he area before the Hermitage, and
began to follow the winding path which led along the crest of the ridge
towards the foot of the cone. There were in all nearly thirty persons,
thus:--

Travellers, 5
Portantina bearers, 8 to each chair, 16
Donkey drivers, 2
Strapmen, 2
Refreshment man, 1
Guide, 1
__
27

The refreshment man carried the provisions, which he hoped to sell to
the party by the way, in a basket poised upon his head.

The procession moved on in this order, along a rough and narrow mule
path, for nearly an hour. In some parts of the way the road was pretty
nearly level; in others it was extremely broken and steep, where it
passed across old streams of lava. Before them the travellers could see,
all the way, the immense cone, which formed the summit of the mountain,
rising into the sky. They saw that they were gradually drawing nearer
and nearer to the foot of it, and on looking up they could see another
party, which had preceded them in making the ascent, slowly toiling
their way up the rocky steep, while, at a little distance on one side,
another party were seen descending by a different path, which was seen
winding down circuitously at a part of the mountain where the slope was
formed of sand.

At length Rollo saw at a distance before him a level place among the
trees, very near the foot of the great cone. This he knew at once must
be the halting place.

"Uncle George," said he, "we are coming to the end of our ride."

"Are we?" asked Mr. George.

"Yes," said Rollo. "Do you see all those mules and donkeys there,
standing together among the rocks and trees? That must be the halting
place at the foot of the cone."

Rollo was right. As soon as he and Josie arrived at this place, the
donkey boys stopped the donkeys, and held them by the head for the
riders to dismount. The bearers of the portantinas stopped too, to
change hands.

Mrs. Gray got out of her chair as soon as the men put it down, and went
to Rosie's chair to ask Rosie how she had got along.

"Very well indeed," said Rosie. "I like it very much."

"Does your courage hold out to go up the cone?" asked Mrs. Gray.

"O, yes