Page:Boy scouts in the White Mountains; the story of a long hike (IA boyscoutsinwhite00eato).pdf/104

 her toes with delight. "Oh, it's a lovely story, Grace!"

Grace moved away to the other side of the circle, with a pout, and she and Art sat together and finished their lunch.

After lunch the girls insisted on clearing the dishes. "It is a woman's place to do the dishes!" they said, and when the dishes were done everybody sat down under the trees, and the Scouts, at Lou's suggestion, got out their knives, and carved their staffs.

First, they cut their initials, and then in Roman numerals, the mileage for the day before. "Let's see—nineteen miles to the top of Moosilauke, one mile down the road and back, a mile maybe to camp—twenty-one miles," said Peanut, "that's two XX's and a I."

When he had finished, Alice took the staff out of his hand.

"You've forgotten something," she said.

"What?" asked Peanut.

"My initials, silly," she answered. "If you don't put them on, how will you remember me?"

"By a sore face and a wet shirt," Peanut replied.

"Now, don't be a goose. Put my initials on," the girl laughed—"A. G."

"It's not N. G. anyhow," said Peanut. He carefully cut her initials beside his own, at the top of the staff, and of course Alice showed it to her sister and