The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-29

on that particular mountain.
 Now" said Jack Ferguson. the leader of the explorers (having done a lot of climbing and hunting during his life on the mountain) we'll climb till half-past one o'clock. That will give us plenty of time to get within mile of home by dusk. After reach ing familiar ground, the moon and the stars will be all we want to travel by."
 So they started, half a dozen of them. They passed the time telling stories of adventures and navigation, and occasionally got down to their own experiences at school. At noon they stopped to rest and to partake of food. Their appetites had been sharpened by the exercise and the bracing au- tumn air, and the higher they went the cooler they found the atmosphere. As each boy had expected this, not one had come from home without sweater or top coat.
 Well, we're still [ pod mile and half from the top of tho mountain, said Jack Ferguson, squinting his eyes and measuring the distance between their present location and the rock topped summit of the mountain. If we could finish the distance in an hour. we'd have to rest at the top before returning; and that would put us be- hind our scheduled time for getting within familiar territory. Shall we go on and see what's to be seen for another half mile?"
 I'm in for going all the way" said Charlie Scott. I'm not afraid of be- ing caught out after dark. Besides. returning will be faster than going"
 That's my vote, too," said Billy anxious to see the world from the very highest mountain of that particular range. Suppose we try to make the top at least. If we see we're going to get caught out too far from home by the dark, we can turn back"
 "All right, if 1t suits the rest of you" said Jack. But he said 1t half heartedly. The fact was, Jack was al ready too tired to enjoy going any where but homewards. But being the captain of the band, he did not like to say 'nough" before the others did So they pursued their way, and at last came to deep crevice in the rocky ground which they could not cross.
 Say, we'll have to go round this" said Jack. And it's a full mile to the west to the end of this cut. By the time we reach that spot, we'll be behind time. and 1t will be all in vain having reached the crossing place. I'd forgotten this gorge when I brought you fellows by this trail"
 "I vote to go on.' said Billy. wen at least pave the way for more suc- cessful trip next time. We'll get ac- quainted with the right trail; then we'll have no trouble reaching the top of Old Crafty some other day." (Old Crafty was the name of the noun tain).
 But only two other boys were will ing to continue the trip. and Jack was not one of them. They were Charlie Scott and Harry Watson. both mountain boys. having been born and raised at the base of Old Crafty. Harry loved climbing and exploring, and Charlie, being his lifelong chum. was willing to go where he led.
 Well, you chaps go back to town." said Billy, "and we three will go on. We'll turn in to town about eight o'clock--if our lion doesn't come upon us unawares and want us for sup per-"
 "All right, fellows, we'll go back" said Jack. But I hate like everything to have you kids try 1t alone. So long!"
 "So long, fellows!" said the three determined adventurers. And the party split in two, one half going down the mountain and the other up- ward and to the west.
 If was ha1f.past ouo osrfock when at last the three boys found the end of the crevice. The trail they had followed was very difficult one, full of boulders and at times very precipit- ous and the boys had to pick their