Part 10

To the monotony of the torrent was added the monotony of that interminable succession of planks, winding round the dark elbows of the ravine, always promising to disclose a securer path, but leading only to a like treacherous way. At last, in despair, we tried a short cut up through the woods. The trees rose out of a darkness that could be felt, and smote us in the face. We stumbled, fell, condemned ‘the nature of things,’ and gave up the unequal struggle to sleep till dawn.

Those careless summers seem very far away. I look back on them with some shame and much regret. For even our very follies had a certain educative value. We had--in a very literal sense--to ‘work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.’ Unfortunately, one began to take such let-offs as a matter of course, and during the long weary hours in which I waited for the search-party I had much leisure to reflect on that arrogant faith in luck which is the parent of so many disasters.

During the four months I spent on my back I dared not face the prospect that I might never climb again. I refused to permit such a possibility. None the less I looked forward with peculiar dread to the vision of forbidden snows. The first mountain that I saw left me unmoved, though I felt a pang of regret as the snow and fire of Ætna climbed above the horizon of wave, for in happier days I had wandered up its tortured slopes. But the snow-touched hills that swept down through vine and olive to the sapphire belt of Nauplia’s bay stirred no longing to penetrate into the recesses of ranges that seemed woven from the fabric of dreams. It was otherwise at Garmisch. There the call proved too strong; on two sticks I hobbled painfully up some three thousand feet, and the delight of watching distant hills once more climbing into a larger sky went to my head like wine.

The worst moment came at Berne. The thought of ‘Yesterday--many years ago’ was never so insistent, never so sorrowful, as on the terrace from which I had so often caught the first glad welcome of the snows. I looked at the Oberland glowing in full sunlight beyond the roofs and the morning mists:

‘Into my heart an air that kills From yon far country blows; What are those blue remembered hills, What spires, what forms are those?

That is the land of lost content; I see it shining plain. The happy highways where I went, And cannot come again.’

To lose and recapture is to make doubly precious. Some of the glamour that haunted the first crossing of the snow-line clung to the first tentative experiments on ski. And so in the summer past two hard-won climbs have dispelled for ever the shadow of suspense that darkened two years. I was working at Montana, but somehow the long greeting of the White trinity that cast their spell from beyond the shadows of the Val’ d’Anniviers made life a burden of vain regrets. I escaped to Zermatt, and the same evening started for the Dent Blanche. As I crossed the threshold of the Schönbuhl Hut I felt like an exile returning home. My nostrils were gladdened by the old familiar evil atmosphere redolent of Swiss tobacco and the inevitable ‘Maggi’ soup. And as I watched the magic web of twilight creeping up the terrible northern wall of the Matterhorn, and drank in the silence of the upper world--a silence that is something more than a mere negation of sound--I felt that the lasting rewards of the craft are not the exotic moments of difficulty or danger, but the humbler commonplaces of every climb, the dawn breaking the shadows on the snow, the vision of far horizons melting into the roof of heaven, the peace and radiant grace of sunset on the hills.

An open wound and lack of training brought on a bad dose of mountain sickness and made the last hour a dour struggle, but a week later I had accommodated myself to changed conditions, and managed to lead over the Combin without undue pain. Only those who have known for months the humiliating dependence of the sick-bed can realise the full gladness of the rope’s responsibility.

There are, of course, moments of sadness when the loss of nerve and strength challenges comparison with the past. The colour of things seems changed. Lost is the old confidence on the poor marksmanship of falling stones. Every well-worn precaution has its meaning. The kindly security of the rope is doubly welcome.

And yet in a state of irreproachable virtue there often escapes a great longing for the old unregenerate days, for the irresponsible gaiety of those chequered hours, for all the mirth and laughter that waited us beyond the narrow paths of orthodoxy. There lingers still a chastened regret for the rollicking faith that carried one gaily in and out of perilous places. The hills take on a soberer colouring from the eye that has seen the long deferred reckoning paid in full. But though

‘Die unbegreiflich hohen Werke Sind herrlich wie am ersten Tag,’

though one accepts their punishment as a small price for years of unhampered joy, there are none the less moments of irrational passionate revolt, moments in which one would buy back with a year of the life that is left one solitary hour among the untroubled mountains of youth.

