Although well provided with their own guides, they thought it right to take some active young man of the neighborhood with them, in order that he in his turn might help future climbers.  At the recommendation of the landlord of Rein—­who on this important occasion commenced his visitors’ book—­they chose for the purpose Jakob’s friend, Johann Ausserkofer.  They started by torchlight one Monday morning, and after a steep climb through a wild mountain-forest on the opposite side of the Bachernthal, crossing a vast glacier and the crevasse between the Hoch Gall and the Wild Gall, began the real ascent, which proved so perpendicular as to be achieved principally with the aid of ropes.  After a toilsome nine hours and a quarter they had the good fortune to reach the summit in safety.  The weather was favorable, and the view, in Richter’s opinion, far surpassed the much-vaunted panorama from the Kriml Tauern.  A long rest, and raising a cromlech in memory of their bold achievement, and then the steep descent over snow and glaciers was effected, and St. Wolfgang reached after fourteen hours of toil and great danger.

[Illustration:  CROSSING THE TORRENT.]

At half-past four, Jakob, having crossed the valley in search of his oxen, came upon the Bohemian gentleman—­whose name afterward proved to be Dr. Hecht—­with the two Ausserkofers, and learned their adventures in the ascent of the Wild Gall.  After clambering over steep, slippery glaciers they had begun the climb proper at five o’clock in the morning, Dr. Hecht pushing forward in order to be the first human being who had ever placed his foot upon the summit of the mountain.  He had indeed almost reached the highest point when a dark, terrific chasm suddenly yawned beneath him, entirely cutting off all farther progress.  The three explorers, although considerably dejected by the disagreeable check and the waste of labor and time which it had involved, determining not to be baffled, resolved to make a considerable detour.  After having, with much trouble, reached a lower plateau, they attacked the precipitous, almost invincible mountain from another side, the still early hour of the day alone permitting the renewal of the attempt.  Leaving their telescope and provisions to await their return, they boldly scrambled, crept and worked their way up the scaly side, and finally reached the summit in safety.  The view thence they declared to be magnificent.  They too raised a cromlech, and then a giddy descent followed.  However, all three were full of spirits when Jakob met them, and the Ausserkofers declared that they were ready henceforth to pilot any other tourist to the summit for a moderate four or five gulden apiece.