Page:Boy scouts in the White Mountains; the story of a long hike (IA boyscoutsinwhite00eato).pdf/83

 *ple thought it meant just that—a hill where the Indians used to shoot moose. But finally somebody with some sense came along and reasoned that the Indians would hardly name a mountain with English words, when they had known it for generations before they ever heard any English. He began to investigate, and discovered, I'm told, that the Pemigewasset Indians—the tribe which lived in the valley just to the south—really called it Moosilauke, which means, as far as I can make out, 'The great bald (or bare) mountain,' because the top has no trees on it. The Indians never climbed it. They never climbed mountains at all, because they believed that the Great Spirit dwelt on the tops. I fancy they held Moosilauke in particular veneration—and right they were; it's the finest old hill of 'em all!"

"You like the mountains, don't you, sir?" said Lou.

"You bet," the other answered. "They are about the biggest and solidest things we have, and the only folks who get to the top of 'em are folks with good legs, like you boys. I like people with good legs, but I don't like lazy people. So on the mountains I'm sure of good company. It's the only place I am sure of it—except, of course, in my own room, with the door locked!"

Peanut led the laugh at this.