i86o-6i 
‘MR. BRIGGS ON THE ALPS’ 
107 
5nd driving- mist. An eagle soared above us, 
^ith lordly mastery over the gale : made a circular 
sweep, scrutinising the figures who had dared to 
invade his region, and then sailed off with the 
breeze into the clouds overshadowing fair Italy, 
to seek its prey there. Whether it were Austrian 
Or French I could not make out. Cole reached 
the summit after me ; Mrs. Cole, with Clerk and 
two guides, had preceded us ; then came the 
young German, much exhausted, and with hie- 
tnorrhage from his nose. Lastly appeared poor 
Hardman, the stout gentleman, his head drooping, 
Us he was dragged along by a guide at each arm 
^nd pushed behind by his friend. It suggested 
to me a new series of illustrations in “ Punch ” 
'"“Mr. Briggs on the Alps!” We were soon 
in high spirits. Brandy flasks, sherry and 
^‘§ht red wine and lemonade ; bread and cold 
’tiutton, for which my appetite was quite prepared ; 
^ few could not manage solids. 
‘We were soon ready to move again, urged 
the biting cold. My feet felt frozen, and the 
of my fingers. We descended the steep 
Commit in a wild scamper, the light disintegrated 
Snow permitting you to draw out the leg in 
tirne to prevent a summersault, and were soon 
^t the bottom, when the guides called halt ; then 
^®gan the more careful retracing our steps over 
snow-covered glacier ; and now the sun had 
Softened the snow, and we swayed to and fro like 
