第13章
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  Whenwehadgoneabouttwohundredyards,andstoppedtorest,IglancedtotheleftwhileIwaslightingmypipe,andinthedistancedetectedalongwormofblacksmokecrawlinglazilyupthesteepmountain。Ofcoursethatwasthelocomotive。Weproppedourselvesonourelbowsatonce,togaze,forwehadneverseenamountainrailwayyet。

  Presentlywecouldmakeoutthetrain。Itseemedincrediblethatthatthingshouldcreepstraightupasharpslantliketheroofofahouse——butthereitwas,anditwasdoingthatverymiracle。

  Inthecourseofacouplehourswereachedafinebreezyaltitudewherethelittleshepherdhutshadbigstonesallovertheirroofstoholdthemdowntotheearthwhenthegreatstormsrage。Thecountrywaswildandrockyabouthere,buttherewereplentyoftrees,plentyofmoss,andgrass。

  Awayoffontheoppositeshoreofthelakewecouldseesomevillages,andnowforthefirsttimewecouldobservetherealdifferencebetweentheirproportionsandthoseofthegiantmountainsatwhosefeettheyslept。

  Whenoneisinoneofthosevillagesitseemsspacious,anditshousesseemhighandnotoutofproportiontothemountainthatoverhandsthem——butfromouraltitude,whatachange!Themountainswerebiggerandgranderthanever,astheystoodtherethinkingtheirsolemnthoughtswiththeirheadsinthedriftingclouds,butthevillagesattheirfeet——whenthepainstakingeyecouldtracethemupandfindthem——weresoreduced,almostinvisible,andlaysoflatagainsttheground,thattheexactestsimileIcandeviseistocomparethemtoant-depositsofgranulateddirtovershadowedbythehugebulkofacathedral。Thesteamboatsskimmingalongunderthestupendousprecipiceswerediminishedbydistancetothedaintiestlittletoys,thesailboatsandrowboatstoshallopsproperforfairiesthatkeephouseinthecupsofliliesandridetocourtonthebacksofbumblebees。

  Presentlywecameuponhalfadozensheepnibblinggrassinthesprayofastreamofclearwaterthatsprangfromarockwallahundredfeethigh,andallatonceourearswerestartledwithamelodious\"Lul……

  l……lllllul-lul-LAhee-o-o-o!\"pealingjoyouslyfromanearbutinvisiblesource,andrecognizedthatwewerehearingforthefirsttimethefamousAlpineJODEL

  initsownnativewilds。Andwerecognized,also,thatitwasthatsortofquaintcomminglingofbaritoneandfalsettowhichathomewecall\"Tyrolesewarbling。\"

  ThejodelingpronouncedyOdling——emphasisontheO

  continued,andwasverypleasantandinspiritingtohear。

  Nowthejodelerappeared——ashepherdboyofsixteen——

  andinourgladnessandgratitudewegavehimafranctojodelsomemore。Sohejodeledandwelistened。

  Wemovedon,presently,andhegenerouslyjodeledusoutofsight。Afteraboutfifteenminuteswecameacrossanothershepherdboywhowasjodeling,andgavehimhalfafranctokeepitup。Healsojodeledusoutofsight。

  Afterthat,wefoundajodelereverytenminutes;

  wegavethefirstoneeightcents,thesecondonesixcents,thethirdonefour,thefourthoneapenny,contributednothingtoNos。5,6,and7,andduringtheremainderofthedayhiredtherestofthejodelers,atafrancapiece,nottojodelanymore。ThereissomewhattoomuchofthejodelingintheAlps。

  AboutthemiddleoftheafternoonwepassedthroughaprodigiousnaturalgatewaycalledtheFelsenthor,formedbytwoenormousuprightrocks,withathirdlyingacrossthetop。Therewasaveryattractivelittlehotelcloseby,butourenergieswerenotconqueredyet,sowewenton。

  Threehoursafterwardwecametotherailway-track。Itwasplantedstraightupthemountainwiththeslantofaladderthatleansagainstahouse,anditseemedtousthatmanwouldneedgoodnerveswhoproposedtotravelupitordowniteither。

  Duringthelatterpartoftheafternoonwecooledourroastinginteriorswithice-coldwaterfromclearstreams,theonlyreallysatisfyingwaterwehadtastedsincewelefthome,foratthehotelsonthecontinenttheymerelygiveyouatumbleroficetosoakyourwaterin,andthatonlymodifiesitshotness,doesn\'tmakeitcold。

  Watercanonlybemadecoldenoughforsummercomfortbybeingpreparedinarefrigeratororaclosedice-pitcher。

  Europeanssayice-waterimpairsdigestion。Howdotheyknow?——theyneverdrinkany。

  AttenminutespastsixwereachedtheKaltbadstation,wherethereisaspacioushotelwithgreatverandaswhichcommandamajesticexpanseoflakeandmountainscenery。

  Wewereprettywellfaggedout,now,butaswedidnotwishtomisstheAlpinesunrise,wegotthroughourdinnerasquicklyaspossibleandhurriedofftobed。

  Itwasunspeakablycomfortabletostretchourwearylimbsbetweenthecool,dampsheets。Andhowwedidsleep!——forthereisnoopiatelikeAlpinepedestrianism。

  Inthemorningwebothawokeandleapedoutofbedatthesameinstantandranandstrippedasidethewindow-curtains;

  butwesufferedabitterdisappointmentagain:itwasalreadyhalfpastthreeintheafternoon。

  Wedressedsullenlyandinillspirits,eachaccusingtheotherofoversleeping。Harrissaidifwehadbroughtthecourieralong,asweoughttohavedone,weshouldnothavemissedthesesunrises。Isaidheknewverywellthatoneofuswouldhavetositupandwakethecourier;

  andIaddedthatwewerehavingtroubleenoughtotakecareofourselves,onthisclimb,withouthavingtotakecareofacourierbesides。

