half past five
I will import the chief portion of it into this book , partly because of its intrinsic interest , and partly because it gives such a vivid idea of what the perilous pastime of Alp-climbing is . This was Mr. Whymper 's NINTH attempt during a series of years , to vanquish that steep and stubborn pillar or rock ; it succeeded , the other eight were failures . No man had ever accomplished the ascent before , though the attempts had been numerous . MR. WHYMPER 'S NARRATIVE We started from Zermatt on the 13th of July , at half past five , on a brilliant and perfectly cloudless morning . We were eight in number -- Croz -LRB- guide -RRB- , old Peter Taugwalder -LRB- guide -RRB- and his two sons ; Lord F. Douglas , Mr. Hadow , Rev. Mr. Hudson , and I. To insure steady motion , one tourist and one native walked together . The youngest Taugwalder fell to my share . The wine-bags also fell to my lot to carry , and throughout the day , after each drink , I replenished them secretly with water , so that at the next halt they were found fuller than before !