204 SIBERIA 



be impossible for me to reach the summit that day, 

 especially as I had nothing with me to shelter me 

 while I slept upon the ridge. The north face of 

 the precipice, near which I was standing, was glazed 

 with ice, which rendered the few cracks and hand 

 holes that might be there quite useless. On the other 

 hand, even had I been able to climb that part of 

 the mountain, it would not have been possible for 

 me to get farther than to the west side of the ridge. 

 The only way out of the difficulty, was to gain the 

 south side of the peak at the base and make the 

 attempt from the west. I had noticed that the 

 western ridge was not so long, and persuaded myself, 

 that as it was sheltered from the Arctic winds, the 

 ice might be softer. So I determined to try it, 

 although I knew well enough that the snow was soft 

 and an avalanche exceedingly likely. I had come a 

 long way and was not inclined to give in without 

 a struggle, even if it involved some risk, so I started 

 very carefully : but after going on for about 6 yards, 

 I suddenly became aware that the snow was giving 

 way beneath me, and the next moment I was on: 

 the top of a billow of loose snow that was gliding 

 down the mountain side considerably more swiftly 

 than was either comfortable or safe. I had con;- 

 cluded that it was all over with me and that an 

 obituary notice was perhaps the thing I should be 

 requiring next, when the motion stopped suddenly. 

 I immediately relinquished hold of my ice-axe and 

 knocked the snow away from aboiit my head until 

 I was able to breathe freely, but my body was 

 crushed down in a most uncomfortable manner. I 

 pushed away the snow and secured the head of my, 

 axe, and, using- it as a lever, was presently able to 

 wriggle myself out of the snow. The snow had gone 

 down my neck, making me very wet and uncomfort- 

 able. I brushed as much of it away as was possible. 



