There was a general fumbling of pockets, and among a score of miscellaneous articles produced was a piece of old fishing-line belonging to Ronald.
“That’s just the thing,” said Otis. “Now we will find a tree that has blown down, and tie a lot of new branches to the top of it, and stick it up, as Oscar said.”
This proposal was adopted. A tall, straight sapling was soon found, that had fallen before the furious winter blasts that play among the Peak. Its branches, now partially decayed, were broken off, and the trunk made as clean as possible, with the exception of the top. A quantity of evergreen boughs were then procured, and lashed to the top of the sapling by the fishing-line. The signal pole, with its heavy tuft, was now raised to its place by the united strength of the party, and the stones piled compactly around its bottom, until it seemed as firm as though rooted in the earth. Three cheers were given for the monument, and then, after a short resting-spell, the party began to descend.
With merry shouts and laughter they were bounding, sliding and tumbling down the steep side of the mountain, the boys sometimes far outstripping Kate and Marcus, and then pausing awhile, to see how their more moderate companions got along. In this way they had proceeded nearly a quarter of a mile from the summit, when Kate suddenly brought them to a stand by exclaiming—
“I declare! if I haven’t left my veil on the top of the mountain! I took it off when we were looking at the scenery, because it was in my way, and I forgot to put it on again.”
“That’s just like you,” said her brother; “you are always forgetting something.”
“Never mind, I’ll run back and get it—it wont take but a few minutes,” said Oscar.
“No, let me go—I’m more used to it than Oscar is,” exclaimed Ronald.
“I’d let her go herself—it would make her more careful next time,” said Otis, in a low tone, which he did not intend Marcus should hear.
“Ronald is the nimblest, and he has been up the mountain before; so I think he had better go and get the veil, and we will wait for him till he gets back,” said Marcus.