Page:Boy scouts in the White Mountains; the story of a long hike (IA boyscoutsinwhite00eato).pdf/194

 see," he added to Mr. Rogers, "we've got to catch the train down. Some people are waiting for us at the Mount Pleasant House."

"The train down!" said Mr. Rogers. "Why, man alive, it's nearly noon now, and the train goes down shortly after one. It will take you two hours to make the summit cone, with your—your wife in her present condition, even if you don't lose the path."

"I—I'm not his wife," the girl said, turning very pale. "We are engaged only. You see, we've got to get down again to-day. Oh, John, we must catch that train!"

"Come on, then, we'll do it! Why, we can make two miles in less than an hour! Two hours, indeed!"

He started ahead, but Mr. Rogers grabbed his arm.

"Hold on!" he said, "have you ever been on this mountain before?"

"No," they both answered.

"Well, I have," the Scout Master continued. "Ahead of you lies the most dangerous stretch of path east of the Rocky Mountains. There's a cloud coming down from Washington, and we may have a storm at any minute. You've got no compass, no provisions, no proper clothes. You'd lose that path in five minutes in a cloud. In 1900, the thirtieth