He
nodded to his party, glanced up for the most favorable starting point,
then began to go up. The Meadow Brook Girls followed in single file.
Miss Elting bringing up the rear. Now the guide passed the rope to
them as the ascent became more precipitous. Up and up wound the trail.
The climbers kept a firm grip on the life line, for a misstep here
would mean a bad tumble, and might take others down also. At times the
girls were out of sight of each other, like the ends of a train
rounding a sharp curve. The advice of the guide to "look up, never
down," was followed by each one. In fact, none dared to look down,
fearing to lose her head and grow dizzy.
[Illustration: Up and up wound the trail.]
"We rest here," announced Janus, after they had been climbing for an
hour without once stopping during that time. It was not a particularly
desirable place in which to rest, being located on a steep slope, but
the spot was surrounded 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.
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