A vast mass of stone had detached itself
from the overhanging cliff at the top, and falling on the steep slope
had broken into a hundred pieces. These went bounding down the side in
long leaps. Wherever one struck a cloud of powdered stone leaped into
the air, till the whole mountain side smoked and thundered with the
grand cannonade. The omen augured to me that the mountain was going to
do its best for our reception and entertainment. Fortunately these
rock avalanches occur on the steep, unapproachable sides, and not at
the angle where men climb.
How the mountain grew upon us as we clung to its sides! When the great
objects below had changed to littleness the heights above seemed
greater than ever. At half past four we came to a perpendicular height
of twenty feet, with a slight slope above. Down this precipice hung a
rope; there was also an occasional projection of an inch or two of
stone for the mailed foot. At the top, on a little shelf, under
hundreds of feet of overhanging rock, some stones had been built round
and over a little space for passing the night. The rude cabin occupied
all the width of the shelf, so that passing to its other end there was
not room to walk without holding on by one's hands in the crevices of
the wall. We were now at home; had taken nine hours to do what could
be done in eight.
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