me if I were still in the same
mind concerning the ascent. "I shall see about a guide directly after
breakfast," said I, "and when you hear a cannon fired in the town
announcing the arrival of a party at the top of Mont Blanc, you will
know it is an echo of my shout of Excelsior!"

"No, I won't know it," returned the Boy obstinately. "For one thing,
the cannon might be fired for someone else, and besides, I won't be
here."

"Oh, you'll go on with the Contessa? But I shouldn't be surprised if
she were good-natured enough to wait at Chamounix to congratulate me
when I come down."

"No doubt she thinks enough of you to do that. But what I mean is
this: if you go up Mont Blanc, I'm going too."

"Nonsense! You'll do nothing of the kind. You are a very plucky chap,
but you're not a Hercules yet, whatever you may develop into ten years
from now. No minors are permitted to ascend Mont Blanc."

"_That's_ nonsense, if you like! I shall go if you do."

"I won't take you."

"I don't ask you to. I shan't start until after you've gone, so, you
see, you'll have no power to prevent me."

"You are simply talking rot, my dear boy. Good heavens, you'd die of
mountain sickness or exhaustion before you were half-way up."

"Perhaps. I know very little about my ability as a climber, for I've
never made any big ascents, though I've scrambled about in the
mountains a little at home."

"It would be madness for you to attempt such a thing. Why, don't you
know it taxes the endurance of a strong man? You've only lately
recovered from an illness; you told me so yourself. I shan't allow you
to----"

"You're not my keeper, you know."

"But we are friends, pals. I ask you, as a great favour, to be
sensible, and----"

"I asked you as a great favour not to go up Mont Blanc. Things happen.
I have a feeling that something might happen to you. I should
be--wretched while you were gone. I couldn't sit still under the
suspense, feeling as I do. So I would follow your example."

"There'd be no danger for me. There might be death for you."

"Well, then, you can save my life if you like, by not going. If you
don't go, I won't."

"Of all the brutal tyrants who have tyrannised over mankind----"

"I heard you say once that you would like to have been a professional
tyrant. Why shouldn't I qualify for the part?"

"You are cruel to put me in such a position."

"You are cruel to make me do it, for your own selfish amusement."

"By Jove! You