Page:Boy scouts in the White Mountains; the story of a long hike (IA boyscoutsinwhite00eato).pdf/278

 The two men whistled. "Well, good luck to you," they said. "But glad we're not going with you!"

"Why?" Peanut demanded.

"Because it goes right up the shoulder of Jefferson. Have you seen the shoulder of Jefferson?"

"Sure," said Art. "What of it?"

"Well, if you had to work as hard as that, you'd make an awful fuss!" one of the men laughed.

"You talk just like my father," said Peanut. "Why is it called the Six Husbands' Trail—if you know so much about it?" he added.

"Search me," the man replied, "unless because it would take six husbands to get a woman up there."

The boys laughed, and went on their way. They soon came to the trail itself, and struck up the Six Husbands at last, headed directly for the cliffs of Jefferson and Adams, which seemed to be towering over their heads.

"It does look like a job, and no mistake!" cried Peanut.

"Well, if somebody can put a trail up it, we can follow 'em, I guess," cried Art. "This is something like mountain climbing!"

But for half a mile the trail didn't ascend much. It followed up a brook, and seemed to be headed for the ravine between Adams and Jefferson. Presently they came to a fork in the trail, where the Adams