The former trail led
them around a jutting point of rock, then over boulders, irregular
slabs and crags, obliging them to pick their way with caution and cling
to the life line.
They were now following a sort of spiral; for, though the party seemed
to be encircling the mountain, they were rising gradually toward the
blue dome of the summit. Here and there a mountain bird, dislodged
from its perch, would hurl itself out into space, giving the girls a
start, and threatening, for the moment, their equilibrium. But they
did much better than the guide had hoped for. Greatly to his relief,
he was not obliged to go to the rescue of a Meadow-Brook Girl that day.
About noon, however, Margery Brown got a blister on her right heel, and
Hazel turned one of her ankles. This put an end to the mountain
climbing for the time being, but not to the hanging-on. The girls
perched themselves behind rocks for support while the guardian was
dressing the sprain and the blister. Janus went on to look over the
trail and pick out the easy places. While they were waiting for Miss
Elting to attend to Margery and Hazel, the guide returned with an
armful of dry sticks.
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