Page:Boy scouts in the White Mountains; the story of a long hike (IA boyscoutsinwhite00eato).pdf/222

 adventure on the Crawford Bridle Path, and the proprietor went up-stairs to find out the name of the man they had rescued. The girl's name they already knew.

"Don't say we rescued them, Rob," Mr. Rogers cautioned. "Say they overtook us at Monroe, and we all went on together, because we had blankets and provisions."

"That's what I have said," laughed Rob. "But it doesn't alter the facts."

The proprietor came back with the name, and Rob added to the man with the bugle, "And the names of your party, too?"

"Say five trampers," the other answered. "I'll tell you our names later. We aren't essential to the story."

"But I would like to know why you have the bugle," said Rob.

"I'll tell you that later, also," the man laughed.

Rob turned his little account over to the proprietor, and the party left the warm house, and went out again into the cloud and the chilling wind.

It was almost like stepping out upon the deck of a ship in a heavy fog. They could see the board walk ahead, as far as the railroad platform—and that was all. The rest of the world was blotted out. The wind was wailing in the telephone wires and through the beams of the railroad trestle, just as it