Defeated

The little army that went against Mt. Everest has been called back, having suffered the heavy loss (TIME, June 30) of two of its valiant members. Col. Norton wired London that no more attempts would be made by the present expedition. The climbers were exhausted. But he thinks it possible that the vanished Mallory and Irvine did reach the summit. "Perhaps, after they were enwrapped by a cloud, never to be seen again, they attained their great goal and then, on the way down, sought refuge in some recess, where they died painlessly of cold." Odell, who saw them last, believes that this is what happened. After a short rest in the Rongshar Valley the expedition will turn homeward. The late Mallory and Irvine have at least established the world's record in mountain-climbing, for they were within less than 800 ft. of the summit when last seen--a height of 28,227 ft.