"Now, Gwen, you know better! Just look!" Max said, and Gwen looked.

"Well,--the top isn't any farther off than it was the last time I
looked up," she said, grudgingly.

She knew that it looked nearer, but she could not bear to say that.

"It's nearer, and you know it!" Max declared, stoutly. "Come on!"

"Wait till I fix my shoe," wailed Gwen.

"I'll bet that's the tenth time you've stopped to pull your shoe off
since we started to climb this hill," Max cried in disgust.

Gwen was about to say that she should stop again if she wished to, but
a glance at Max caused her to change her mind. His face was far from
pleasing, so without a word, she fastened her shoe, and silently the
two tramped on.

Max was wishing that he had taken the trip alone.

Gwen heartily wished that she had remained on the beach.

She was not only tired, but her feet were sore and blistered.

Max walked ahead, and Gwen found it hard work to keep up.

"Oh, Max!" she cried at last, "Do wait for me!" but Max either did not
hear, or hearing, refused to wait, and Gwen, unable to take another
step, sank down on the coarse grass and burst into tears.

CHAPTER V

WHAT MAX FOUND

Gwen was very angry. Max had taken her on the long tramp, and now had
become impatient because she was tired, and had left her to choose
between immediately following him, or lagging behind.

It was almost twilight, but Gwen was forced to rest for a few moments,
at least, before taking another step.

"P'r'aps I can run, and catch up with Max, if I sit here and rest a
while," she said.

Max, careless boy that he was, walked straight ahead, not even turning
to look back, to learn if Gwen were following.

Gwen watched his sturdy little figure as it stood out against the sky,
and envied him because he seemed not the least bit weary, while Max,
sure that she was watching, took extra long steps to show what a
vigorous fellow he was.

When he had reached the top of the hill, he would have been glad to
rest, but he wished to prove that he was tireless, so he at once
commenced to make his way across the level plain upon which he found
himself, and then to descend the rugged hillside.

Sometimes a twig snapped overhead, and then he would next be surprised
by stepping upon what proved to be a rolling stone, that would slip
from under his foot, and go rattling on ahead of him.

The long walk down the far side of the hill was less cheerful than the
upward climb