  Duringbreakfastourspiritscameupalittle,sincewefoundbythisguide-bookthatinthehotelsonthesummitthetouristisnotlefttotrusttoluckforhissunrise,butisrousedbetimesbyamanwhogoesthroughthehallswithagreatAlpinehorn,blowingblaststhatwouldraisethedead。Andtherewasanotherconsolingthing:

  theguide-booksaidthatupthereonthesummittheguestsdidnotwaittodressmuch,butseizedaredbedblanketandsailedoutarrayedlikeanIndian。Thiswasgood;

  thiswouldberomantic;twohundredandfiftypeoplegroupedonthewindysummit,withtheirhairflyingandtheirredblanketsflapping,inthesolemnpresenceofthecomingsun,wouldbeastrikingandmemorablespectacle。

  Soitwasgoodluck,notillluck,thatwehadmissedthoseothersunrises。

  Wewereinformedbytheguide-bookthatwewerenow3,228feetabovethelevelofthelake——thereforefulltwo-thirdsofourjourneyhadbeenaccomplished。

  Wegotawayataquarterpastfour,P。M。;ahundredyardsabovethehoteltherailwaydivided;onetrackwentstraightupthesteephill,theotheroneturnedsquareofftotheright,withaveryslightgrade。Wetookthelatter,andfolloweditmorethanamile,turnedarockycorner,andcameinsightofahandsomenewhotel。

  Ifwehadgoneon,weshouldhavearrivedatthesummit,butHarrispreferredtoaskalotofquestions——asusual,ofamanwhodidn\'tknowanything——andhetoldustogobackandfollowtheotherroute。Wedidso。Wecouldillaffordthislossoftime。

  Weclimbedandclimbed;andwekeptonclimbing;wereachedaboutfortysummits,buttherewasalwaysanotheronejustahead。

  Itcameontorain,anditrainedindeadearnest。

  Weweresoakedthroughanditwasbittercold。Nextasmokyfogofcloudscoveredthewholeregiondensely,andwetooktotherailway-tiestokeepfromgettinglost。

  Sometimeswesloppedalonginanarrowpathontheleft-handsideofthetrack,butbyandbywhenthefogblewasasidealittleandwesawthatweweretreadingtherampartofaprecipiceandthatourleftelbowswereprojectingoveraperfectlyboundlessandbottomlessvacancy,wegasped,andjumpedforthetiesagain。

  Thenightshutdown,darkanddrizzlyandcold。

  Abouteightintheeveningthefogliftedandshowedusawell-wornpathwhichledupaverysteeprisetotheleft。

  Wetookit,andassoonaswehadgotfarenoughfromtherailwaytorenderthefindingitagainanimpossibility,thefogshutdownonusoncemore。

  Wewereinableak,unshelteredplace,now,andhadtotrudgerightalong,inordertokeepwarm,thoughweratherexpectedtogooveraprecipice,soonerorlater。

  Aboutnineo\'clockwemadeanimportantdiscovery——

  thatwewerenotinanypath。Wegropedaroundawhileonourhandsandknees,butwecouldnotfindit;

  sowesatdowninthemudandthewetscantgrasstowait。

  Wewereterrifiedintothisbybeingsuddenlyconfrontedwithavastbodywhichshoweditselfvaguelyforaninstantandinthenextinstantwassmotheredinthefogagain。

  Itwasreallythehotelwewereafter,monstrouslymagnifiedbythefog,butwetookitforthefaceofaprecipice,anddecidednottotrytoclawupit。

  Wesatthereanhour,withchatteringteethandquiveringbodies,andquarreledoverallsortsoftrifles,butgavemostofourattentiontoabusingeachotherforthestupidityofdesertingtherailway-track。Wesatwithourbackstotheprecipice,becausewhatlittlewindtherewascamefromthatquarter。Atsometimeorotherthefogthinnedalittle;wedidnotknowwhen,forwewerefacingtheemptyuniverseandthethinnesscouldnotshow;

  butatlastHarrishappenedtolookaround,andtherestoodahuge,dim,spectralhotelwheretheprecipicehadbeen。

  Onecouldfaintlydiscernthewindowsandchimneys,andadullbluroflights。Ourfirstemotionwasdeep,unutterablegratitude,ournextwasafoolishrage,bornofthesuspicionthatpossiblythehotelhadbeenvisiblethree-quartersofanhourwhilewesatthereinthosecoldpuddlesquarreling。

  Yes,itwastheRigi-Kulmhotel——theonethatoccupiestheextremesummit,andwhoseremotelittlesparkleoflightswehadoftenseenglintinghighaloftamongthestarsfromourbalconyawaydownyonderinLucerne。

  Thecrustyportierandthecrustyclerksgaveusthesurlyreceptionwhichtheirkinddealoutinprosperoustimes,butbymollifyingthemwithanextradisplayofobsequiousnessandservilitywefinallygotthemtoshowustotheroomwhichourboyhadengagedforus。

  Wegotintosomedryclothing,andwhileoursupperwaspreparingweloafedforsakenlythroughacoupleofvastcavernousdrawing-rooms,oneofwhichhadastoveinit。

  Thisstovewasinacorner,anddenselywalledaroundwithpeople。Wecouldnotgetnearthefire,sowemovedatlargeinthearticspaces,amongamultitudeofpeoplewhosatsilent,smileless,forlorn,andshivering——thinkingwhatfoolstheyweretocome,perhaps。ThereweresomeAmericansandsomeGermans,butonecouldseethatthegreatmajoritywereEnglish。

  Weloungedintoanapartmentwheretherewasagreatcrowd,toseewhatwasgoingon。Itwasamemento-magazine。

