“That seems settled,” the man smiled. “But have you had any experience rock climbing?”
“No sir, not really, I guess,” Tom said. “I climbed the head wall of Huntington Ravine on Mount Washington once, when we scouts took a hike in the White Mountains, and Joe and I have climbed some little cliffs around home, with just a common rope, and I got a box of spikes for my shoes, but of course, I’ve never been in the Alps, or anything like that.”
The man had now laid off his pack, and was inspecting his tepee as he listened.
“The head wall of Huntington Ravine isn’t a bad little climb,” he said, “though one of the side walls is better. But it hardly qualifies you as an Alpine guide. However, if you’d care to come with me, and we could get somebody to tell us where there’s an interesting wall, I’d be glad of your company to-morrow.”
“Oh, gee, I’d like to go!” Tom cried, “if I can get off.”
“You can get off,” said Joe, “and after supper I’ll go get the Ranger to come and tell Mr.—Mr.——”
“Kent is my name,” the little man said. “At home I’m Dr. Kent, but out here I wish to forget it.”
“——Mr. Kent where there’s a good cliff. Would you like an omelette for supper, Mr. Kent, with some chicken soup and fried potatoes and griddle cakes and coffee?”
“That sounds very nice,” said he. “But I warn you I sha’n’t know what I’m eating. I’ve had nothing since breakfast but a couple of raisins.”
Joe went busily about getting his supper, while Tom set the table, got fresh water, put some extra blankets in his tepee, and ran to the supply store for some jam or canned fruit for dessert.