“To be taken instantly,” said Miss Winchester, laughing, “and all take the same dose.”
“Where did you say we are to go? Up where?” persisted Mrs. Cultus, now beginning to enter into the spirit of the thing.
“To the mountains,” said Adele joyfully, “up to Sikhim.”
“Sic ’em!” and Mrs. Cultus’ eyes twinkled. “Is it a hunting scheme for Paul and the Doctor? Are there dogs up there?”
Evidently mental alertness had returned to the invalid. Adele thought so, and nodded to Paul:
“Come, boys! get your guns, and call the dogs—I mean your tickets for the trip; I’ll attend to the rest.”
Paul vanished to make arrangements for the journey.
Never did a more interested and hilarious party start northward towards Kunchingunga; towards the foot-hills of Sikhim, between Nepaul and Bhootan. From the crest of these foot-hills they hoped to see the Himalaya range stretching east and west, like unto a barrier insurmountable, towering aloft into thin air which no man could breathe and yet live; terra firma supporting glaciers a mile in vertical height; terra incognita, for no man had yet been able to tread thereon. Region of the seen, yet unseen, because unlivable to mortals as at present constituted.
No other portion of their tour gave better opportunity to bring out individual traits of character than this; for nature herself was to be met in many moods. Professor Cultus suggested that each member of the party should select a specialty for personal observation.