About half past five o'clock
I and my agent possessed the regulation mountaineering costumes , but concluded to leave them behind . Out of respect for the great numbers of tourists of both sexes who would be assembled in front of the hotels to see us pass , and also out of respect for the many tourists whom we expected to encounter on our expedition , we decided to make the ascent in evening dress . We watered the caravan at the cold stream which rushes down a trough near the end of the village , and soon afterward left the haunts of civilization behind us . About half past five o'clock we arrived at a bridge which spans the Visp , and after throwing over a detachment to see if it was safe , the caravan crossed without accident . The way now led , by a gentle ascent , carpeted with fresh green grass , to the church at Winkelmatten . Without stopping to examine this edifice , I executed a flank movement to the right and crossed the bridge over the Findelenbach , after first testing its strength . Here I deployed to the right again , and presently entered an inviting stretch of meadowland which was unoccupied save by a couple of deserted huts toward the furthest extremity .