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and floated on the shadowy waves。
Darkness； outstripping some visitors on mules； had risen thus to
the rough convent walls； when those travellers were yet climbing the
mountain。 As the heat of the glowing day when they had stopped to drink
at the streams of melted ice and snow； was changed to the searching cold
of the frosty rarefied night air at a great height； so the fresh beauty
of the lower journey had yielded to barrenness and desolation。 A craggy
track； up which the mules in single file scrambled and turned from
block to block； as though they were ascending the broken staircase of
a gigantic ruin； was their way now。 No trees were to be seen； nor any
vegetable growth save a poor brown scrubby moss； freezing in the chinks
of rock。 Blackened skeleton arms of wood by the wayside pointed upward
to the convent as if the ghosts of former travellers overwhelmed by the
snow haunted the scene of their distress。 Icicle…hung caves and cellars
built for refuges from sudden storms； were like so many whispers of the
perils of the place； never…resting wreaths and mazes of mist wandered
about； hunted by a moaning wind； and snow； the besetting danger of the
mountain； against which all its defences were taken； drifted sharply
down。
The file of mules； jaded by their day's work； turned and wound slowly
up the deep ascent； the foremost led by a guide on foot； in his
broad…brimmed hat and round jacket； carrying a mountain staff or two
upon his shoulder； with whom another guide conversed。 There was no
speaking among the string of riders。 The sharp cold； the fatigue of the
journey； and a new sensation of a catching in the breath； partly as if
they had just emerged from very clear crisp water； and partly as if they
had been sobbing； kept them silent。
At length； a light on the summit of the rocky staircase gleamed through
the snow and mist。 The guides called to the mules； the mules pricked up
their drooping heads； the travellers' tongues were loosened； and in a
sudden burst of slipping； climbing； jingling； clinking； and talking；
they arrived at the convent door。
Other mules had arrived not long before； some with peasant riders and
some with goods； and had trodden the snow about the door into a pool
of mud。 Riding…saddles and bridles； pack…saddles and strings of bells；
mules and men； lanterns； torches； sacks； provender； barrels； cheeses；
kegs of honey and butter； straw bundles and packages of many shapes；
were crowded confusedly together in this thaire and about the
steps。 Up here in the clouds； everything was seen through cloud； and
seemed dissolving into cloud。 The breath of the men was cloud； the
breath of the mules was cloud； the lights were encircled by cloud；
speakers close at hand were not seen for cloud； though their voices and
all other sounds were surprisingly clear。 Of the cloudy line of mules
hastily tied to rings in the wall； one would bite another； or kick
another； and then the whole mist would be disturbed： with men diving
into it； and cries of men and beasts ing out of it； and no bystander
discerning what was wrong。 In the midst of this； the great stable of the
convent； occupying the basement story and entered by the basement door；
outside which all the disorder was； poured forth its contribution of
cloud； as if the whole rugged edifice were filled with nothing else；
and would collapse as soon as it had emptied itself； leaving the snow to
fall upon the bare mountain summit。
While all this noise and hurry were rife among the living travellers；
there； too； silently assembled in a grated house half…a…dozen paces
removed； with the same cloud enfolding them and the same snow flakes
drifting in upon them； were the dead travellers found upon the mountain。
The mother； storm…belated many winters ago； still standing in the corner
with her baby at her breast； the man who had frozen with his arm raised
to his mouth in fear or hunger； still pressing it with his dry lips
after years and years。 An awful pany； mysteriously e together！ A
wild destiny for that mother to have foreseen！ 'Surrounded by so many
and such panions upon whom I never looked； and never shall look；
I and my child will dwell together inseparable； on the Great Saint
Bernard； outlasting generations who will e to see us； and will never
know our name； or one word of our story but the end。'
The living travellers thought little or nothing of the dead just then。
They thought much more of alighting at the convent door； and warming
themselves at the convent fire。 Disengaged from the turmoil； which was
