and then seating himself
and drawing it in as Saxe followed him and fully grasped now that it was
like getting up the sloping ridge of some mighty roof all in vast ruins.
For the rocks rose out of the snow which fell away steeply on either
side--how far the curve prevented him from seeing; but once, when he
took hold of a great projecting piece of rock about double the size of
his head, it came away and went rolling down the slope to his right,
carrying more and more snow with it, till all disappeared with a curious
hissing rush, which was followed many seconds later by a low
reverberating roar.

"I ought to have tried that stone," said the guide quietly. "That's
right, herr: steady. Shall I pull?"

"No, no!" pleaded Saxe.

"Good! That block--now this. Well done! Get behind me and sit down
and rest."

Saxe felt disposed to refuse; but he took his place, and in a minute or
two Dale was up by them, and the guide went on again, repeating the slow
cautious process.

It was necessary, for the way up grew steeper and some of the rocks
looser and far larger than that which Saxe had started, gave way at the
first touch of the guide, and had to be turned off sideways to prevent
mischief to those who followed.

As they rose higher the slope down on either hand seemed more appalling;
and once, as Saxe climbed to him, Melchior said, with a smile--

"Never mind the two snow slopes, herr."

"I don't--much," panted Saxe.

"Don't look at them, and don't think of them at all. Think of what you
are doing. There is plenty of room for us, good foothold, and nothing
to mind. That's the way: hook on firmly with your ice-axe. It is
better than a hand."

Over and over was this slow process repeated up and up that arete--the
little serrated blocks they had seen from below proving mighty masses
worn by frost and sunshine till in places they were quite sharp. But,
as Melchior said, they gave excellent foothold; and at last the snow
above them, a great bed surrounded by rock, was gained, and they all sat
down to rest while Dale drew out his watch.

"An hour and five minutes, Melchior," he said. "And good work, sir.
That was a very stiff climb. What are you thinking, young herr?"

"Of how terribly steep the mountain seems from up here," replied Saxe,
who was holding by a piece of granite and gazing down.

"No more steep than it was coming up, lad," cried Dale. "Now, Melchior!
what next?"

"Right across this snow, sir