It is always much less dangerous to mount an acclivity than to go down it.  The upward progress is easily enough arrested, while that in the other direction is frequently too rapid to be under perfect command.  Roswell felt the truth of this, and would have proposed a delay until the atmosphere became clear again, but it struck him that this was not likely to occur very soon.  He followed Daggett, therefore, though reluctantly, and with due caution.  Stimson brought up the rear.

For the first ten minutes our adventurers got along without any great difficulty.  They found the precise point at which they had reached the summit of the mountain, and began to descend.  It was soon apparent that great caution must be used, the snow rendering the footing slippery, Daggett, however, was a bold and hot-blooded man when in motion, and he preceded the party some little distance, calling out to those behind him to come on without fear.  This the last did, though it was with a good deal more caution than was observed by their leader.  At length, all three reached a spot where it seemed they could not overcome the difficulties.  Beneath them was the smooth face of a rock already covered with snow, while they could not see far enough in advance to ascertain in what this inclined plane terminated.  Daggett, however, insisted that he knew the spot; that they had passed up it.  There was a broad shelf a short distance below them; and once on that shelf, it would be necessary to make a considerable circuit in order to reach a certain ravine, down which the path would be reasonably easy.  All remembered the shelf and the ravine; the question was merely whether the first lay beneath them, and as near as Daggett supposed.  A mistaken confidence beset the last, and he carried this feeling so far as to decline taking an end of a line which Roswell threw to him, but seated himself on the snow and slid downward, passing almost immediately out of sight.

“What has become of him?” demanded Roswell, endeavouring to pierce the air by straining his eye-balls.  “He is not to be seen!”

“Hold on to the line, sir, and give me the other end of it; I will go and see,” answered Stimson.

It being obviously the most hazardous to remain to the last, and descend without the support of one above him, Roswell acquiesced in this proposal, lowering the boat-steerer down the rock, until he too was hid from his sight.  But, though out of sight in that dense snow-storm, Stimson was not so distant as to be beyond the reach of the voice.

“Go more to the right, sir,” called out the seaman, “and steady me with the line along with you.”

This was done, the walking being sufficiently secure at the elevation where Roswell was.  Presently, Stimson shook the line, and called out again.

“That will do, Captain Gar’ner,” he said.  “I am on the shelf now, and have pretty good footing.  Lay the line down on the snow, sir, and slide as slowly as you can; mind and keep close at its side.  I’ll stand by to fetch you up.”