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154 themselves. These are very dangerous paths. They have lately been stopped up with posts and chains, as you see, but still there are many who venture into them rather than take the pains to climb the hill."

After they had rested a little while, they set forward to go up the hill; and Greatheart led the way. But before they got to the top, Christiana began to pant for very weariness.

"Surely, this is a breathing hill," she said; "I don't wonder that some people try to go around it."

Mercy, too, was very tired, and the youngest of the boys began to cry.

"Come, come," said Greatheart, "be brave a little longer. There is an arbor a little above, and there you may sit down and rest."

Then he took the little boy by the hand and led him the rest of the way: and at the hardest places he lifted him and carried him.

"Well, how do you like being a pilgrim?" he asked, when they had reached the top.

"Very well, sir, and I thank you," answered the boy. "It is like going up a ladder; but I would rather climb a ladder than fall into a pit."

So they went on till they came in sight of the lions.