BEN NEVIS IN MID-WINTER. 
39 
meut bespangled by the stars, myriads, in fact, of far, far distant suns 
shining on our tiny Earth as mere brilliant points of light. What a 
held for the imagination! How far the mind wandered from the 
eloquence of that mountain solitude into the awful depths of space! 
The great planet Jupiter, with Saturn as an advance guard, made up 
the picture, together with the deep gloom of Glen Nevis in black 
contrast away below, and the pure white snow around us in one har¬ 
monious whole. 
We had now to encounter the most difficult part of our expedition, 
and to descend in safety through the darkness over the fragmentary rocks 
glazed with ice alternating with the snow-banks, steep, hard, and 
slippery. It was dangerous work. Foot by foot and yard by yard we 
slowly groped and felt our way, now partially sliding on our backs, now 
again clinging to the sharp jagged stones, while our legs steered a 
course round some awkward corner, and in this manner we proceeded, 
pausing ever and anon to rest our muscles, until we again reached 
Brown’s Well. Here we enjoyed a more lengthened rest, and I tried 
the temperature of the water, which was 35‘9°. T may mention that 
during the summer the mean temperature of this well was about 47’0°. 
The arduous part of our trip was now over, and at twelve minutes 
past seven we were safe back at the Lake. Here I took another set of 
observations, and found that the barometer had risen 0T82 since half- 
past twelve, the value at 82° Fahrenheit being 27‘469. The 
temperature of the air was now 83'2°, the sky generally clear, and 
light airs came from eastward. The lowest temperature since Nov. 1st 
at this station was but seven-tenths of a degree higher than that on 
the Ben, or 10‘2, and but 3deg. lower than the absolute minimum at 
Fort William during the corresponding period. As the three minima 
unquestionably took place during the frost of December, when pressure 
was steady and the weather was clear, they show the wonderful effects 
of nocturnal radiation in mountainous districts in equalising the 
temperature throughout the entire altitude. 
It was now dark, save for a glimmer on the western horizon ; and 
as it was impossible to pick and choose our steps, we went boldly on 
through the swamps and over hummocks of bog. At about 1,200ft. 
we paused and took a last look at the mighty Ben, showing its snowy 
profile against the starlit sky. As from behind it shone the glittering 
belt of Orion, away beneath were the lights of Fort William. We 
soon descended Meall an t-Suidhe, waded through the swamps of the 
Peat Moss with delightful carelessness, while “ Benzo,” tinkling his 
bell like some frisky bullock in the Australian bush, vainly endeavoured 
to catch rabbits. By ten minutes past nine we were walking through 
Fort William, ready to do ample justice to the good supper that 
awaited us. I found that the barometer had risen 0'273in. in the 
twelve hours : temperature was 33'7; maximum for the day near the 
sea level 43-8, and minimum 33-0. Thus ended a most important day’s 
work, and soon we were enjoying a well-earned night’s repose. 
