rapidity that did great credit to his prowess as a mountaineer. 
There could be no flagging no?*. The man who, comparatively 
unincumber ed, could not keep pace with the doctor must certainly 
be in disgrace, and the scrambling advance grew more lively than 
ever. Presently it began to rain and the smooth rock grew slippery 
and the grass and bushes dripping wet. By the time we had reached 
the point where the mountain rises abruptly from the valley, we were 
soaked to the skin, but we must push on. 
Prom this point the course was upward. Hour after hour w@ toil- 
ed on, the box was shifted from one to another, and the carrier was 
constantly assisted where the walls were steep. But the box grew 
heavier and heavier as we advanced, and the changes more frequent. 
At timber line all parties were glad to take a rest. We ?*ere now 
in the midst of the rain clouds and the day was so unpromising for 
mountain work that it seemed useless to advance. A fire was built 
in the shelter of the great pines and an attempt made to dry our 
clothes. 
It was midday, and 3,000 vertical feet intervened between us 
and the summit. It now became a serious question as to what it ?/as 
best to do. We had brought only a sand?*ich. for lunch, and had no 
blankets not even an overcoat to protect us during the night. We 
could do nothing on the peak among the clouds, and the idea of re- 
turni g to camp and making the entire ascent again on the following 
day could not be entertained for a moment. It was finally decided 
to complete the ascent immediately and trust to Providence to lift 
the shroud that enveloped the mountains. 
Meantime the photographic party, much mope heavily laden than 
ourselves, had encountered far greater difficulties. Mr .Jacks on 
and his two associates carried among them upwards Of one*” hundrel " 
pounds of apparatus, but were not men to yield before ordinary 
difficulties. The rain, the greatest possible damper on a photo- 
grapher's enthusiasm, could not make them hesitate; torrents and 
cliffs and dense forests and prowling beasts were interposed in 
vain. They had set out to accomplish an object, and success at 
whatever cost of exertion and hardship must be attained. 
By the middle of the day Mr. 3 a cks on fin ds hims elf far in ad- 
vance of his companions, but in spite ofTiis tin usual enthusiasm he 
begins to fear for his results. 
Bight hours of weary climbing have brought him nearly to the 
s ummit of the ridge. There is nothing to be seen but the dull , gray 
clouds which rise and fall and sweep back and forth and sink down again 
oppressively around him. Is this all labor lost? Have the fates 
conspired against him, and is the holy cross a myth, an illusion 
