Othermuleshadarrivednotlongbefore，somewithpeasantridersandsomewithgoods，andhadtroddenthesnowaboutthedoorintoapoolofmud。Riding-saddlesandbridles，pack-saddlesandstringsofbells，mulesandmen，lanterns，torches，sacks，provender，barrels，cheeses，kegsofhoneyandbutter，strawbundlesandpackagesofmanyshapes，werecrowdedconfusedlytogetherinthisthawedquagmireandaboutthesteps。Uphereintheclouds，everythingwasseenthroughcloud，andseemeddissolvingintocloud。Thebreathofthemenwascloud，thebreathofthemuleswascloud，thelightswereencircledbycloud，speakerscloseathandwerenotseenforcloud，thoughtheirvoicesandallothersoundsweresurprisinglyclear。Ofthecloudylineofmuleshastilytiedtoringsinthewall，onewouldbiteanother，orkickanother，andthenthewholemistwouldbedisturbed：withmendivingintoit，andcriesofmenandbeastscomingoutofit，andnobystanderdiscerningwhatwaswrong。Inthemidstofthis，thegreatstableoftheconvent，occupyingthebasementstoryandenteredbythebasementdoor，outsidewhichallthedisorderwas，pouredforthitscontributionofcloud，asifthewholeruggededificewerefilledwithnothingelse，andwouldcollapseassoonasithademptieditself，leavingthesnowtofalluponthebaremountainsummit。
Whileallthisnoiseandhurrywererifeamongthelivingtravellers，there，too，silentlyassembledinagratedhousehalf-
a-dozenpacesremoved，withthesamecloudenfoldingthemandthesamesnowflakesdriftinginuponthem，werethedeadtravellersfounduponthemountain。Themother，storm-belatedmanywintersago，stillstandinginthecornerwithherbabyatherbreast；themanwhohadfrozenwithhisarmraisedtohismouthinfearorhunger，stillpressingitwithhisdrylipsafteryearsandyears。
Anawfulcompany，mysteriouslycometogether!Awilddestinyforthatmothertohaveforeseen!’SurroundedbysomanyandsuchcompanionsuponwhomIneverlooked，andnevershalllook，Iandmychildwilldwelltogetherinseparable，ontheGreatSaintBernard，outlastinggenerationswhowillcometoseeus，andwillneverknowourname，oronewordofourstorybuttheend。’
Thelivingtravellersthoughtlittleornothingofthedeadjustthen。Theythoughtmuchmoreofalightingattheconventdoor，andwarmingthemselvesattheconventfire。Disengagedfromtheturmoil，whichwasalreadycalmingdownasthecrowdofmulesbegantobebestowedinthestable，theyhurriedshiveringupthestepsandintothebuilding。Therewasasmellwithin，comingupfromthefloor，oftetheredbeasts，likethesmellofamenagerieofwildanimals。Therewerestrongarchedgallerieswithin，hugestonepiers，greatstaircases，andthickwallspiercedwithsmallsunkenwindows——fortificationsagainstthemountainstorms，asiftheyhadbeenhumanenemies。Thereweregloomyvaultedsleeping-