“Where are you fellows going?” he asked. “Up Graytop?”
“We are,” replied Rob soberly.
“Let me go, will you, Rob?”
“No, Jelly, I will not.”
“Oh, go ahead! Why not?”
“Because I have some consideration for your welfare, Jelly. You’d be just skin and bones by the time you got to the top—if you ever did! And besides, I have troubles of my own, Jelly, and can’t stop to pull you over the rocks or carry you in my arms when you get tired.”
“I won’t get tired, honest, Rob. I’m a dandy climber!”
“You look it,” laughed Malcolm.
“You don’t mind if I go, do you?” asked Jelly, turning his attention eagerly to Malcolm.
“Indeed I do, Jelly. You see, we have only an ordinary amount of food with us, and either you’d starve or we would.”