EXPLORING THE MOUNTAINS 151

who were seeking it elsewhere, but good St. Anthony,”’
assures Father Morice.

Immediately, as the sun was setting behind the
mountains, the trio marched off at a great speed, so
much so, indeed, that in no time the poor missionary
was left behind, with no guide in sight to go by.
Presently, the lonely wayfarer reached a sandy ravine
descending to the river from a fragment of glacier hang-
ing up on top. To understand what then happened, it
must be said that the main bulk of that glacier had
apparently somehow detached itself from its upper
end and, darting down with tremendous force, had
ripped and deepened the surface of the ravine which,
for a wonder, was there of a sandy nature. This was
of as light and movable material as the whole was steep.
Where could the Indians have crossed it?

The forlorn traveller went down, then up, in search
of their tracks; but tono purpose. Then, as it was get-
ting late, he had to resign himself to the most perilous
undertaking of his life. Taking his courage in both
hands, he attempted to run across the edges of the
almost perpendicular ravine. In less time than it takes
to write it, he found himself hanging between heaven
and earth, four thousand feet above the raging torrent
in the valley, and convulsively clutching a stone, which
most providentially emerged a little from the gravelly
surface.

He had slipped, sending down clouds of sand too
soft to hold him, until he had caught hold of that most
welcome stone.

And now what was he to do? He begged’ for his
life of God and, after some hesitation and fervent
prayer, frantically rushed to the other side. Having

reached this, somewhat lower down, he cowered on the
P.M—11