To cross that pass, to descend on the other side of the great rock-wall into that bay of ice facing Chamonix, which is the Glacier des Nantillons, had been Lattery's idea.
Chayne turned to the porter.
"When did this come ?" "Three days ago." The gravity on Chayne's face changed into a deep distress.

Lattery's party would have slept out one night certainly.

They would have made a long march from Courmayeur and camped on the rocks at the foot of the pass.

It was likely enough that they should have been caught upon that rock-wall by night upon the second day.

The rock-wall had never been ascended, and the few who had descended it bore ample testimony to its difficulties.