Part 32 (1/2)

”No, you were doing your best to protect us,” replied Miss Elting.

”But I would rather you did not shoot again except in real defence. In other words, don't shoot unless some one shoots at you.”

”What am I going to do?” demanded the guide rather crossly. ”Sit down and allow some outlaw to rob us at every turn?”

”We know you are ready to defend us,” pacified Miss Elting. ”What would you advise us to do?”

”Make no further move until morning. When daylight comes we will get up the stuff that has been thrown over there, make up our packs and start for Mt. Was.h.i.+ngton,” returned Ja.n.u.s promptly. ”I'll reach a telephone before long and send word to the sheriff about what has occurred. He may be out already on the bridge matter, but he ought to know about this last affair. It will give him a clue as to where the man is.”

”But the unknown wretch may follow us,” protested the guardian.

”He won't. He's gone into hiding after what has happened. You won't see any more of him. You see, he knows we shall be on the lookout for him, and he won't be taking any chances on it until a day has pa.s.sed--perhaps about to-morrow night--then he may come back here to see what he can find. I am banking on that, after having thought the matter over. We won't be here, but the sheriff will, if I can get hold of him.”

Miss Elting agreed that the guide's plan was as good as could be devised, and promptly directed the girls to return to the hut and, if possible, sleep for the few remaining hours of the night. That morning the girls overslept. By the time they awakened, Ja.n.u.s had gathered together all the supplies and equipment to be found below the hut.

Some of the provisions were missing. Nothing that would be likely to be recognized by the owners had been taken by the man who had thrown their stores overboard, so to speak, so they found themselves better off than they had hoped. A real breakfast was eaten that morning, after which packs were lashed and the party lost no time in starting to leave the mountain that had furnished them with so much excitement.

The journey down the trail was not a long one. After reaching the foot of the mountain they were obliged to travel nearly ten miles before reaching a village from whence they would go on by wagon until reaching the point whence they were to be conveyed to Mt. Was.h.i.+ngton.

That night found them weary and sleepy, but to stay at a hotel which boasted of all modern conveniences was a welcome change to the mountain climbers, who were both footsore and weary. It seemed but a few moments after retiring before they were called to get ready for breakfast and the long ride to the foot of the mountain, up which they were to climb. Their experience on Mt. Was.h.i.+ngton was to be both novel and exciting.

CHAPTER XXI

THE ASCENT OF MT. WAs.h.i.+NGTON

The supper smoke rose lazily in the still air. Below them lay a vast panorama of valley and now flattened hills. The Meadow-Brook Girls, after a day of hard climbing, were about half way to the summit of Mt.

Was.h.i.+ngton. They had chosen the most difficult climbing to be found in the White Mountain Range. Ja.n.u.s had promised them some real mountain climbing when they reached Mt. Was.h.i.+ngton, and he had made good his word.

They admitted that laughingly upon reaching the spot he had chosen for their night's camping, and willingly permitted the guide to start the fire while they rested preparatory to getting the supper.

”At least we have the satisfaction of knowing that we have left our friend of the green goggles behind,” said Miss Elting, with a sigh of relief. ”I hope we have seen the last of him. He certainly tried to spoil our trip.”

”Sheriff's out on the trail,” answered Ja.n.u.s. ”There's trouble of some sort down there. Sheriff's office said things were popping, but wouldn't talk much because he--the fellow I got on the telephone--didn't know me.

Funny not to know me, wasn't it?”

”Yeth,” answered Tommy.

”What did you conclude from what was said?” asked Miss Elting.

”That they were after some one and knew who it was. I hope they get him.

I hope that, when they do, they give Ja.n.u.s Grubb a chance to tell the fellow what he thinks of him.”

”It may not be the man we think at all,” suggested the guardian.

”No-o-o-o,” drawled the guide reflectively.

”If not, what do you propose to do?” questioned Harriet.

”Why, keep on, of course,” answered the guide, in a tone of mild surprise. ”To-morrow we reach the top of Mount Was.h.i.+ngton; then we go down the other side, and so on till we get through.”