Printed by T. and A. CONSTABLE, Printers to His Majesty at the Edinburgh University Press

From Mr. EDWARD ARNOLD’S List of Publications

A BOOK THAT IS BEING WIDELY DISCUSSED.

=MIRACLES OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. A Study of Evidence.= By the Rev. J. M. THOMPSON, Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford. 3_s._ 6_d._ net.

=THE FAITH OF AN AVERAGE MAN.= By the Rev. C. H. MATTHEWS, M. A., Author of ‘A Parson in the Australian Bush,’ etc. 3_s._ 6_d._ net.

=THE DIARY OF A MODERNIST.= By W. SCOTT PALMER, Author of ‘An Agnostic’s Progress,’ etc. 5_s._ net.

=FROM RELIGION TO PHILOSOPHY.= By F. M. CORNFORD, Fellow and Lecturer of Trinity College, Cambridge, Author of ‘Thucydides Mythistoricus.’ 10_s._ 6_d._ net.

=ACROSS THE BRIDGES. A Study of Social Life in South London.= By ALEXANDER PATERSON. With Preface by the BISHOP OF WINCHESTER. New and Cheaper Edition. Cloth, 2_s._ net; Paper, 1_s._ net.

‘An extraordinary valuable book on the life of the children of the poor in South London. In its way it is the most remarkable work seen for years.’--_Evening News._

=THE ‘SEVEN AGAINST THEBES’ OF AESCHYLUS.= Rendered into English Verse by EDWYN BEVAN. 2_s._ net.

=THE GIRLHOOD OF CLARA SCHUMANN. Clara Wieck and Her Time.= By FLORENCE MAY, Author of ‘The Life of Johannes Brahms.’ With Portrait. 1 vol. 12_s._ 6_d._ net.

=MORE GHOST STORIES.= By Dr. M. R. JAMES, Provost of King’s College, Cambridge. 6_s._

‘What makes these stories impressive is not only the artistic skill shown in the application of supernatural elements, but the air of vraisemblance that distinguishes each narrative. Dr. James is a master of the art of “true relation.”’--_Westminster Gazette._

=THE PERFECT GENTLEMAN. A Guide to Social Aspirants.= By HARRY GRAHAM, Author of ‘Ruthless Rhymes for Heartless Homes,’ ‘The Bolster Book,’ etc. Illustrated by LEWIS BAUMER. 6_s._

=THE EXPLORATION OF THE CAUCASUS.= By DOUGLAS W. FRESHFIELD, lately President of the Alpine Club, and Honorary Secretary of the Royal Geographical Society. Illustrated with many full-page Photogravures, and about 140 Illustrations in the text. 2 vols. £3, 3_s._ net.

‘Mr. Freshfield has chosen a great subject, and has produced a work in every way worthy of it.’--_Times._

=RECOLLECTIONS OF AN OLD MOUNTAINEER.= By WALTER LARDEN. Fully Illustrated. 14_s._ net.

‘A volume which will heartily delight true lovers of mountaineering. A book like this, genially discursive but replete with wise maxims and instructive narratives about mountain craft, is eminently readable for the right reader.’--_Times._

=TWENTY YEARS IN THE HIMALAYA.= By Major the Hon. C. G. BRUCE, M. V. O., Fifth Gurkha Rifles. With Map. Fully Illustrated. 16_s._ net.

‘Will probably rank as a standard work on what is still practically an unexplored part of the world. Full of the most varied and interesting details of the diverse races and conditions of life to be found in the country.’--_Western Mail._

=FIVE MONTHS IN THE HIMALAYA. A Record of Mountain Travel in Garhwal and Kashmir.= By A. L. MUMM, late Honorary Secretary of the Alpine Club. With many magnificent Illustrations and Maps. Royal 8vo. 21_s._ net.

=THE BOOK OF WINTER SPORTS.= With Contributions from Experts in various branches of Sport. Edited by EDGAR SYERS. Fully Illustrated. Demy 8vo. 15_s._ net.

