spite of the interruptions thus caused, the lower stake was fixed in
a few minutes. The Professor then swung his axe vigorously, and began
to cut an oblique stair-case in the ice up the sheer face of the
precipice.

In some respects the danger to the bold adventurer was now not so great
because, being, as it were, flat against the ice-cliffs, falling rocks
were more likely, by striking some projection, to bound beyond him.
Still there was the danger of deflected shots, and when, by cutting a
succession of notches in which to place one foot at a time, he had
ascended to the height of an average three-storey house, the danger of
losing his balance or slipping a foot became very great indeed. But the
man of science persevered in doing what he conceived to be his duty with
as much coolness as if he were the leader of a forlorn hope. Following
the example of experienced ice-men on steep places, he took good care to
make the notches or steps slope a little inwards, never lifted his foot
from one step until the next was ready, and never swung his axe until
his balance was perfectly secured. Having gained a height of about
thirty feet, he pierced a hole with his auger, fastened a stake in it,
and descended amid a heavy cannonade of boulders and a smart fire of
smaller _debris_.

During the whole proceeding Lawrence directed his friend as to the
placing of the stake, and watched with surprise as well as anxiety,
while Captain Wopper kept on shouting unintelligible words of warning in
a state of extreme agitation. The guide returned just in time to see
this part of the work completed, and to remonstrate gravely with the
Professor on his reckless conduct.

"`All's well that ends well,' Antoine, as a great poet says," replied
the Professor, with one of his most genial smiles. "We must run some
risk in the pursuit of scientific investigation. Now then, Lawrence, I
hope you have got the three stakes in the same line--let me see."

Applying his eye to the theodolite, he found that the stakes were in an
exactly perpendicular line, one above another. He then carefully marked
the spot occupied by the instrument and thus completed his labours for
that time.

We may add here in passing that next day he returned to the same place,
and found that in twenty-four hours the bottom stake had moved downwards
a little more than two inches, the middle stake had descended a little
more than three, and the upper stake exactly six inches.