stars waving in all sorts of queer circles over his head, for
he felt as "rocky" as though he had been indulging in strong drink.

"But be _aw_ful careful of that rope, won't you, Thad?" he managed to
call out, as the scoutmaster started to coil it up for carrying.

"I certainly will, Bumpus," replied the other; "and thank you for the
loan of it. Come on, those who are going with me; take your guns
along, even if we don't find any use for them. And say, you fellows in
camp, save our share of supper for us, remember!"

CHAPTER V.

TAKING FATHER'S PLACE.

"Must be nearly up at the top now, Thad."

It was Giraffe who said this. The little party of four, Thad; Toby,
the guide; Giraffe, and Allan, had been climbing upwards steadily for
more than an hour now; and even the long-legged scout was beginning
to pant more or less from the exertion.

Having been through the valley more than once before, Toby Smathers
had been able to take them along the trail that led up the other side.
Often they would have been at a loss just how to proceed only for his
superior knowledge. And then the moon had risen too, which meant
considerable in the way of light; for topping the other range, it shed
its brilliant illumination on the side of the elevation the scouts
were now mounting so bravely.

"How about it, Toby?" asked the patrol leader, wishing to satisfy his
own curiosity, as well as please Giraffe.

"Right thar, now, and arter this we ain't goin' to have much climbin'.
But you-all want to be keerful 'bout goin' too clost to the edge. That
drop is all of three hundred feet, I reckons," the guide made answer.

"And think of those sharks aleavin' that boy part way down the face of
that awful precipice!" said Giraffe, gritting his teeth in a way he
had of doing when he wished to let everybody know just how mad he was.

"It's taken a whole hour for us to climb up here," remarked Thad; "and
we can hardly count on getting back to the camp in less than another,
even if things go right with us."

"Well, wasn't I wise, then, in sayin' we had ought to snatch up some
grub, to bite at on the way?" declared Giraffe, triumphantly. "I
reckon, now, I'd never a been able to a dumb up this far, if I hadn't
kept nibblin' away at the stuff they handed us when we was startin'
out. And there's more awaitin' for us after we get back, which I take
it is a lucky thing; because my appetite keeps on growin' all the
while, what with this tough