“My mind is made up.”
Something in my tone struck him: and when he
glanced at my eye and read what was written there,
his face paled perceptibly. He hesitated a moment,
then said:
“Speak.”
I answered, with perfect calmness:
“I will ascend the Riffelberg.”
If I had shot my poor friend he could not have fallen
from his chair more suddenly. If I had been
his father he could not have pleaded harder to get
me to give up my purpose. But I turned a deaf
ear to all he said. When he perceived at last
that nothing could alter my determination, he ceased
to urge, and for a while the deep silence was broken
only by his sobs. I sat in marble resolution,
with my eyes fixed upon vacancy, for in spirit I was
already wrestling with the perils of the mountains,
and my friend sat gazing at me in adoring admiration
through his tears. At last he threw himself upon
me in a loving embrace and exclaimed in broken tones:
“Your Harris will never desert you. We
will die together.”
I cheered the noble fellow with praises, and soon
his fears were forgotten and he was eager for the
adventure. He wanted to summon the guides at
once and leave at two in the morning, as he supposed
the custom was; but I explained that nobody was looking
at that hour; and that the start in the dark was not
usually made from the village but from the first night’s
resting-place on the mountain side. I said we
would leave the village at 3 or 4 P.M. on the morrow;
meantime he could notify the guides, and also let
the public know of the attempt which we proposed to
make.
I went to bed, but not to sleep. No man can
sleep when he is about to undertake one of these Alpine
exploits. I tossed feverishly all night long,
and was glad enough when I heard the clock strike
half past eleven and knew it was time to get up for
dinner. I rose, jaded and rusty, and went to
the noon meal, where I found myself the center of
interest and curiosity; for the news was already abroad.
It is not easy to eat calmly when you are a lion; but
it is very pleasant, nevertheless.
As usual, at Zermatt, when a great ascent is about
to be undertaken, everybody, native and foreign, laid
aside his own projects and took up a good position
to observe the start. The expedition consisted
of 198 persons, including the mules; or 205, including
the cows. As follows:
Myself 1 Veterinary Surgeon Mr. Harris 1 Butler 17
Guides 12 Waiters 4 Surgeons 1 Footman 1 Geologist
1 Barber 1 Botanist 1 Head Cook 3 Chaplains 9 Assistants
15 Barkeepers 1 Confectionery Artist 1 Latinist
Transportation, etc.
27 Porters 3 Coarse Washers and Ironers 44 Mules 1
Fine ditto 44 Muleteers 7 Cows 2 Milkers
Total, 154 men, 51 animals. Grand Total, 205.
