36 FROM THE ALPS TO THE ANDES
some of my comrades, and how the latter had
succumbed on the way, overpowered by the
cold. It had seemed as if I should have to
abandon them to certain death, but all at
once it occurred to me to belabour them
soundly, and a most efficacious remedy this
proved! My companions felt their circula-
tion restored, to say nothing of their tempers,
loaded me with reproaches, but resumed
their march, and I was happy at having
averted, at whatever cost, a certain disaster.
I did as much now for my patron who was
immediately on his feet, felt the blood
coursing through his veins, heaped a torrent
of abuse on me, saying that I had ceased to
act as his guide, and threatened to report
me for ill-treatment. But we pursued our
way without further incident and reached
Zermatt about eleven o’clock at night, or
rather my employer arrived there first, for
I did not see him again till the next
morning.
The other two expeditions that we had left
behind had not yet arrived. Back at the hotel,
I began to feel bad times were probably in
store for me; indeed, it was difficult not to
feel much apprehension as to the conse-
quences of my conduct. Harly the next