Page:My Climbs in the Alps and Caucasus.djvu/122

Rh, however, a terrific thunderstorm and furious squalls of wind and rain put an end to all thoughts of new ascents, and made even the Col du Géant seem a reckless and perilous adventure. But as the day wore on the clouds began to break, and by the time we reached the séracs, a brilliant sun was making the new snow stream from the rock faces and steeper slopes in avalanches of every sort and size.

At Chamonix I was once more in danger of falling an utter victim to the wiles of innkeepers and their cooks, but happily some friends recognised my perilous position and took me up to the Grands Mulets. No sooner had we got there than yet another storm assailed us, and kept us in the hut till it was too late to descend. When we awoke the next morning, we found ourselves halfway up to the Grand Plateau, Burgener and Venetz being evidently under the impression that we intended to spend the rest of the day in the tread-mill like occupation of ascending Mont Blanc. Revolutionary ideas quickly gained possession of the party, and culminated in the absolute refusal of its amateur members to go another step. Despite the indignation and scorn of the professionals, we tumbled and glissaded back to the Grands Mulets, picked up our few belongings and ran down to the Pierre Pointue and Chamonix.

The same afternoon we held a solemn council