‘The volume is in very truth _the_ book of winter sports, and from Lord Lytton’s introduction to the last page we have nothing but praise for it.’--_Evening Standard._

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‘Mr. Kempson spins his yarn with such spirit and breeziness that the reader is irresistibly carried away and cannot put down the hook until the last page has been turned. The sketches with which the book is profusely illustrated are full of humour, and his racy criticism of life and things in general makes most excellent reading.’--_Yachting World._

=THE ‘GREEN FINCH’ CRUISE.= By F. CLAUDE KEMPSON. Illustrated by the Author. 5_s._ net.

‘Unlike most books on cruising, “The _Green Finch_ Cruise” is not written from the point of view of the “one-sport” man, but the common commonplace view of the all-round sportsman taking a holiday. Such a book really encourages people to try a single-handed cruise.’--_The Field._

SELECTIONS FROM

MR. EDWARD ARNOLD’S LIST OF NEW AND RECENT BOOKS.

SERVICE MEMORIES IN FOUR CONTINENTS.

By Surgeon-General Sir A. D. HOME, K.C.B., V.C.

_Demy 8vo. With Portrait._ =12s. 6d. net.=

These interesting reminiscences of an Army Surgeon on active service cover a wide field of work. Beginning with early years of service in the West Indies, the author soon proceeded to the Crimea, where he remained until peace was declared. A year or two afterwards he joined the expeditionary force destined for China, which was deflected to India by the news of the Mutiny. He was present at the Relief of Lucknow, and won the Victoria Cross for his “persevering bravery and admirable conduct” on that occasion. In 1860 we find him in the East again during the China War, advancing with the Allied Forces to Pekin. At the close of 1861, when the Civil War in America seemed likely to embroil Great Britain, Surgeon Home was sent out to Canada, in readiness for anything that might occur. Fortunately the clouds lifted, and before his return to England the author was able to visit Baltimore and Washington, where he gained many interesting impressions of the war then in progress. The volume concludes with an episode in the Maori War in New Zealand in 1864.

NEW FICTION.

TANTE.

By ANNE DOUGLAS SEDGWICK

(MRS. BASIL DE SÉLINCOURT),

AUTHOR OR ‘FRANKLIN KANE,’ ‘VALÉRIE UPTON,’ ETC.

_Crown 8vo._ =6s.= _Fourth Impression._

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MORE GHOST STORIES.

By Dr. M. R. JAMES,

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_Medium 8vo._ =6s.= _Second Impression._

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“What makes these stories impressive is not only the artistic skill shown in the application of supernatural elements, but the air of vraisemblance that distinguishes each narrative. Dr. James is a master of the art of ‘true relation.’”--_Westminster Gazette._

=THE MOTTO OF MRS. McLANE. The Story of an American Farm.= By SHIRLEY CARSON. =3s. 6d.=

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“The last volume in our list also concerns West Africa. Sir Hesketh Bell’s ‘Love in Black’ is a delightful and successful experiment in a very difficult form of art. His seven short stories are almost wholly concerned with native life, but out of his far-away material he constructs very living dramas. The grim irony of the ‘Yam Custom’ and ‘A Woman of Ashanti,’ the broad comedy of ‘His Highness Prince Kwakoo,’ and the pathos of ‘On Her Majesty’s Service’ are relieved by such charming idylls as the title-story and ‘The Tale of a Tail-Girl.’ A curious tenderness, especially when dealing with children, and a very real imaginative sympathy are the keynotes of the book.”--_Spectator._

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=MY LIFE STORY.= By EMILY, Shareefa of Wazan. Fully Illustrated. =12s. 6d. net.=

“This is a very remarkable book, and one that should interest alike those who are fascinated by the romance of reality and those who are always glad to learn about other races from those possessed of intimate knowledge.”--_Daily Telegraph._

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=THE KING’S CARAVAN. Across Australia in a Waggon.= By E. J. BRADY. With Illustrations and Map. =12s. 6d. net.=

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=ROUGHING IT IN SOUTHERN INDIA.= BY Mrs. M. A. HANDLEY. Illustrated. =12s. 6d. net.=

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=THE WILDS OF PATAGONIA. A Narrative of the Swedish Expedition to Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego, and the Falkland Islands in 1907-1909.= By CARL SKOTTSBERG, D.Sc., etc. With Illustrations and Maps. =15s. net.=

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=THE SPORT OF SHOOTING.= By OWEN JONES. With Illustrations. =10s. 6d. net.=

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_BY THE SAME AUTHOR._

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=THE COMMON GROWTH.= By M. LOANE. =6s.=

=AN ENGLISHMAN’S CASTLE.= By M. LOANE. =6s.=

=NEIGHBOURS AND FRIENDS.= By M. LOANE. =6s.=

=THE QUEEN’S POOR.= By M. LOANE =3s. 6d.=

A BOOK THAT IS BEING WIDELY DISCUSSED.