  Thetouristswereeagerlybuyingallsortsandstylesofpaper-cutters,marked\"SouveniroftheRigi,\"withhandlesmadeofthelittlecurvedhornoftheostensiblechamois;

  therewereallmannerofwoodengobletsandsuchthings,similarlymarked。Iwasgoingtobuyapaper-cutter,butI

  believedIcouldrememberthecoldcomfortoftheRigi-Kulmwithoutit,soIsmotheredtheimpulse。

  Supperwarmedus,andwewentimmediatelytobed——butfirst,asMr。Baedekerrequestsalltouriststocallhisattentiontoanyerrorswhichtheymayfindinhisguide-books,I

  droppedhimalinetoinformhimhemisseditbyjustaboutthreedays。IhadpreviouslyinformedhimofhismistakeaboutthedistancefromAllerheiligentoOppenau,andhadalsoinformedtheOrdnanceDepartoftheGermangovernmentofthesameerrorintheimperialmaps。

  Iwilladd,here,thatInevergotanyanswertothoseletters,oranythanksfromeitherofthosesources;and,whatisstillmorediscourteous,thesecorrectionshavenotbeenmade,eitherinthemapsortheguide-books。ButIwillwriteagainwhenIgettime,formylettersmayhavemiscarried。

  Wecurledupintheclammybeds,andwenttosleepwithoutrocking。

  WeweresosoddenwithfatiguethatweneverstirrednorturnedovertillthebloomingblastsoftheAlpinehornarousedus。Itmaywellbeimaginedthatwedidnotloseanytime。Wesnatchedonafewoddsandendsofclothing,cocoonedourselvesintheproperredblankets,andplungedalongthehallsandoutintothewhistlingwindbareheaded。

  Wesawatallwoodenscaffoldingontheverypeakofthesummit,ahundredyardsaway,andmadeforit。

  Werushedupthestairstothetopofthisscaffolding,andstoodthere,abovethevastoutlyingworld,withhairflyingandruddyblanketswavingandcrackinginthefiercebreeze。

  \"Fifteenminutestoolate,atlast!\"saidHarris,inavexedvoice。\"Thesunisclearabovethehorizon。\"

  \"Nomatter,\"Isaid,\"itisamostmagnificentspectacle,andwewillseeitdotherestofitsrisinganyway。\"

  Inamomentweweredeeplyabsorbedinthemarvelbeforeus,anddeadtoeverythingelse。Thegreatcloud-barreddiskofthesunstoodjustabovealimitlessexpanseoftossingwhite-caps——sotospeak——abillowychaosofmassymountaindomesandpeaksdrapedinimperishablesnow,andfloodedwithanopalinegloryofchanginganddissolvingsplendors,whilethroughriftsinablackcloud-bankabovethesun,radiatinglancesofdiamonddustshottothezenith。

  Theclovenvalleysofthelowerworldswaminatintedmistwhichveiledtheruggednessoftheircragsandribsandraggedforests,andturnedalltheforbiddingregionintoasoftandrichandsensuousparadise。

  Wecouldnotspeak。Wecouldhardlybreathe。

  Wecouldonlygazeindrunkenecstasyanddrinkinit。

  PresentlyHarrisexclaimed:

  \"Why——nation,it\'sgoingDOWN!\"

  Perfectlytrue。WehadmissedtheMORNINGhornblow,andsleptallday。Thiswasstupefying。

  Harrissaid:

  \"Lookhere,thesunisn\'tthespectacle——it\'sUS——stackeduphereontopofthisgallows,intheseidioticblankets,andtwohundredandfiftywell-dressedmenandwomendownheregawkingupatusandnotcaringastrawwhetherthesunrisesorsets,aslongasthey\'vegotsucharidiculousspectacleasthistosetdownintheirmemorandum-books。

  Theyseemtobelaughingtheirribsloose,andthere\'sonegirlthereatappearstobegoingalltopieces。

  Ineversawsuchamanasyoubefore。Ithinkyouaretheverylastpossibilityinthewayofanass。\"

  \"Whathave_I_done?\"Ianswered,withheat。

  \"Whathaveyoudone?\"You\'vegotupathalfpastseveno\'clockintheeveningtoseethesunrise,that\'swhatyou\'vedone。\"

  \"Andhaveyoudoneanybetter,I\'dliketoknow?I\'vealwaysusedtogetupwiththelark,tillIcameunderthepetrifyinginfluenceofyourturgidintellect。\"

  \"YOUusedtogetupwiththelark——Oh,nodoubt——

  you\'llgetupwiththehangmanoneofthesedays。

  Butyououghttobeashamedtobejawingherelikethis,inaredblanket,onaforty-footscaffoldontopoftheAlps。Andnoendofpeopledownheretoboot;

  thisisn\'tanyplaceforanexhibitionoftemper。\"

  Andsothecustomaryquarrelwenton。Whenthesunwasfairlydown,weslippedbacktothehotelinthecharitablegloaming,andwenttobedagain。Wehadencounteredthehorn-blowerontheway,andhehadtriedtocollectcompensation,notonlyforannouncingthesunset,whichwedidsee,butforthesunrise,whichwehadtotallymissed;butwesaidno,weonlytookoursolarrationsonthe\"Europeanplan\"——payforwhatyouget。

  Hepromisedtomakeushearhishorninthemorning,ifwewerealive。

  CHAPTERXXIX

  [LookingWestforSunrise]

  Hekepthisword。Weheardhishornandinstantlygotup。

  Itwasdarkandcoldandwretched。AsIfumbledaroundforthematches,knockingthingsdownwithmyquakinghands,Iwishedthesunwouldriseinthemiddleoftheday,whenitwaswarmandbrightandcheerful,andonewasn\'tsleepy。Weproceededtodressbythegloomofacouplesicklycandles,butwecouldhardlybuttonanything,ourhandsshookso。IthoughtofhowmanyhappypeopletherewereinEurope,Asia,andAmerica,andeverywhere,whoweresleepingpeacefullyintheirbeds,anddidnothavetogetupandseetheRigisunrise——peoplewhodidnotappreciatetheiradvantage,aslikeasnot,butwouldgetupinthemorningwantingmoreboonsofProvidence。

