“Mont Blanc, monsieur; look there...”
And the guide pointed to the extreme top of the highest peak, where, like a plume, a white vapour floated toward Italy.
“Et autremain, my good friend, when the Mont Blanc smokes his pipe, what does that mean?”
“It means, monsieur, that there is a terrible wind on the summit, and a snow-storm which will be down upon us before long. And I tell you, that’s dangerous.”
“Let us go back,” said Bompard, turning green; and Tartarin added:—
“Yes, yes, certainly; no false vanity, of course.”
But here the Swedish student interfered. He had paid his money to be taken to the top of Mont Blanc, and nothing should prevent his getting there. He would go alone, if no one would accompany him. “Cowards! cowards!” he added, turning to the guides; and he uttered the insult in the same ghostly voice with which he had roused himself just before to suicide.
“You shall see if we are cowards... Fasten to the rope and forward!” cried the head guide. This time, it was Bompard who protested energetically. He had had enough, and he wanted to be taken back. Tartarin supported him vigorously.
“You see very well that that young man is insane...” he said, pointing to the Swede, who had already started with great strides through the heavy snow-flakes which the wind was beginning to whirl on all sides. But nothing could stop the men who had just been called cowards. The marmots were now wide-awake and heroic. Tartarin could not even obtain a conductor to take him back with Bompard to the Grands-Mulets. Besides, the way was very easy; three hours’ march, counting a detour of twenty minutes to get round that roture, if they were afraid to go through it alone.
“Outre! yes, we are afraid of it...” said Bompard, without the slightest shame; and the two parties separated.