"But be awful careful of that rope, won't you, Thad?" he managed to call out, as the scoutmaster started to coil it up for carrying.
"I certainly will, Bumpus," replied the other; "and thank you for the loan of it. Come on, those who are going with me; take your guns along, even if we don't find any use for them. And say, you fellows in camp, save our share of supper for us, remember!"
CHAPTER V.
TAKING FATHER'S PLACE.
"Must be nearly up at the top now, Thad."
It was Giraffe who said this. The little party of four, Thad; Toby, the guide; Giraffe, and Allan, had been climbing upwards steadily for more than an hour now; and even the long-legged scout was beginning to pant more or less from the exertion.
Having been through the valley more than once before, Toby Smathers had been able to take them along the trail that led up the other side. Often they would have been at a loss just how to proceed only for his superior knowledge. And then the moon had risen too, which meant considerable in the way of light; for topping the other range, it shed its brilliant illumination on the side of the elevation the scouts were now mounting so bravely.
"How about it, Toby?" asked the patrol leader, wishing to satisfy his own curiosity, as well as please Giraffe.
"Right thar, now, and arter this we ain't goin' to have much climbin'. But you-all want to be keerful 'bout goin' too clost to the edge. That drop is all of three hundred feet, I reckons," the guide made answer.