ded by bushes, so that, when all came together and
sat down, they could see nothing of the rugged mountain scenery about
them.

"Better get out some biscuit or something to munch on, for we shan't
find a place where we can cook a meal until we get nearly to the top.
We'll have to rest hanging on by our eyelids after this," declared
Janus.

"No more mountain climbing for me," declared Margery.

"This is nothing," chuckled the guide. "Wait until you climb Mt.
Washington."

"Wait until I do!" nodded Margery with emphasis.

"That is to be our next," Miss Elting informed them. "By the time we
have finished that I think we shall be seasoned mountain climbers."

"Yeth. And we'll have the habit so badly that we'll be climbing
telephone poleth every day when we get home," averred Tommy. "I withh
my father could thee me now. He wouldn't thay hith little girl wath
lathy, would he?"

Janus got up and walked out where he could look about him. He stood
stroking his whiskers reflectively, glancing critically at the rocks
above; then along a narrow, barely indicated trail around the side of
the mountain. He turned on his heel and returned to where his party
lay stretched out on the rocks. There were rents in their clothing,
their boots were scratched and cut from contact with sharp points of
rocks, and the faces of the Meadow-Brook Girls were red and perspiring.

"I reckon we'll go around another way," decided Janus. "It's too steep
here. You'll ruin your clothes. No need of it at all. You will get
just as much fun out of the roundabout way as by climbing straight up."

At first the girls protested that they did not wish to take the easier
way, but when he assured them it was just as hazardous, they were
satisfied.

"This new way we will see some scenery that is scenery, and you'll have
a chance to look at it, which you wouldn't have in the straight-up
climb. You see, you'd be too busy hanging on. I wanted to show you
the 'Slide' anyway," he added.

"What ith the 'Thlide'?" questioned Tommy.

"You will see when you get to it; one of the curiosities of Chocorua,
and a lively one. They say the Indians used it when in a hurry to get
down the mountain or to escape from their enemies. But, mind you, I
don't expect any of you young ladies to follow the example of the
Indians. Now, shall we move along?"

Interested in this new proposal, the girls sprang up, eagerly
announcing their readiness to push on. Janu