Adventures on the Roof of the World

The mountain guides of Switzerland form a class unlike any other yet in the high standard of honour and devotion they display towards those in their charge one is reminded of two bodies of men especially deserving of respect and confidence namely the Civil Guards of Spain and the Royal Irish Constabulary. Like these the Alpine guide oftentimes risks his health strength—even his life—for persons who are sometimes in themselves the cause of the peril encountered. Like these mere bodily strength and the best will in the world need to be associated with intelligence and foresight. Like these also keen fully-developed powers of observation are essential. A certain climber of early days has wittily related in The Alpine Journal a little anecdote which bears on this point.