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SOMETHING LIKE A SCRAPE.
197
word or glance of sympathy, would be worse than being
shot down and galloped over on a battle-field.
I know of how little avail are all these prudent
reflections: when the fresh mountain air is blowing
in one’s face and the early day is wakening, a reckless
self-reliance is engendered, and all thoughts of possible
suffering and weakness are driven out by the sense of
iron strength that the purified blood carries with it to
every limb. These influences, and the prospect of a
vigorous battle with great obstacles, tempt one’s footsteps
from the dusty road to the crisp springing heather and
the wild craggy mountain peaks. I never start upon
a walk in a mountainous country without making sage
resolutions to be most cautious; but all these wrise
resolves are broken before half the journey is done.
On this occasion, I soon found that I had got into
sometliing like a scrape; for, on reaching the end of the
little valley, or gorge, it was evident that it did not lead
to the Vaage Vand, with the church upon its banks,
as marked in my map, but to a long dreary valley with
a small stream winding through it, having 110 lake or
any traces of humanity. It was evident that I had
gone altogether wrong; and the possibility that it might
be myself, as well as the map, that made the mistake,
was suggested, but not without an inward struggle; for
we all have our weaknesses and vanities, and one of
mine is that I am a skilful mountaineer, and can find
my way without guides over the wildest and most
difficult of passable passes. I have done it often in the
Swiss and Tyrolese Alps, even where glaciers stand
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