  WhilethinkingthesethoughtsIyawned,inaratherampleway,andmyupperteethgothitchedonanailoverthedoor,andwhileIwasmountingachairtofreemyself,Harrisdrewthewindow-curtain,andsaid:

  \"Oh,thisisluck!Weshan\'thavetogooutatall——

  yonderarethemountains,infullview。\"

  Thatwasgladnews,indeed。Itmadeuscheerfulrightaway。

  OnecouldseethegrandAlpinemassesdimlyoutlinedagainsttheblackfirmament,andoneortwofaintstarsblinkingthroughriftsinthenight。Fullyclothed,andwrappedinblankets,andhuddledourselvesup,bythewindow,withlightedpipes,andfellintochat,whilewewaitedinexceedingcomforttoseehowanAlpinesunrisewasgoingtolookbycandlelight。Byandbyadelicate,spiritualsortofeffulgencespreaditselfbyimperceptibledegreesovertheloftiestaltitudesofthesnowywastes——buttheretheeffortseemedtostop。

  Isaid,presently:

  \"Thereisahitchaboutthissunrisesomewhere。

  Itdoesn\'tseemtogo。Whatdoyoureckonisthematterwithit?\"

  \"Idon\'tknow。Itappearstohangfiresomewhere。

  Ineversawasunriseactlikethatbefore。Canitbethatthehotelisplayinganythingonus?\"

  \"Ofcoursenot。Thehotelmerelyhasapropertyinterestinthesun,ithasnothingtodowiththemanagementofit。

  Itisaprecariouskindofproperty,too;asuccessionoftotaleclipseswouldprobablyruinthistavern。

  Nowwhatcanbethematterwiththissunrise?\"

  Harrisjumpedupandsaid:

  \"I\'vegotit!Iknowwhat\'sthematterwithit!We\'vebeenlookingattheplacewherethesunSETlastnight!\"

  \"Itisperfectlytrue!Whycouldn\'tyouhavethoughtofthatsooner?Nowwe\'velostanotherone!Andallthroughyourblundering。Itwasexactlylikeyoutolightapipeandsitdowntowaitforthesuntoriseinthewest。\"

  \"Itwasexactlylikemetofindoutthemistake,too。

  Youneverwouldhavefounditout。Ifindoutallthemistakes。\"

  \"Youmakethemall,too,elseyourmostvaluablefacultywouldbewastedonyou。Butdon\'tstoptoquarrel,now——maybewearenottoolateyet。\"

  Butwewere。Thesunwaswellupwhenwegottotheexhibition-ground。

  Onourwayupwemetthecrowdreturning——menandwomendressedinallsortsofqueercostumes,andexhibitingalldegreesofcoldandwretchednessintheirgaitsandcountenances。Adozenstillremainedonthegroundwhenwereachedthere,huddledtogetheraboutthescaffoldwiththeirbackstothebitterwind。Theyhadtheirredguide-booksopenatthediagramoftheview,andwerepainfullypickingouttheseveralmountainsandtryingtoimpresstheirnamesandpositionsontheirmemories。

  ItwasoneofthesaddestsightsIeversaw。

  Twosidesofthisplacewereguardedbyrailings,tokeeppeoplefrombeingblownovertheprecipices。

  Theview,lookingsheerdownintothebroadvalley,eastward,fromthisgreatelevation——almostaperpendicularmile——wasveryquaintandcurious。Counties,towns,hillyribsandridges,widestretchesofgreenmeadow,greatforesttracts,windingstreams,adozenbluelakes,ablockofbusysteamboats——wesawallthislittleworldinuniquecircumstantialityofdetail——sawitjustasthebirdsseeit——andallreducedtothesmallestofscalesandassharplyworkedoutandfinishedasasteelengraving。Thenumeroustoyvillages,withtinyspiresprojectingoutofthem,werejustasthechildrenmighthaveleftthemwhendonewithplaythedaybefore;

  theforesttractswerediminishedtocushionsofmoss;

  oneortwobiglakesweredwarfedtoponds,thesmalleronestopuddles——thoughtheydidnotlooklikepuddles,butlikeblueeardropswhichhadfallenandlodgedinslightdepressions,conformabletotheirshapes,amongthemoss-bedsandthesmoothlevelsofdaintygreenfarm-land;themicroscopicsteamboatsglidedalong,asinacityreservoir,takingamightytimetocoverthedistancebetweenportswhichseemedonlyayardapart;

  andtheisthmuswhichseparatedtwolakeslookedasifonemightstretchoutonitandliewithbothelbowsinthewater,yetweknewinvisiblewagonsweretoilingacrossitandfindingthedistanceatediousone。

  Thisbeautifulminiatureworldhadexactlytheappearanceofthose\"reliefmaps\"whichreproducenatureprecisely,withtheheightsanddepressionsandotherdetailsgraduatedtoareducedscale,andwiththerocks,trees,lakes,etc。,coloredafternature。

  IbelievedwecouldwalkdowntoWa\"ggisorVitznauinaday,butIknewwecouldgodownbyrailinaboutanhour,soIchosethelattermethod。Iwantedtoseewhatitwaslike,anyway。Thetraincamealongaboutthemiddleoftheafternoon,andanoddthingitwas。

  Thelocomotive-boilerstoodonend,anditandthewholelocomotive-boilerstoodonend,anditandthewholelocomotiveweretiledsharplybackward。Thereweretwopassenger-cars,roofed,butwideopenallaround。