already calming down as the crowd of mules began to be bestowed in the
stable； they hurried shivering up the steps and into the building。 There
was a smell within； ing up from the floor； of tethered beasts； like
the smell of a menagerie of wild animals。 There were strong arched
galleries within； huge stone piers； great staircases； and thick walls
pierced with small sunken windows……fortifications against the mountain
storms； as if they had been human enemies。 There were gloomy vaulted
sleeping…rooms within； intensely cold； but clean and hospitably prepared
for guests。 Finally； there was a parlour for guests to sit in and sup
in； where a table was already laid； and where a blazing fire shone red
and high。
In this room； after having had their quarters for the night allotted
to them by two young Fathers； the travellers presently drew round the
hearth。 They were in three parties； of whom the first； as the most
numerous and important； was the slowest； and had been overtaken by
one of the others on the way up。 It consisted of an elderly lady； two
grey…haired gentlemen； two young ladies； and their brother。 These were
attended （not to mention four guides）； by a courier； two footmen； and
two waiting…maids： which strong body of inconvenience was acmodated
elsewhere under the same roof。 The party that had overtaken them； and
followed in their train； consisted of only three members： one lady and
two gentlemen。 The third party； which had ascended from the valley
on the Italian side of the Pass； and had arrived first； were four in
number： a plethoric； hungry； and silent German tutor in spectacles； on
a tour with three young men； his pupils； all plethoric； hungry； and
silent； and all in spectacles。
These three groups sat round the fire eyeing each other drily； and
waiting for supper。 Only one among them； one of the gentlemen belonging
to the party of three； made advances towards conversation。 Throwing out
his lines for the Chief of the important tribe； while addressing himself
to his own panions； he remarked； in a tone of voice which included
all the pany if they chose to be included； that it had been a long
day； and that he felt for the ladies。 That he feared one of the
young ladies was not a strong or accustomed traveller； and had been
over…fatigued two or three hours ago。 That he had observed； from his
station in the rear； that she sat her mule as if she were exhausted。
That he had； twice or thrice afterwards； done himself the honour of
inquiring of one of the guides； when he fell behind； how the lady did。
That he had been enchanted to learn that she had recovered her spirits；
and that it had been but a passing disfort。 That he trusted （by this
time he had secured the eyes of the Chief； and addressed him） he might
be permitted to express his hope that she was now none the worse； and
that she would not regret having made the journey。
'My daughter； I am obliged to you； sir；' returned the Chief； 'is quite
restored； and has been greatly interested。'
'New to mountains； perhaps？' said the insinuating traveller。
'New to……ha……to mountains；' said the Chief。
'But you are familiar with them； sir？' the insinuating traveller
assumed。
'I am……hum……tolerably familiar。 Not of late years。 Not of late years；'
replied the Chief； with a flourish of his hand。
The insinuating traveller； acknowledging the flourish with an
inclination of his head； passed from the Chief to the second young lady；
who had not yet been referred to otherwise than as one of the ladies in
whose behalf he felt so sensitive an interest。
He hoped she was not inmoded by the fatigues of the day。
'Inmoded； certainly；' returned the young lady； 'but not tired。'
The insinuating traveller plimented her on the justice of the
distinction。 It was what he had meant to say。 Every lady must doubtless
be inmoded by having to do with that proverbially unacmodating
animal； the mule。
'We have had； of course；' said the young lady； who was rather reserved
and haughty； 'to leave the carriages and fourgon at Martigny。 And the
impossibility of bringing anything that one wants to this inaccessible
place； and the necessity of leaving every fort behind； is not
convenient。'
'A savage place indeed；' said the insinuating traveller。
The elderly lady； who was a model of accurate dressing； and whose manner
was perfect； considered as a piece of machinery； here interposed a
remark in a low soft voice。
'But； like other inconvenient places；' she observed； 'it must be seen。
As a place much spoken of； it is necessary to see it。'
'O！ I have not the least objection to seeing it； I assure you； Mrs
General；' returned the oth