we came to the side of a more formidable current. My guide
walked along its edge until he reached its least turbulent portion.
Halting, he said, 'This is our greatest difficulty; if we can cross
here, we shall get far towards the Horseshoe.'

He waded in. It evidently required all his strength to steady him.
The water rose above his loins, and it foamed still higher. He had to
search for footing, amid unseen boulders, against which the torrent
rose violently. He struggled and swayed, but he struggled
successfully, and finally reached the shallower water at the other
side. Stretching out his arm, he said to me, 'Now come on.' I looked
down the torrent, as it' rushed to the river below, which was seething
with the tumult of the cataract. De Saussure recommended the
inspection of Alpine dangers, with the view of making them familiar to
the eye before they are encountered; and it is a wholesome custom in
places of difficulty to put the possibility of an accident clearly
before the mind, and to decide beforehand what ought to be done should
the accident occur. Thus wound up in the present instance, I entered
the water. Even where it was not more than knee-deep, its power was
manifest. As it rose around me, I sought to split the torrent by
presenting a side to it; but the insecurity of the footing enabled it
to grasp my loins, twist me fairly round, and bring its impetus to
bear upon my back. Further struggle was impossible; and feeling my
balance hopelessly gone, I turned, flung myself towards the bank just
quitted, and was instantly, as expected, swept into shallower water.

The oilcloth covering was a great incumbrance; it had been made for a
much stouter man, and, standing upright after my submersion, my legs
occupied the centre of two bags of water. My guide exhorted me to try
again. Prudence was at my elbow, whispering dissuasion; but, taking
everything into account, it appeared more immoral to retreat than to
proceed. Instructed by the first misadventure, I once more entered
the stream. Had the alpenstock been of iron it might have helped me;
but, as it was, the tendency of the water to sweep it out of my hands
rendered it worse than useless. I, however, clung to it by habit.
Again the torrent rose, and again I wavered; but, by keeping the left
hip well against it, I remained upright, and at length grasped the
hand of my leader at the other side. He laughed pleasantly. The
first victory was gained, and