Page:Boy scouts in the White Mountains; the story of a long hike (IA boyscoutsinwhite00eato).pdf/269

 past without accident, and soon found themselves at the top of the wall. At the top was a long sloping "lawn," leading to the summit cone, the "lawn" consisting of grasses and flowers and moss between the gray stones. They were in full morning sunlight for a few moments, and every stone on the summit pyramid stood out sharp against the sky. But all the world below them, except the tops of the surrounding mountains, was buried under the white vapor.

"Above the clouds!" cried Peanut.

"But not for long," said Art. "Lou's giant is picking up his bedclothes and coming after us!"

Sure enough, as they looked back, they saw the white mist rising from Pinkham Notch, sucking in through Tuckerman's Ravine, and seeming to follow them up the path. Already a wisp was curling over Boott Spur and drifting slowly across the lawn.

"Ding it!" cried Peanut, "is it never clear on this old mountain? I'm getting so I hate clouds. This path is none too easy to find as it is."

"Well, let's keep ahead of the giant, then," Mr Rogers said.

They walked on more rapidly, noting that the wind was actually from the north, a gentle breeze, just strong enough to hold the rising vapors back and let them keep ahead. Presently their path crossed a dim trail which seemed to come from Boott Spur