about seven o'clock in the morning
This mountain , about seven thousand six hundred feet high , is only the prolongation of the chain for the Aiguilles-Rouges , which runs from the south-west to the north-east , parallel with that of Mont Blanc , and forms with it the narrow valley of Chamonix . The Brevent , by its central position , exactly opposite the Bossons glacier , enables one to watch the parties which undertake the ascent of the giant of the Alps nearly throughout their journey . It is therefore much frequented . We started about seven o'clock in the morning . As we went along , I thought of the mysterious words of the master-guide ; they annoyed me a little . Addressing Ravanel , I said , -- `` Have you made the ascent of Mont Blanc ? '' `` Yes , monsieur , '' he replied , `` once ; and that 's enough .