Michael Croz had laid aside his axe and, in order to give Mr. Hadow greater security, was absolutely taking hold of his legs, and putting his feet, one by one, into their proper positions. As far as I know, no one was actually descending. I cannot speak with certainty, because the two leading men were partially hidden from my sight by an intervening mass of rock; but it is my belief, from the movements of their shoulders, that Croz, having done as I have said, was in the act of turning round to go down a step or two himself. At this moment Mr. Hadow slipped, fell against him, and knocked him over. I heard one startled exclamation from Croz, then saw him and Mr. Hadow flying downwards; in another moment Hudson was dragged from his steps, and Lord Francis Douglas immediately after him. All this was the work of a moment. Immediately we heard Croz"s exclamation, old Peter and I planted ourselves as firmly as the rocks would permit; the rope was taut between us, and the jerk came on us both as one man. We held; but the rope broke midway between Taugwalder and Lord Francis Douglas. For a few seconds we saw our unfortunate companions sliding downwards on their backs, and spreading out their hands, endeavouring to save themselves. They passed from our sight uninjured, disappeared one by one, and fell from precipice to precipice on to the Matterhorn glacier nearly four thousand feet below. From the moment the rope broke it was impossible to help them.
So perished our comrades! For a space of half an hour we remained on the spot without moving a single step. The two men, paralysed by terror, cried like infants, and trembled in such a manner as to threaten us with the fate of the others.
For more than two hours afterwards I thought almost every moment that the next would be my last; for the Taugwalders, utterly unnerved, were not only incapable of giving assistance, but were in such a state that a slip might have been expected from them at any moment. After a time, we were able to do that which should have been done at first, and fixed rope to firm rocks, in addition to being tied together. These ropes were cut from time to time, and were left behind. Even with their assurance the men were afraid to proceed, and several times old Peter turned with ashy face and faltering limbs, and said, with terrible emphasis, " I cannot. "At 6 p.m. we arrived at the snow upon the ridge descending towards Zermatt, and all peril was over. We frequently looked, but in vain, for traces of our unfortunate companions; we bent over the ridge and cried to them, but no sound returned. Convinced at last that they were within neither sight nor hearing, we ceased from our useless efforts; and, too cast down for speech, silently gathered up our things and the little effects of those who were lost, preparatory to continuing the descent.
Edward Whymper, in Scrambles Amongst the AlpsAuthor-Edward Whymper (1840-1911), born in London, was famous for his mountaineering exploits. In 1860-69 he climbed for thefirst time several peaks in the Alps, including the Matterhorn. In 1867 and 1872 he made valuable geological discoveries in North Greenland. In 1879-80 he travelled in the high Andes (including the ascent of Chimborazo and other peaks). His books are all about travel and mountaineering :- Scrambles Amongst the Alps, Travels Amongst the Great Andes, and Zermatt and the Matterhorn.
General Notes.-It will help you to follow the story more clearly ifyou find in your atlas the Matterhorn, Zermatt, and Briel. Make a list of mountaineering words used in the story, giving what you think is the meaning of each. "One tourist and one native walked together-who were the tourists and who the natives? Who were not killed on this expedition ? Can you give four or five probable reasons why Whymper liked mountaineering of this kind?
The Matterhorn
LESSON 44
THE FORSAkEN mERmAN
Come, dear children, let us away : Down and away below!
Now my brothers call from the bay; Now the great winds shoreward blow; Now the salt tides seaward flow;Now the wild white horses play, Champ and chafe and toss in the spray. Children dear, let us away!
This way, this way!
Call her once before you go, Call once yet.
In a voice that she will know : " Margaret ! Margaret! "Children"s voices should be dear (Call once more) to a mother"s ear: Children"s voices, wild with pain- Surely she will come again.
Call her once and come away;
This way, this way!
"Mother dear, we cannot stay. "
The wild white horses foam and fret. Margaret! Margaret !
Come, dear children, come away down! Call no more!
One last look at the white-walled town
And the little grey church on the windy shore. Then come down.
She will not come, though you call all day. Come away, come away!
Children dear, was it yesterday
We heard the sweet bells over the bay ? In the caverns where we lay,Through the surf and through the swell, The far-off sound of a silver bell ?
Sand-strewn caverns, cool and deep, Where the winds are all asleep;Where the spent lights quiver and gleam; Where the salt weed sways in the stream; Where the sea-beasts, ranged all round, Feed in the ooze of their pasture-ground; Where the sea-snakes coil and twine, Dry their mail, and bask in the brine;Where great whales come sailing by, Sail and sail, with unshut eye,Drawn by John Rowell.
" Call her once and come away. "
Round the world for ever and ay? When did music come this way ? Children dear, was it yesterday?
Children dear, was it yesterday (Call yet once) that she went away ? Once she sate with you and me,On a red-gold throne in the heart of the sea, And the youngest sate on her knee.
She combed its bright hair, and she tended it well, When down swung the sound of the far-off bell.
She sighed, she looked up through the clear, green sea; She said, "I must go, for my kinsfolk pray,In the little grey church on the shore to-day. "Twill be Easter-time in the world-ah me!
And I lose my poor soul, Merman, here with thee. " I said, " Go up, dear heart, through the waves!