“Why, it’s morning!” he said, in apparent surprise, as he rubbed his eyes. “Hey? Why, this is the funniest bedroom I ever slept in. What? That’s the biggest window on record. Thunder! Where am I, anyhow?”
At last he was wide-awake, and when Frank told him where he was, and that some of the party had already resumed the ascent. Bruce seemed on the verge of shedding tears.
“Have I got to do it?” he asked. “Why don’t they run a tramway up this old mountain? Why don’t they have a car to take people up this blazing mountain? It’s an outrage to have a path up such a steep place! There ought to be a law against having such a path!”
“Better stick by us, Bruce,” said Frank. “You remember how many loose stones there were in that path. If you attempt to go back by yourself those stones may give you a fall that will break your arms or legs or finish you completely. The rest of the way the path is comparatively solid.”
“Oh, don’t talk to me! Don’t you tell me anything! I wouldn’t believe you under oath!”
However, Browning decided to follow them, and soon he was again panting, and puffing, and growling as he plodded up the path.
After leaving the ledge, this path wound in and out beyond some small trees and high bushes where there was considerable shade; but finally it came out upon the bare rocks, and the complaints of the lazy chap in the rear became more violent, although less frequent. Once he sat down, and finally refused to move another foot. It was necessary that Inza and Frank should offer him further encouragement to urge him on.
“Get ahead of us, Bruce,” said Merry. “The others are away up yonder. You can see that both Dick and Brad have passed out of sight over the shoulder of the mountain.”
“How high did you tell me this mountain was?” asked Browning.
“Oh, about one thousand feet, more or less.”