1861]

THE WEISSHOEN.

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men managed to get us a moderate draught. Thusrefreshed we continued the descent. I was halffamished, for my solid nutriment during the dayconsisted solely of part of a box of meat lozengesgiven to me by Mr. Hawkins. Bennen and myselfdescended the mountain deliberately, and after manywindings emerged upon the valley, and reached thehotel a little before 11 p.m. I had a basin of broth,not made according to Liebig, and a piece of muttonboiled probably for the fifth time. Fortified bythese, and comforted by a warm footbath, I wentto bed, where six hours’ sound sleep chased away allconsciousness of fatigue. I was astonished on themorrow to find the loose atoms of my body knittedso firmly by so brief a rest. Up to my attempt uponthe Weisshorn I had felt more or less dilapidated,but here all weakness ended, and during my subse-quent stay in Switzerland I was unacquainted withinfirmity.

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