  Thesecarswerenottiltedback,buttheseatswere;

  thisenablesthepassengertositlevelwhilegoingdownasteepincline。

  Therearethreerailway-tracks;thecentraloneiscogged;

  the\"lanternwheel\"oftheenginegripsitswayalongthesecogs,andpullsthetrainupthehillorretardsitsmotiononthedowntrip。Aboutthesamespeed——threemilesanhour——ismaintainedbothways。Whethergoingupordown,thelocomotiveisalwaysatthelowerendofthetrain。

  Itpushesintheonecase,bracesbackintheother。

  Thepassengerridesbackwardgoingup,andfacesforwardgoingdown。

  Wegotfrontseats,andwhilethetrainmovedalongaboutfiftyyardsonlevelground,Iwasnottheleastfrightened;butnowitstartedabruptlydownstairs,andIcaughtmybreath。AndI,likemyneighbors,unconsciouslyheldbackallIcould,andthrewmyweighttotherear,but,ofcourse,thatdidnoparticulargood。

  IhadsliddendownthebalusterswhenIwasaboy,andthoughtnothingofit,buttoslidedownthebalustersinarailway-trainisathingtomakeone\'sfleshcreep。

  Sometimeswehadasmuchastenyardsofalmostlevelground,andthisgaveusafewfullbreathsincomfort;

  butstraightwaywewouldturnacornerandseealongsteeplineofrailsstretchingdownbelowus,andthecomfortwasatanend。Oneexpectedtoseethelocomotivepause,orslackupalittle,andapproachthisplungecautiously,butitdidnothingofthekind;itwentcalmlyon,andwentitreachedthejumping-offplaceitmadeasuddenbow,andwentglidingsmoothlydownstairs,untroubledbythecircumstances。

  Itwaswildlyexhilaratingtoslidealongtheedgeoftheprecipices,afterthisgrislyfashion,andlookstraightdownuponthatfar-offvalleywhichIwasdescribingawhileago。

  TherewasnolevelgroundattheKaltbadstation;

  therailbedwasassteepasaroof;Iwascurioustoseehowthestopwasgoingtobemanaged。

  Butitwasverysimple;thetraincameslidingdown,andwhenitreachedtherightspotitjuststopped——thatwasalltherewas\"toit\"——stoppedonthesteepincline,andwhentheexchangeofpassengersandbaggagehadbeenmade,itmovedoffandwentslidingdownagain。

  Thetraincanbestoppedanywhere,atamoment\'snotice。

  Therewasonecuriouseffect,whichIneednottakethetroubletodescribe——becauseIcanscissoradescriptionofitoutoftherailwaycompany\'sadvertisingpamphlet,andsaymyink:

  \"Onthewholetour,particularlyattheDescent,weundergoanopticalillusionwhichoftenseemstobeincredible。

  Alltheshrubs,firtrees,stables,houses,etc。,seemtobebentinaslantingdirection,asbyanimmensepressureofair。

  Theyareallstandingawry,somuchawrythatthechaletsandcottagesofthepeasantsseemtobetumblingdown。

  Itistheconsequenceofthesteepinclinationoftheline。

  Thosewhoareseatedinthecarriagedonotobservethattheyaredoingdownadeclivityoftwentytotwenty-fivedegreestheirseatsbeingadaptedtothiscourseofproceedingandbeingbentdownattheirbacks。Theymistaketheircarriageanditshorizontallinesforapropermeasureofthenormalplain,andthereforealltheobjectsoutsidewhichreallyareinahorizontalpositionmustshowadisproportionoftwentytotwenty-fivedegreesdeclivity,inregardtothemountain。\"

  BythetimeonereachesKaltbad,hehasacquiredconfidenceintherailway,andhenowceasestotrytoeasethelocomotivebyholdingback。Thenceforthhesmokeshispipeinserenity,andgazesoutuponthemagnificentpicturebelowandabouthimwithunfetteredenjoyment。

  Thereisnothingtointerruptthevieworthebreeze;

  itislikeinspectingtheworldonthewing。However——tobeexact——thereisoneplacewheretheserenitylapsesforawhile;

  thisiswhileoneiscrossingtheSchnurrtobelBridge,afrailstructurewhichswingsitsgossamerframedownthroughthedizzyair,overagorge,likeavagrantspider-strand。

  Onehasnodifficultyinrememberinghissinswhilethetrainiscreepingdownthisbridge;andherepentsofthem,too;thoughhesees,whenhegetstoVitznau,thatheneednothavedoneit,thebridgewasperfectlysafe。

  SoendstheeventualtripwhichwemadetotheRigi-KulmtoseeanAlpinesunrise。

  CHAPTERXXX

  [HarrisClimbsMountainsforMe]

  Anhour\'ssailbroughtustoLucerneagain。Ijudgeditbesttogotobedandrestseveraldays,forIknewthatthemanwhoundertakestomakethetourofEuropeonfootmusttakecareofhimself。

  Thinkingovermyplans,asmappedout,IperceivedthattheydidnottakeintheFurkaPass,theRhoneGlacier,theFinsteraarhorn,theWetterhorn,etc。Iimmediatelyexaminedtheguide-booktoseeifthesewereimportant,andfoundtheywere;infact,apedestriantourofEuropecouldnotbecompletewithoutthem。Ofcoursethatdecidedmeatoncetoseethem,forIneverallowmyselftodothingsbyhalves,orinaslurring,slipshodway。

  Icalledinmyagentandinstructedhimtogowithoutdelayandmakeacarefulexaminationofthesenotedplaces,onfoot,andbringmebackawrittenreportoftheresult,forinsertioninmybook。IinstructedhimtogotoHospenthalasquicklyaspossible,andmakehisgrandstartfromthere;

  toextendhisfootexpeditionasfarastheGiesbachfall,andreturntomefromthencebydiligenceormule。

