UOW WE PROGRESSED. 
185 
Another half-hour passed, and we still gazed upw'ard 
at the point of destination, and called another halt; for 
the friendly Lushes, whose firmly-imbedded roots had 
heretofore oflered a secure hold for our unemployed 
hands, had now given place to thin clumps of grass, 
that a good jerk would pull out, roots and all. The 
earth, too, had become even more crumbling and un- 
reliable as we got higher, and the rocky ravines deeper 
and more frequent as well as more unsafe of approach. 
Again we continue the arduous ascent, and again call 
a halt from sheer fatigue. Now, however, we no longer 
lialted in company ; for I happened to be ahead when my 
knees failed, and the two men no sooner saw me down 
than they followed my example. It was now indeed 
difficult to see how we were to get along any farther ; 
nevertheless, as the entire work of the day would be 
injuriously affected did we give it up, I could not 
well avoid making another trial. At it we went, there- 
fore, with renewed vigour; and the way in which we 
progressed was after this wise : — 
“I, having been joined by Eose and Burke, left my box 
with them and climbed some feet higher, from wdieuce 
I reached down for all the burdens, and, having de- 
posited them at my feet, climbed still higher, while 
Eose and Burke ascended to the place I had just left 
and passed them up to tlie new elevation. This was 
ticklish work, but it was also the best that we could do. 
I look back to it now^ and think what a great booby I 
was. Then I rcgai’ded myself as a very energetic sur- 
veyor, generously risking my bones in the cause of 
science. 
