"It is possible," said Michel, "that Monsieur Lattery did not start
after all."

"He would have telegraphed again."

"Yes," Michel agreed. "The weather has been fine too. There have been no
fogs. Monsieur Lattery could not have lost his way."

"Hardly in a fog on the Glacier du Géant," replied Chayne.

Michel Revailloud caught at some other possibility.

"Of course, some small accident--a sprained ankle--may have detained him
at the hut on the Col du Géant. Such things have happened. It will be as
well to telegraph to Courmayeur."

"Why, that's true," said Chayne, and as they walked to the post-office he
argued more to convince himself than Michel Revailloud. "It's very
likely--some quite small accident--a sprained ankle." But the moment
after he had sent the telegram, and when he and Michel stood again
outside the post-office, the fear which was in him claimed utterance.

"The Col des Nantillons is a bad place, Michel, that's the truth. Had
Lattery been detained in the hut he would have found means to send us
word. In weather like this, that hut would be crowded every night; every
day there would be some one coming from Courmayeur to Chamonix. No! I am
afraid of the steep slabs of that rock-wall."

And Michael Revailloud said slowly: