! I
resting in the holes we had dug for them. At
last we heard our companions calling out to us to
stop. At this moment I Avas trying the depth of
the snoAV all round, when in one part I found, or
imagined I found, the solid rock or haid ice.
When 1 told Mr. Stanley this, we set about digging
more holes in the snoAV for our feet, proceeded a
little, bore ourselves as lightly as possible over the
chasm, and reached Avhat we thought the summit,
and tried to persuade those beloAV to follow us.
The Danish carpenter, with the barometer, declared
he had too much regard for his body and
soul to do so: it Avas noAv Ih. 5m. a . m .
“ When Ave got to this summit we could observe
the sun just about to rise, his beams showing
themselves from behind a hill to the nortliAvard
across the Brcede-fiord, the thermometer 27°.
There being no prospect of the carpenter’s ascending
Avith the barometer, we began to descend, after
writing onr mistress’s names on the snoAV,—the
emblem of their purity. We used great caution
in onr descent, for the carpenter hallooed out to us
that Ave were in as much danger coming doAvn as
Ave had been going up. I had like to have found
this, for, when within about thirty yards of those
beloAV, my pole slipt and aAvay I slid. I AA'as not
eager to stop myself, forgetting a great chasm
before me, until Benners called out to me to stop.
I doubt Avhether I could have done this with the
Avay I had got, but I rolled over, and this gave me
time to fix my pole in the snoAV. Mr. Stanley, who
followed, was nearly in as much danger, for Avhen
he was about crossing the last chasm Avhich separated
him from the party, Caldin and CraAvford
desired him to come on, pointing to Avhere he
ought to put his feet, and Avhere they had crossed
themselves. Fortunately before venturing he struck
his pole into the crust, when it instantly gave Avay,
being a bridge of snow OA'er a deep rent less than
a foot in thickness.
“ After we had got all collected, I proposed to
Air. Stanley that I should carry the barometer to
the summit, since the carpenter objected. It Avas
agreed to, after some objections, and I was accompanied
by Messrs. Stanley and Benners—Caldin and
Crawford contenting themselves with their view of
the summit from Avhere they were :—indeed Caldin
had ventured a little further, and by a false step
had nearly got into a chasm, but by the help of Air.
Benners escaped.
“ We found it easier this time to get to our
summit than before, in consequence of the footsteps
already made. We took the height of the mercury
in both barometer and thermometer. The vieAV
was magnificent, and to the Avest the other peak of
this high hill presented itself at the distance of about
1000 yards (the real summit). The northern view
Avas that of the sea, quiet as a child, as if it never
could be in a passion ; the east, high-peaked misshapen
mountains (small, hoAvever, compared Avith
iUM I ’lni Ji M li J
I '1IB A