ROCKS LOOSENED* 
§43 
that I thought the v/hole mountain was com* 
ing upon me, and expected every moment to 
be dashed to pieces. I slid down about twenty 
feet, and then luckily caught hold of the 
branch of a tree, by which I clung; but the 
stones still continued to roll down heap after 
heap ; several times, likewise, after all had 
been still for a minute or two, they again began 
to fall with increased violence. In this state 
of suspense I was kept for a considerable time* 
not knowing but that some stone larger than 
the rest might give way, and carry down 
with it even the tree by which I held. Un¬ 
acquainted also with the paths of the moim* 
tain, there seemed to me to be no other way 
of getting down, excepting over the fallen 
stones, a way which I contemplated with 
horror. Night however was coming on very 
fast; it was absolutely necessary to quit the si¬ 
tuation I was in, and fortunately I got to the 
bottom without receiving any further injury 
than two or three slight contusions on my hips 
and elbows. The people congratulated me 
when I came back on my escape, and inform¬ 
ed me, that the stones very commonly gave 
way in this manner after heavy falls of rain * 
but on the dissolution of a large body of snow, 
immense rocks, they said, would sometimes 
roll down with a crash that might be heard 
for miles. The consequences then of a large. 
r % 
