A PLEASURABLE SENSATION. 237

in a chink of the ledge, the beautiful and dazzling
blossom of the little Gentiana nivalis, and, stopping
the guides while I gathered it, I expressed great
satisfaction in meeting with this lovely little flower
on such a lonely spot. And I could scarcely help
smiling at the simplicity of these honest people,
who from that moment, whenever the difficulties
increased, endeavoured to divert my attention by
pointing out or looking for another specimen. We
had proceeded good part of the way, when, to my
dismay, the ledge, narrow as it was, became per-
ceptibly narrower, and at the distance of a yard or
two in advance I observed a point where it seemed
to run to nothing, interrupted by a protuberant
rock. I said nothing, waiting the result in silence.
The guide before me, when he reached the point,
threw one foot round the projection, till it was
firmly placed, and, holding on the rock, then
brought up the other. What wasI todo? Like
Arthur Philipson’s guide Antonio, I could only
say, ‘I was no goat-hunter, and had no wings to
transport me from cliff to cliff like a raven;’ ‘I
cannot perform that feat, said I to the guide; ‘I
shall miss the invisible footing on the other side,
and—then!’ They were prepared for the case.
One of them happened to have a short staff; this
was handed forward, and formed a slight rail, while
the other, stooping down, seized my foot, and,