y, and would have taken you; but that
you were so dead asleep. Will you climb with me to-day?"

"With great pleasure," said Sybil.

"And while we go, we will take little baskets and some luncheon, and we
will gather some nuts--there are so many on the mountain--walnuts,
chestnuts, hickory-nuts, hazle-nuts, and chinkapins," added the young
hostess, as they walked back to the sleeping cavern, where they began to
prepare for their ramble.

"There, take that, and wrap yourself up warm. I wish it was nicer, but I
haven't a choice of garments here, you know."

Sybil picked up the articles thrown her by her hostess, and saw, to her
astonishment, that it was a priceless India shawl, belonging to her
friend Miss Pendleton.

"This! this!" she exclaimed, indignantly; "do you know what this is?"

"It is an old shawl," replied the girl, contemptuously.

"Yes, it is an 'old shawl,' a rare old camel's hair shawl, worth
thousands upon thousands of dollars, an heir loom of the Pendleton
family, that has descended from generation to generation, until now it
is the property of Miss Beatrix Pendleton. Oh, I am so sorry she has
lost it."

"What, that old thing? I'm blessed if I didn't think it was a most
uncommon coarse, thick, heavy old broche."

"It is a priceless India camel's hair shawl! Such a one as could not be
bought in this century at any price. Oh. I wish she had it back!"

"Lor' bless you! she may have it back if she wants it! Why do you think
they took it? For its value? They knew no more of its value than I did!
No! they took it for its uses! They took it to tie up some of the silver
plate in, because they hadn't sacks enough. You take it, and keep it!
And when you have a chance, give it back to your friend. But for to-day,
you had better give it an airing on your shoulders."

So exhorted, Sybil wrapped herself in the costly shawl, and followed her
hostess through many labyrinths of the caverns, until they came out on a
lonely height apparently yet untrodden by the foot of man.

It was a clear, bright December day. The morning, if sharp and cold, was
fresh and invigorating.

They spent the middle of the day in rambling through the loneliest parts
of the mountain fastnesses, and gathering treasure of many sorts of the
sweetest nuts. The sun was sinking in the west when they turned their
steps towards the caverns.

"The men will be sure to be home to supper. They never fail supper! And
now we will be able to give