=MIRACLES OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. A Study of Evidence.= By the Rev. J. M. THOMPSON, Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford. =3s. 6d. net.=

The importance of this work may be gauged from the fact that Dr. Sanday has thought it worth while to devote a recent sermon, preached in the University Church at Cambridge, to meeting its arguments.

=THE FAITH OF AN AVERAGE MAN.= By the Rev. C. H. MATTHEWS, M.A., Author of “A Parson in the Australian Bush,” etc. =3s. 6d. net.=

=THE GRAVEN PALM. A Manual of the Science of Palmistry.= By Mrs. ROBINSON. With about 250 original Illustrations. =10s. 6d. net.=

A SUMPTUOUS EDITION IN TWO VOLUMES

=HANDLEY CROSS; or, Mr. Jorrocks’s Hunt.= By R. S. SURTEES. With 24 Plates in Colour and 100 Black-and-White Illustrations by CECIL ALDIN. Edition de Luxe, =£3 3s. net=. General Edition, =£1 1s. net=.

This is a complete edition of Surtees’ glorious work, illustrated by the one artist of the day who is pre-eminently fitted to do justice to it. The tale of the immortal Jorrocks and his Hunt is to-day the most popular classic work on fox-hunting, and Mr. Cecil Aldin is unquestionably the most popular sporting artist. He has entered heart and soul into the spirit of the work, and the excellence of his pictures proves that they were inspired by enthusiasm for his subject.

NEW AND CHEAPER EDITION.

=SCOTTISH GARDENS.= By the Right Hon. Sir HERBERT MAXWELL, Bart. With 32 Coloured Plates from Pastel Drawings by Miss M. G. W. WILSON, Member of the Pastel Society and of the Scottish Society of Artists. New Edition. Medium 8vo. =7s. 6d. net.=

A NEW EDITION REVISED.

=A BOOK ABOUT ROSES.= By the late Very Rev. S. REYNOLDS HOLE, Dean of Rochester. With Coloured Plates. Crown 8vo. =3s. 6d.=

This edition contains the Dean’s latest corrections of his famous book, and a new chapter on “Progress” up to the present time by Dr. Alfred Williams, Member of Committee of the National Rose Society.

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“Mrs. Allingham is without a rival in the winning portrayal of simple British scenery.”--_Daily Telegraph._

=THE PERFECT GENTLEMAN. A Guide to Social Aspirants.= Compiled from the Occasional Papers of Reginald Drake Biffen. By HARRY GRAHAM, Author of “Lord Bellinger,” “The Bolster Book,” etc. Illustrated by LEWIS BAUMER. =6s.=

In this volume the author of “Lord Bellinger” and “The Bolster Book” provides his readers with much excellent, if somewhat frivolous, advice upon a variety of interesting social topics, ranging from Art to Table-Manners, from Social Intercourse to Foreign Travel, from Dancing to Country-House Visiting. The author’s lively style should recommend the work, not only to aspirants after social success, but also to every lover of humour. The value of these amusing essays is enhanced by the presence of some sixty clever drawings by Mr. Lewis Baumer, the famous _Punch_ artist.

_A Book for Every Home._

=RUTHLESS RHYMES FOR HEARTLESS HOMES.= By Captain HARRY GRAHAM. With Illustrations by G. GATHORNE HARDY. Paper boards, =2s. 6d. net.=

=THE BOOK OF WINTER SPORTS.= With an Introduction by the Rt. Hon. the EARL OF LYTTON, and contributions from experts in various branches of sport. Edited by EDGAR SYERS. Fully Illustrated. Demy 8vo. =15s. net.=

=THE DUDLEY BOOK OF COOKERY AND HOUSEHOLD RECIPES.= By GEORGIANA, COUNTESS OF DUDLEY. Handsomer bound. =7s. 6d. net.= [_Fourth Impression._