The Rocky Mountain Wonderland — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
The Rocky Mountain Wonderland
John Stuart Mill · en
Occasionally a climber became hysterical and I had my hands full
keeping the afflicted within bounds. Mountain ledges are not good
places for hysterical performances. One day, when a reverend gentleman
and his two daughters were nearing the top, the young ladies and
myself came out upon the Narrows a few lengths ahead of their father.
The ladies were almost exhausted and were climbing on sheer nerve. The
stupendous view revealed from the Narrows overwhelmed them, and both
became hysterical at once. It was no place for ceremony; and as it was
rather cramped for two performances at once, I pushed the feet from
beneath one young lady, tripped the other on top of her,--and sat down
on both! They struggled, laughed, and cried, and had just calmed down
when the father came round the rocks upon us. His face vividly and
swiftly expressed three or four kinds of anger before he grasped the
situation. Fearing that he might jump on me in turn, or that he might
"get them" too, I watched him without a word. Finally he took in the
entire situation, and said with a smile, "Well, I don't know whether
it's my move or not!"
Twice, while guiding, I broke my lifelong rule never to take a tip.
One tip had with it a surprise to redeem the taking. It came from the
gentleman who had organized the party. On the way up he begged leave
to set the pace and to lead the party to the top. He appeared
sensible, but I made a blunder by consenting to the arrangement, for
his pace was too rapid, and at Keyhole he was attacked by nausea. He
pluckily insisted that we go on to the summit and leave him behind. It
was five hours before we returned to him. For two hours he had lain
helpless in a cold rain and was badly chilled. He was so limp and
loose-jointed that it was difficult to carry him across the moraine
called Boulderfield. At the Inn the following morning he was
completely restored. I was still so exhausted from getting him down
that when he insisted that he be allowed to give me a tip in addition
to the guiding fee I agreed to accept it. The instant I had consented
it occurred to me that a tip from a millionaire for the saving of his
life would be worth while. I was startled when, with a satisfied
expression, he handed me twenty-five cents!
[Illustration: THE NARROWS, LONG'S PEAK TRAIL
(Figures of climbers can be made out on the trail)]