ooked about. Not far away appeared [A]"a rude heap of massive
stones, piled upon one another a mile high, on which one might ascend
from stone to stone, like a pair of winding stairs."

Darby Field was moved by the charm of that peak which seemed to be the
highest of all. When he expressed a determination to climb to the top,
the Indians, horrified at the thought, begged him for his life to
refrain. It was, they assured him, Agiochook, the abode of the Great
Spirit whom they could see in the clouds about the summit. His voice
could be heard in the thunder of the storms from cliff to cliff. The
winds were manifestations of His power. His gentleness was revealed
through the sunset colors that lingered on the slopes. This sacred
mountain had never been climbed by an Indian. Now they begged the white
man not to risk his life.

In spite of this warning, Darby Field persisted in his plan. A group of
Indians accompanied him to within eight miles of the top. There they
waited for his return, for this daring act was of great concern to them.
The two Indians who had followed Field from home took courage by his
example and held to the party, which was undoubtedly the first that ever
climbed our Mount Washington.

From the summit they saw waters to the westward, which they thought to be
the great lake from which the Canada river flows. To the North, the
country was said to be [A]"daunting terrible, full of rocky hills as
thick as mole hills in a meadow, and clothed with infinite thick woods."
Perhaps the outlook was too terrible for adventure, for after they had
picked up clear shining stones which proved to be crystals, they
descended the mountain and presented themselves safe to the waiting
Indians. Then instead of continuing their explorations, they decided to
return home.

After an absence of eighteen days, they reached home. On a cold night in
June of 1642, the grown folk and children gathered about a blazing hearth
to hear of the country that lay to the North.

The travelers reported a wonderful trip of at least a hundred miles from
home. They felt sure that their discovery of the Great Lakes [A]"wanted
but one day's journey of being finished," but for lack of sufficient
provisions they had been obliged to return. The glistening stones were
passed on to the wondering children, and Field announced that he had gone
as far as the Crystal Hills,--the name at one time of the White Mountains
of New Hampshire.

[Footnote A: Q