  Itoldhimtotakethecourierwithhim。

  Heobjectedtothecourier,andwithsomeshowofreason,sincehewasabouttoventureuponnewanduntriedground;

  butIthoughthemightaswelllearnhowtotakecareofthecouriernowaslater,thereforeIenforcedmypoint。

  Isaidthatthetrouble,delay,andinconvenienceoftravelingwithacourierwerebalancedbythedeeprespectwhichacourier\'spresencecommands,andImustinsistthatasmuchstylebethrownintomyjourneysaspossible。

  Sothetwoassumedcompletemountaineeringcostumesanddeparted。Aweeklatertheyreturned,prettywellusedup,andmyagenthandedmethefollowingOfficialReportOFAVISITTOTHEFURKAREGION。BYH。HARRIS,AGENT

  Aboutseveno\'clockinthemorning,withperfectlyfineweather,westartedfromHospenthal,andarrivedattheMAISONontheFurkainalittleunderQUATREhours。

  ThewantofvarietyinthesceneryfromHospenthalmadetheKAHKAHPONEEKAwearisome;butletnonebediscouraged;

  noonecanfailtobecompletelyR\'ECOMPENS\'EEforhisfatigue,whenhesees,forthefirsttime,themonarchoftheOberland,thetremendousFinsteraarhorn。Amomentbeforeallwasdullness,butaPASfurtherhasplacedusonthesummitoftheFurka;andexactlyinfrontofus,ataHOPOWofonlyfifteenmiles,thismagnificentmountainliftsitssnow-wreathedprecipicesintothedeepbluesky。

  Theinferiormountainsoneachsideofthepassformasortofframeforthepictureoftheirdreadlord,andcloseintheviewsocompletelythatnootherprominentfeatureintheOberlandisvisiblefromthisBONG-A-BONG;

  nothingwithdrawstheattentionfromthesolitarygrandeuroftheFinsteraarhornandthedependentspurswhichformtheabutmentsofthecentralpeak。

  Withtheadditionofsomeothers,whowerealsoboundfortheGrimsel,weformedalargeXHVLOJaswedescendedtheSTEGwhichwindsroundtheshoulderofamountaintowardtheRhoneGlacier。Wesoonleftthepathandtooktotheice;andafterwanderingamongstthecrevicesUNPEU,toadmirethewondersofthesedeepbluecaverns,andheartherushingofwatersthroughtheirsubglacialchannels,westruckoutacoursetowardL\'AUTRECO^T\'Eandcrossedtheglaciersuccessfully,alittleabovethecavefromwhichtheinfantRhonetakesitsfirstboundfromunderthegrandprecipiceofice。HalfamilebelowthiswebegantoclimbtheflowerysideoftheMeienwand。

  Oneofourpartystartedbeforetherest,buttheHITZE

  wassogreat,thatwefoundIHMquiteexhausted,andlyingatfulllengthintheshadeofalargeGESTEIN。

  Wesatdownwithhimforatime,forallfelttheheatexceedinglyintheclimbupthisverysteepBOLWOGGOLY,andthenwesetoutagaintogether,andarrivedatlastneartheDeadMan\'sLake,atthefootoftheSidelhorn。

  Thislonelyspot,onceusedforanextemporeburying-place,afterasanguinaryBATTUEbetweentheFrenchandAustrians,istheperfectionofdesolation;thereisnothinginsighttomarkthehandofman,exceptthelineofweather-beatenwhitenedposts,setuptoindicatethedirectionofthepassintheOWDAWAKKofwinter。Nearthispointthefootpathjoinsthewidertrack,whichconnectstheGrimselwiththeheadoftheRhoneSCHNAWP;thishasbeencarefullyconstructed,andleadswithatortuouscourseamongandoverLESPIERRES,downtothebankofthegloomylittleSWOSH-SWOSH,whichalmostwashesagainstthewallsoftheGrimselHospice。

  Wearrivedalittlebeforefouro\'clockattheendofourday\'sjourney,hotenoughtojustifythestep,takingbymostofthePARTIE,ofplungingintothecrystalwaterofthesnow-fedlake。

  ThenextafternoonwestartedforawalkuptheUnteraarglacier,withtheintentionof,atallevents,gettingasfarastheHU\"TTEwhichisusedasasleeping-placebymostofthosewhocrosstheStrahleckPasstoGrindelwald。

  WegotoverthetediouscollectionofstonesandDE\'BRIS

  whichcoversthePIEDoftheGLETCHER,andhadwalkednearlythreehoursfromtheGrimsel,when,justaswewerethinkingofcrossingovertotheright,toclimbthecliffsatthefootofthehut,theclouds,whichhadforsometimeassumedathreateningappearance,suddenlydropped,andahugemassofthem,drivingtowardusfromtheFinsteraarhorn,poureddownadelugeofHABOOLONGandhail。Fortunately,wewerenotfarfromaverylargeglacier-table;itwasahugerockbalancedonapedestaloficehighenoughtoadmitofourallcreepingunderitforGOWKARAK。AstreamofPUCKITTYPUKK

  hadfurrowedacourseforitselfintheiceatitsbase,andwewereobligedtostandwithoneFUSSoneachsideofthis,andendeavortokeepourselvesCHAUDbycuttingstepsinthesteepbankofthepedestal,soastogetahigherplaceforstandingon,astheWASSERroserapidlyinitstrench。AverycoldBZZZZZZZZEEEaccompaniedthestorm,andmadeourpositionfarfrompleasant;

  andpresentlycameaflashofBLITZEN,apparentlyinthemiddleofourlittleparty,withaninstantaneousclapofYOKKY,soundinglikealargegunfiredclosetoourears;

  theeffectwasstartling;butinafewsecondsourattentionwasfixedbytheroaringechoesofthethunderagainstthetremendousmountainswhichcompletelysurroundedus。

