clean rock formed in our case the desired safety-key for the opening of the passage. The G.C. found that a short reach just put this key out of his grasp. No doubt it might have been gained by a slight jump, but the place is too vertical and the balance too fine. It ought not to be risked. A gentle heave from the powerful shoulder of the C.C. and the key was in hand. There is a good hitch in a little chimney higher up, and the rest of the party soon followed, the C.C. finding that his extra height enabled him to reach the key without any jump. Contouring a rounded mossy rib demanding care and balance, we again entered the gully bed. Soon came the third and last pitch. This was of quite a different character. A long, slanting tunnel at an angle, not very great indeed, but enough to render the loose stones with which it was superabundantly lined very restless. They appeared eager, under the mean excuse of gravityas if that was any excuse for such conduct-to fiercely attack the party. One could almost think they could see real malignant little mountain gnomes heaving and pushing behind the seldom-ceasing stream of rock fragments. By keeping close, catching the blocks before they got properly started, damming them up till the others got clear, and then letting them go with a rush, we at last crawled out at the exit. This was a neat green hole in the turf some way back from the cliff edge. Then we saw the cairn. However, we did not grudge it to the then unknown pioneers. We had enjoyed the climb to the full, and the uncertainty of the issue had kept up our interest to the very last. A quarter of an hour later we stood on the summit of the Brack. To the N., N.W., and N.E. all was clear, and many a snow-capped Highland Ben, even to the great monarch of them all, was clearly visible. S., S.W., and W. almost all the sun-bathed landscape was obliterated by a thin brown veil. What could it be? Not Glasgow smoke? But that it was. the great city by a faint S.E. breeze, it Borne slowly off covered such an extent of Scotland as one would hardly have believed possible. But one could turn the back on this and gaze on the dazzling snows of Ben More, and nearer admire the almost Fujiyama-like outline of Ben Ime. This peak's form, framed in the black walls of the gully, had been one of our greatest scenic pleasures during the whole climb. |