Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. I.djvu/327

Rh In half an hour we could cross the Mer de Glace; afterwards we should have about an hour “somewhat difficult road,” in the mountain to Le Chapeau, but once there, we should see a grand sight, and then also, every danger and difficulty would be over, “and—the guides would have earned a double day's wages!” Of this last consideration, however, they said nothing, but the knowledge of it was the reason of their encouraging words.

I was tempted, by the thought of becoming acquainted with the beauties and dangers of the Mer de Glace, and determined to undertake the hazardous journey; but how I repented of doing so, when, in its midst, I discovered what the nature of it was! For one did not merely run the continual danger of slipping and falling whilst climbing over the icy billows, but one found one's self perpetually on the brink of wide crevices in the ice-mass, of two or three hundred feet deep, and across which one must leap, without any other foot-hold than a smooth icy-wave or hillock. I was now in a state of silent despair at having undertaken this enterprise, particularly as I had Louise Coulin with me. If any thing should happen to this young girl! if I should not be able to restore her in safety to her parents! then—I could not live myself! I thought about turning back, but my guide assured me that we had already accomplished the worst part of the way; that what yet remained was, in comparison, without danger. Even he himself fell, more than once, on our slippery career.

With an anxiety which cannot be described, my eyes followed Louise, who went before me, with her