To wait I must have food, and, though it meant relinquishing guard for a matter of six hours, the risk had to be taken.

I set off at a brisk pace with a very depressed mind.
From the map it seemed that a short cut lay over a pass in the range.

I resolved to take it, and that short cut, like most of its kind, was unblessed by Heaven.

I will not dwell upon the discomforts of the journey.

I found myself slithering among screes, climbing steep chimneys, and travelling precariously along razor-backs.