They roped together now in one party and ascended the glacier diagonally, rounding a great buttress which descends from the rock ledge and bisects the ice, and drawing close to the steep cliffs.

In a little while they crossed the bergschrund from the glacier on to the wall of mountain, and traversing by easy rocks at the foot of the cliffs came at last to a big steep gully filled with hard ice which led up to the ridge just below the final peak.
"This is our way" said Jean.

"We ascend by the rocks at the side." They breakfasted again and began to ascend the rocks to the left of the great gully, Sylvia following second behind her leading guide.

The rocks were not difficult, but they were very steep and at times loose.
Moreover, Jean climbed fast and Sylvia had much ado to keep pace with him.

But she would not call on him to slacken his pace, and she was most anxious not to come up on the rope but to climb with her own hands and feet.