  Thiswasfollowedbymanymorebursts,noneofWELCHE,however,wassodangerouslynear;andafterwaitingalongDEMI-hourinouricyprison,wesalliedouttotalkthroughaHABOOLONGwhich,thoughnotsoheavyasbefore,wasquiteenoughtogiveusathoroughsoakingbeforeourarrivalattheHospice。

  TheGrimselisCERTAINEMENTawonderfulplace;situatedatthebottomofasortofhugecrater,thesidesofwhichareutterlysavageGEBIRGE,composedofbarrenrockswhichcannotevensupportasinglepineARBRE,andaffordonlyscantyfoodforaherdofGMWKWLLOLP,itlooksasifitmustbecompletelyBEGRABENinthewintersnows。

  Enormousavalanchesfallagainstiteveryspring,sometimescoveringeverythingtothedepthofthirtyorfortyfeet;and,inspiteofwallsfourfeetthick,andfurnishedwithoutsideshutters,thetwomenwhostayherewhentheVOYAGEURSaresnuglyquarteredintheirdistanthomescantellyouthatthesnowsometimesshakesthehousetoitsfoundations。

  NextmorningtheHOGGLEBUMGULLUPstillcontinuedbad,butwemadeupourmindstogoon,andmakethebestofit。

  Halfanhourafterwestarted,theREGENthickenedunpleasantly,andweattemptedtogetshelterunderaprojectingrock,butbeingfartoNASSalreadytomakestandingatallAGRE\'ABLE,wepushedonfortheHandeck,consolingourselveswiththereflectionthatfromthefuriousrushingoftheriverAaratourside,weshouldatalleventsseethecelebratedWASSERFALLinGRANDEPERFECTION。

  NorwereweNAPPERSOCKETinourexpectation;thewaterwasroaringdownitsleapoftwohundredandfiftyfeetinamostmagnificentfrenzy,whilethetreeswhichclingtoitsrockysidesswayedtoandfrointheviolenceofthehurricanewhichitbroughtdownwithit;eventhestream,whichfallsintothemaincascadeatrightangles,andTOUTEFOISformsabeautifulfeatureinthescene,wasnowswollenintoaragingtorrent;andtheviolenceofthis\"meetingofthewaters,\"aboutfiftyfeetbelowthefrailbridgewherewestood,wasfearfullygrand。

  Whilewewerelookingatit,GLU\"CKLICHEWEISEagleamofsunshinecameout,andinstantlyabeautifulrainbowwasformedbythespray,andhunginmid-airsuspendedovertheawfulgorge。

  OngoingintotheCHALETabovethefall,wewereinformedthataBRU\"CKEhadbrokendownnearGuttanen,andthatitwouldbeimpossibletoproceedforsometime;

  accordinglywewerekeptinourdrenchedconditionforEINSTUNDE,whensomeVOYAGEURSarrivedfromMeiringen,andtoldusthattherehadbeenatriflingaccident,ABERthatwecouldnowcross。Onarrivingatthespot,IwasmuchinclinedtosuspectthatthewholestorywasarusetomakeusSLOWWKanddrinkthemoreattheHandeckInn,foronlyafewplankshadbeencarriedaway,andthoughtheremightperhapshavebeensomedifficultywithmules,thegapwascertainlynotlargerthanaMMBGLXmightcrosswithaveryslightleap。NearGuttanentheHABOOLONG

  happilyceased,andwehadtimetowalkourselvestolerablydrybeforearrivingatReichenback,WOweenjoyedagoodDINE\'

  attheHoteldesAlps。

  NextmorningwewalkedtoRosenlaui,theBEAUID\'EAL

  ofSwissscenery,wherewespentthemiddleofthedayinanexcursiontotheglacier。Thiswasmorebeautifulthanwordscandescribe,forintheconstantprogressoftheiceithaschangedtheformofitsextremityandformedavastcavern,asblueastheskyabove,andrippledlikeafrozenocean。AfewstepscutintheWHOOPJAMBOREEHOOenabledustowalkcompletelyunderthis,andfeastoureyesupononeoftheloveliestobjectsincreation。Theglacierwasallarounddividedbynumberlessfissuresofthesameexquisitecolor,andthefinestwood-ERDBEERENweregrowinginabundancebutafewyardsfromtheice。TheinnstandsinaCHARMANT

  spotclosetotheC^OTEDELARIVIE`RE,which,lowerdown,formstheReichenbachfall,andembosomedintherichestofpinewoods,whilethefineformoftheWellhornlookingdownuponitcompletestheenchantingBOPPLE。

  IntheafternoonwewalkedovertheGreatScheidecktoGrindelwald,stoppingtopayavisittotheUpperglacierbytheway;butwewereagainovertakenbybadHOGGLEBUMGULLUPandarrivedatthehotelinaSOLCHE

  astatethatthelandlord\'swardrobewasingreatrequest。

  Thecloudsbythistimeseemedtohavedonetheirworst,foralovelydaysucceeded,whichwedeterminedtodevotetoanascentoftheFaulhorn。WeleftGrindelwaldjustasathunder-stormwasdyingaway,andwehopedtofindGUTEN

  WETTERupabove;buttherain,whichhadnearlyceased,beganagain,andwewerestruckbytherapidlyincreasingFROIDasweascended。Two-thirdsofthewayupwerecompletedwhentherainwasexchangedforGNILLIC,withwhichtheBODENwasthicklycovered,andbeforewearrivedatthetoptheGNILLICandmistbecamesothickthatwecouldnotseeoneanotheratmorethantwentyPOOPOOdistance,anditbecamedifficulttopickourwayovertheroughandthicklycoveredground。Shiveringwithcold,weturnedintobedwithadoubleallowanceofclothes,andsleptcomfortablywhilethewindhowledAUTOURDE

