ully with his long staff to ascertain whether the snow that covered
the icy mass was fit to bear his weight, or only formed a treacherous
bridge over the numerous ravines which yawned beneath. Bending his way
round the large chasms, he leaped easily over the smaller ones with the
aid of his staff; and after avoiding all the more dangerous spots, he
succeeded, by caution and presence of mind, in safely reaching the
further side of the glacier, where the last but most perilous part of
his journey was to begin.

As he stood there leaning on his alpenstock, out of breath with the
exertion he had undergone, and surveyed the fearful path which scarcely
any human foot had ever dared to tread; as he cast a glance at the dizzy
precipices which yawned on each side of the ridge, which was itself in
many places scarcely a foot in breadth; as he considered the inevitable
destruction that would follow a single false step, he began to feel his
courage fail, and lost for a moment the confidence and contempt of
danger which had filled his soul an hour or two before, and sustained
him during his perilous journey. "What if I should never return, nor see
my father again?" said he to himself, as he drew back from the road
which seemed to threaten him with destruction. "Is it not too great a
risk to run?"

But these fears only lasted a few moments. He called to mind the
generosity of the stranger, and pictured to himself the delight with
which he would receive him if he returned laden with such valuable
booty; and his determination was renewed on the spot.

"I should be ashamed ever to look him in the face again," said he to
himself; "and what would father say if he were to see that I was afraid
of climbing a few rocks? No, no. I must and will have the birds; so here
goes!"

Laying his alpenstock on the ground, he took off the thick jacket and
heavy shoes which would but hinder his progress, and with only his shirt
and trousers on, an axe in his belt, and the game bag hung over his
shoulder, he started forward with all his former courage and energy, to
complete the dangerous undertaking.

His progress was not difficult at first. The ridge along which he had to
go was broad enough to begin with, although very rough and wild here and
there. But after he had gone a little way, it got so narrow that he
found it difficult to secure a foot-hold. At this point the ridge became
so attenuated that the youth saw at the first glance that it was
i