02 THIY

the bottom almost a level plain of about four acres and a half in extent, and situated 12,000 feet above the level of the sca. It is the playground of avalanches; and the birthplace of whirlwinds. It 1s a region of deadly cold and ghastly whiteness. When the sun shines on it the glare is blinding ; and at night 1t 1s weird bcyond the powm of words to describe. Shelter therc 1s none ; and yet, on this plain of cternal snow the mtrepid Balmat spent the night. When we think of this man, lost, as it were, in the middle of the vast and unknown solitude, and being well aware that whatever might happen no succour could cver reach him, our admiration for his wonderful courage must be boundless. He was the first human being who ever passed the night in that ice W mld and what he suffered is best told in his own words :—

AL last,” he says, “the day began to break. Nonec too soon for me, for I was all but frozen, notwithstanding that I had rubbed myself vigorously, and performed the most ridiculous antics by way of keep- mg up the circulation. But still 1 was determined to continue my explorations.”

He had noticed the day previous that a very rapid slope led toa mass ol rocks cropping up through the ice, and which from their dark red colour had been named the * Rochers Rouge He now decided to endeavour to gain these rocks, being under the impression that from them the summit was perfectly accessible. He found, how-

er, that the slope was solid ice, and m

or du to maintain his tfooting he had cut holes with his 1ron-shod alpenstock.

Quoting his own words again he says 1 —-

“ It was ncither casy nor amusing to be suspended, as it were, upon one leg with a profound abyss below you, and n()thmor but a species of 1ce ladder to cling to. But by perseverance [ succeeded at last in rcaching the Red Rocks.”

His hopes, however, were doomed to dis- appointment, for between him and the summit which he so eagerly longed to gain was a mighty and steep wall of ice, which it would have been impossible to have mounted without cutting hundreds of steps

“1I was stiff with cold,” he continues, “and nearly dead with fatigue and hunger ; and there was nothing for it but to go back. Jut now I felt certain that when I returned, as return I would, and owcn fine weather, triumph would be mine.’

So he retraced his ,steps, and when after

ST AN

MW AGAZINE.

many more hours of peril he regained his humble home he was nearly blmc and scarcely able to move his limbs. He managed to take a little food, however, and then he went to sleep, and did not wake again for forty-cight hours.

He allowed several days to pass, during which he recouped his stlencrth, and kcpt his plans to himself, and he resolved to scale the mountain again alone, for now he felt absolutely certain tlmt he wou]d succeed in reaching the much coveted goal. But when he came to reflect, it occurred to him that though he did, his st01y would not be believed. He clccuiul thercfore, to take in- to his confidence a certain Doctor Paccard, with whom he was agquamtcd and unhike all the other people in the vallc,y, had not ridiculed his attempts to set his foot on the unsullied, white dome that soarcd up into the heavens nearly three miles above the sea.

Doctor Paccard had gained considerable reputation in his plofcxsmn and was no less distinguished as a naturalist and geologist. He had often said 1n Balmat's presence that he wished he could gain the summit of Mont Blanc, as from that elevated position he would be able to see with a glance of the eyve all the details of the structure of the high peaks that surrounded the grant ot the Alps So to Paccard the mdomitable Balmat went, and laid his project before the savant, WhOlL&dllY consented to accompany him. Omctly and secretly the two made their preparations. All being ready, they took several other people into their confi- dence,y and asked them to watch the moun- tain with telescopes, and make known their success if success crowned their efforts, or send assistance in case of accident.

Lt was on the 7th of August, 1786, that the Doctor and Balmat set off separately, S0 as not to attract attention, but with an understanding that they were to meet at the foot of the mountain, Fach carried his own provisions, reduced to the least possible weight and size. The first day passed with- out anything exciting, and they selected a spot under a great block of rock as aresting- place for e night. At daybreak thex made another start and gained the glaciers, but lost considerable time in their attempts to turn huge crevasses that barred their path. At last they arrived at the foot of the Grands Mulets; and, after a short rest, continued their course towards the Dome du Gout, which they reached by zig- zagoing up the fl()éen snow. Lhey cmqscd the