ver the news from
home contained in their letters.

"Now, where do you want to go first?" asked the guide after they had
reached the porch.

"We will trust to your judgment," answered Miss Elting. "You know
best. We wish to try a little mountain climbing and we wish to see the
larger of the White Mountains. We would like to see everything of
interest in the White Mountain country."

"That's a pretty big contract," chuckled Janus; "but I reckon we can
show you what you want to see. For instance, there's Mt. Chocorua,
Moosilauke, Mt. Washington, Mt. Lafayette and as many more as you like,
all the real thing and offering all the climbing you will care to do,
unless you want to follow the trails that all the visitors take."

"No, we do not. We prefer to blaze our own trails, or, rather, to have
you do so, and the rougher they prove the better, as long as it is
safe. My girls are equal to any sort of rough-and-tumble climbing.
How do we get to the mountains?"

"I've engaged a carry-all to take us out to the foothills. From there
you can walk or ride. If we take the rough trails, of course we'll
have to climb."

"I shall ask you to lay out your route, then arrange to have some of
our baggage shipped on to meet us, say a week from now. Our necessary
equipment we can carry. The girls are used to shouldering heavy packs.
You will provide climbing equipment. I understand from Miss McCarthy
that you are a climber."

"I'm everything and anything in the White Mountain Range," answered the
guide boldly.

"Then, what do you say if we make Mount Chocorua first?"

"Perhaps you had better decide for us."

"This mountain is three thousand five hundred feet high. The way we
shall take you will, I think, find rugged enough to please the young
ladies," added Janus, with a grin behind his whiskers. "What time will
you be ready to start?"

"As soon after daylight as we shall be able to get our breakfast."

"He had better bring our baggage from the station to-night. Then we
can have our packs in readiness," suggested Harriet Burrell.

"Yes, please do that, Mr. Grubb."

"Anything else, Miss?"

"Not that I think of for the moment. We have our tent in sections. We
also shall pack our blankets and such other things as will be needed.
The rest of the equipment can be sent on ahead to meet us wherever you
say. I don't know what the most convenient point would be. Where
would you suggest?"

"I can send it to the