A permutation $\sigma$ of $\llbracket 1, n \rrbracket$ is called alternating up if $(\sigma(1), \ldots, \sigma(n))$ satisfies $x_1 < x_2 > x_3 < x_4 > \cdots$, and alternating down if it satisfies the reverse inequalities. Show, for every $n \geqslant 2$, that the number of alternating up permutations equals the number of alternating down permutations.