footsteps. There are, however, generally some faint traces of way, and
where these fail entirely the track is sometimes indicated by small
piles of stones, placed at intervals along the line of route. An
unpracticed eye would scarcely distinguish these little landmarks, in
many cases, from accidental heaps of stones which lie every where
around. They, however, render a very essential service to the guides
and to the mountaineers, who have been accustomed to conduct their
steps by similar aids in other portions of the mountains.

But when snow begins to fall, all these and every other possible means
of distinguishing the way are soon entirely obliterated. The whole
surface of the ground, or, rather, of the rocks, is covered, and all
landmarks disappear. The little monuments become nothing but slight
inequalities in the surface of the snow, undistinguishable from a
thousand others. The air is thick and murky, and shuts off alike all
distant prospects, and the shape and conformation of the land that is
near; the bewildered traveler has not even the stars to guide him, as
there is nothing but dark, falling flakes, descending from an
impenetrable canopy of stormy clouds, to be seen in the sky.

Hannibal encountered a snow storm while on the summit of the pass, and
his army were very much terrified by it. It was now November. The army
had met with so many detentions and delays that their journey had been
protracted to a late period. It would be unsafe to attempt to wait
till this snow should melt again. As soon, therefore, as the storm
ended, and the clouds cleared away, so as to allow the men to see the
general features of the country around, the camp was broken up and the
army put in motion. The soldiers marched through the snow with great
anxiety and fear. Men went before to explore the way, and to guide the
rest by flags and banners which they bore. Those who went first made
paths, of course, for those who followed behind, as the snow was
trampled down by their footsteps. Notwithstanding these aids, however,
the army moved on very laboriously and with much fear.

At length, however, after descending a short distance, Hannibal,
perceiving that they must soon come in sight of the Italian valleys
and plains which lay beyond the Alps, went forward among the pioneers,
who had charge of the banners by which the movements of the army were
directed, and, as soon as the open country began to come into view, he
selected a spot wh