The Argosy — page 339: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

316 An Eventful Fourney to Rome. tobacco, which was freely distributed. I had also a flask of Scotch whisky. I passed the night, in common with the others, on the bare earthen floor. But fortunately, with the aid of our friend the Scotsman and a nip of whisky, I obtained the cushions from the carriage, and utilised them in making up a bed for my wife. The next morning (Christmas Day) an essay of one of our fellow- voyageurs—a young Frenchman, of very poor physique—nearly led to a fatal termination. He had announced his intention of trying to descend the mountain to San Martino, but had not ventured mcre than two hundred yards from the Refuge when he was unable to go forward or return. Had not my wife observed him from the little window, staggering and tossing his arms in a curious way, and appa- rently trying to attract attention by shouting—although no sound came from his lips—he would certainly have been lost. As it was, we had some difficulty in bringing him back to the hut, owing to the intense cold and wind. He told me subsequently— after being restored to consciousness with the aid of our Scotch whisky—that the intense cold had suddenly deprived him of ail strength. The snow appeared to turn a brilliant orange colour. He tried to attract the attention of those in the hut, but was unable to utter a sound, and finally fell down in the snow unconscious. His appearance was ghastly when rescued, but some vigorous rubbing and a little spirit soon brought him round. | This incident caused some excitement amongst our party, besides showing us the impossibility of getting away without aid; and our spirits were not by any means raised by the assurance of the guards that we might have to remain several days in our present position. The morning was wonderfully clear and bright with a brilliant sun, and the effect of light and shade on the solitary mountain gorges so magnificent, that, although we were not in the best frame of mind for appreciating the beauties of nature, all felt the extreme grandeur and solemnity of the scene. But all feelings of sentiment quickly gave way to one of eager and unexpected satisfaction, when some twenty muleteers, with sledges, suddenly appeared in sight, on their way to release us. ‘The arriva} of these men over the snow formed a perfect picture, and one I shal} not readily forget. ‘They wore long woollen coats, tied round the waist, each with hoods, leaving but a small portion of the face visible ; their legs were cased in thick rolls of flannel; bags of skin, with the fur inside, did duty for gloves. As they came towards us, their breath steaming in the frosty air and forming icicles on their moustaches and beards, their stalwart appearance elicited a cheer and a shout of welcome as they entered the Refuge. An hour or so afterwards we found ourselves at San Martino, where a train was waiting to convey us to Susa., CORMIELIOO_ KS. (€©)