 

 real substantial, comfortable, supporting shepherd 

 by his side, giving his mind liberty for contempla- 

 tion and enjoyment of the scene, than the spectres 

 of the mountain perplexing him on all sides, and 

 marring his ease. But enough. Travellers who 

 know what mountain-climbing is, among- loose 

 stones, shaking bog, and slippery rushes or grass, 

 with the alternative of a hot sun or a strong- wind. 