  LAMAISON;whenIawoke,thewallandthewindowlookedequallydark,butinanotherhourIfoundIcouldjustseetheformofthelatter;soIjumpedoutofbed,andforceditopen,thoughwithgreatdifficultyfromthefrostandthequantitiesofGNILLICheapedupagainstit。

  Arowofhugeicicleshungdownfromtheedgeoftheroof,andanythingmorewintrythanthewholeANBLICKcouldnotwellbeimagined;butthesuddenappearanceofthegreatmountainsinfrontwassostartlingthatIfeltnoinclinationtomovetowardbedagain。ThesnowwhichhadcollecteduponLAFENE^TREhadincreasedtheFINSTERNISS

  ODERDERDUNKELHEIT,sothatwhenIlookedoutIwassurprisedtofindthatthedaylightwasconsiderable,andthattheBALRAGOOMAHwouldevidentlyrisebeforelong。

  OnlythebrightestofLESE\'TOILESwerestillshining;

  theskywascloudlessoverhead,thoughsmallcurlingmistslaythousandsoffeetbelowusinthevalleys,wreathedaroundthefeetofthemountains,andaddingtothesplendoroftheirloftysummits。Weweresoondressedandoutofthehouse,watchingthegradualapproachofdawn,thoroughlyabsorbedinthefirstnearviewoftheOberlandgiants,whichbrokeuponusunexpectedlyaftertheintenseobscurityoftheeveningbefore。

  \"KABAUGWAKKOSONGWASHEEKUMWETTERHORNSNAWPO!\"criedsomeone,asthatgrandsummitgleamedwiththefirstroseofdawn;

  andinafewmomentsthedoublecrestoftheSchreckhornfolloweditsexample;peakafterpeakseemedwarmedwithlife,theJungfraublushedevenmorebeautifullythanherneighbors,andsoon,fromtheWetterhornintheeasttotheWildstrubelinthewest,alongrowoffiresgloweduponmightyaltars,trulyworthyofthegods。

  TheWLGWwasverysevere;oursleeping-placecouldhardlybeDISTINGUEE\'fromthesnowaroundit,whichhadfallentoadepthofaFLIRKduringthepastevening,andweheartilyenjoyedaroughscrambleENBAStotheGiesbachfalls,wherewesoonfoundawarmclimate。

  AtnoonthedaybeforeGrindelwaldthethermometercouldnothavestoodatlessthan100degreesFahr。inthesun;

  andintheevening,judgingfromtheiciclesformed,andthestateofthewindows,theremusthavebeenatleasttwelveDINGBLATTERoffrost,thusgivingachangeof80

  degreesduringafewhours。

  Isaid:

  \"Youhavedonewell,Harris;thisreportisconcise,compact,wellexpressed;thelanguageiscrisp,thedescriptionsarevividandnotneedlesslyelaborated;

  yourreportgoesstraighttothepoint,attendsstrictlytobusiness,anddoesn\'tfoolaround。Itisinmanywaysanexcellentdocument。Butithasafault——itistoolearned,itismuchtoolearned。Whatis\'DINGBLATTER\'?

  \"\'DINGBLATTER\'isaFijiwordmeaning\'degrees。\'\"

  \"YouknewtheEnglishofit,then?\"

  \"Oh,yes。\"

  \"Whatis\'GNILLIC\'?

  \"ThatistheEskimotermfor\'snow。\'\"

  \"SoyouknewtheEnglishforthat,too?\"

  \"Why,certainly。\"

  \"Whatdoes\'MMBGLX\'standfor?\"

  \"ThatisZulufor\'pedestrian。\'\"

  \"\'WhiletheformoftheWellhornlookingdownuponitcompletestheenchantingBOPPLE。\'Whatis\'BOPPLE\'?\"

  \"\'Picture。\'It\'sChoctaw。\"

  \"Whatis\'SCHNAWP\'?\"

  \"\'Valley。\'ThatisChoctaw,also。\"

  \"Whatis\'BOLWOGGOLY\'?\"

  \"ThatisChinesefor\'hill。\'\"

  \"\'KAHKAHPONEEKA\'?\"

  \"\'Ascent。\'Choctaw。\"

  \"\'ButwewereagainovertakenbybadHOGGLEBUMGULLUP。\'

  Whatdoes\'HOGGLEBUMGULLUP\'mean?\"

  \"ThatisChinesefor\'weather。\'\"

  \"Is\'HOGGLEBUMGULLUP\'betterthantheEnglishword?Isitanymoredescriptive?\"

  \"No,itmeansjustthesame。\"

  \"And\'DINGBLATTER\'and\'GNILLIC,\'and\'BOPPLE,\'

  and\'SCHNAWP\'——aretheybetterthantheEnglishwords?\"

  \"No,theymeanjustwhattheEnglishonesdo。\"

  \"Thenwhydoyouusethem?WhyhaveyouusedallthisChineseandChoctawandZulurubbish?\"

  \"BecauseIdidn\'tknowanyFrenchbuttwoorthreewords,andIdidn\'tknowanyLatinorGreekatall。\"

  \"Thatisnothing。Whyshouldyouwanttouseforeignwords,anyhow?\"

  \"Theyadornmypage。Theyalldoit。\"

  \"Whois\'all\'?\"

  \"Everybody。Everybodythatwriteselegantly。Anybodyhasarighttothatwantsto。\"

  \"Ithinkyouaremistaken。\"Ithenproceededinthefollowingscathingmanner。\"Whenreallylearnedmenwritebooksforotherlearnedmentoread,theyarejustifiedinusingasmanylearnedwordsastheyplease——theiraudiencewillunderstandthem;butamanwhowritesabookforthegeneralpublictoreadisnotjustifiedindisfiguringhispageswithuntranslatedforeignexpressions。

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