Peaks of the Central Group. 
westward, slightly concave, and terminating in a characteristic 
shoulder. The peak and the ridges are overhung by a gigantic 
cornice, supported by a colonnade of icicles and aiguilles of ice 
which at a distance seem like a fine white lacework. 
Round about them the snow had the pale, lack-lustre 1 me 
of bad weather. For one moment a ray of sunlight lit it up, 
but was immediately quenched by the dense clouds which 
were piling up rapidly from the east. Gusts of wind were 
ALEXANDRA AND MARGHER1TA PEAKS FROM THE STANLEY PLATEAU. 
blowing from the east, and layers of mist were ascending the 
valley in compact masses and soon shut in the party com¬ 
pletely. They continued their way in silence. Without the 
least uncertainty, with a sure intuition of the right direction, 
Joseph Petigax made his way through the dense mists 
N 2 
179 
