Page:Boy scouts in the White Mountains; the story of a long hike (IA boyscoutsinwhite00eato).pdf/77

 "Oh, if it's a dare" Peanut began.

"No, sir, won't do it; you can't bluff me into it!" the man laughed. "But if you think there's no excitement on Moosilauke, you stay here a few days, and let me take you botanizing a bit, say into Jobildunk."

"What's that name again, sir?" asked Rob.

"Jobildunk," the man answered. "It is a big ravine discovered by three men, named Joe, Bill and Duncan. So they made a portmanteau word, and named it Jo-bil-dunc after all three. The 'k' got put on later, I suppose. Come on out of this hot room, you chaps, and see my playground."

"I like him," whispered Rob as they followed him through the door.

He was a small man, but they soon found he was tremendously active. In front of the hotel was a road. The summit of Moosilauke is about a mile long, nearly level, but highest on the north end, where the hotel is. This road ran all the way along the summit, to the southern end, where it vanished around the little south peak. It was a crushed stone road, all right, for there was nothing but stones to make it of. It was just a white ribbon, winding amid the gray boulders and mountain cranberry plants. The man led the way rapidly down it, and the tired boys had all they could do to keep up. Half a mile from the Summit House he stopped,