n to wait till it's too late."

"I agree with you," answered the guardian, emphasizing her conclusion
with an emphatic nod. "Now, girls, go to bed, as Mr. Grubb suggests.
I shall be with you in a few moments We must get as early a start as
possible."

"Yes, the trouble begins in the morning," agreed Janus. "But I reckon
the young ladies are good for it. They are pretty well seasoned, but
they will find themselves thoroughly fagged before to-morrow night."

It was not long afterward that the girls were sound asleep, not to be
awakened until an hour after daylight. When they emerged from their
torn tent they were greeted by the welcome odors of breakfast, which
the guide now had ready to serve. After breakfast began the hard climb
up the mountain, but the Meadow-Brook Girls approached it joyously. It
was worth while because they were accomplishing something. Packs were
made ready immediately after breakfast. Fairly staggering under their
burdens, the party set out up a very fair pack trail, a short cut to
the Shelter, part way up the side of Mount Chocorua.

The Shelter was reached about the middle of the forenoon. The girls
dropped their burdens and threw themselves down, breathing hard, with
flushed faces and bright eyes. Even Margery seemed to be taking a real
interest in life, though she had complained a little of the bump on her
head, which was even more tender than it had been the previous night
after she had been hit by the tent pole.

"No time to waste. You young ladies get the luncheon ready while I am
fixing the packs," called the guide. "We must reach the Sokoki Leap
before night, or we shan't have a good place to sleep. I am going to
leave a good part of the equipment here. We will pick it up on our way
down to-morrow afternoon."

The girls dragged themselves to their feet and began preparing the
light luncheon that they had decided upon. It would not be wise to eat
a heavy meal now, with the work of the afternoon before them. In the
meantime Mr. Grubb assorted their belongings into neat packs. They
were bacon, rice and flour, coffee and a little corn meal, together
with seasonings and butter, with a small bag of sugar and a can of
condensed milk. One tin plate apiece and "one to grow on," a spoon, a
knife and a fork for each member of the party, one frying-pan, a coffee
pot and a tin cup apiece, made up the bulk of their equipment. In
addition to this a belt-hatchet was worn by each m