The Girl from Keller's

ious scramble over large, rough stones, but the ascent of the other threatened to be difficult. It rose in front, a wall of splintered crag, seamed by deep gullies, for the strata was tilted

escend a neighboring hollow, from whic

into his light American boots hurt his feet, and the boots were much the worse for the last few days' wear. Muriel had carefully planned the trip, and then delayed his s

ing in England finer than the country he had seen. The mountains had not the majestic grandeur of the British Columbian ranges, but

crannies above. Below, a precipitous slope of small stones that the dalesmen call a scree ran down to a hollow strewn with broken rocks, and across this h

us obstacles, but Festing understood that he could reach the dale in about two hours' steady walking. Muriel had told him where to stop; indeed, she had been rather particular about this, and had recommended him

owards him, picking their way among the tumbled rocks. He could not see the face of the first, but noticed her light poise and graceful movements as she sprang from stone to st

not want to force his society upon the girl just yet, but would be disappointed if she passed. She came on, and when he

! How did yo

e," said Festing. "I

len, who presented h

tanned look, unusually short skirts, and thick na

d to find me engaged in any

rdine broke in. "You can stand if

ainst another Helen resumed: "We meant to try the S

rom the level Midlands and we have been walking since bre

, and there was a hint of vigor in her resting pose. Moreover, he had studied the Stairs, which led behind the shoulder of the crag to

y well, if you meant to g

then, and one needs some training to keep pace with peo

ce and fearless grace as she crossed the ragged blocks of stone. Then a rumble of distant thun

" Helen rejoined. "The easiest woul

much t

on the other side. The regular track takes us down near

kable," Miss J

cross the shoulder of the fell below, but it's steep and rough. There are s

gle with the gravel slope, and now and then a mass of dislodged stones rushed down hill. Sometimes the girl allowed herself to slide, sometimes sh

he gaps between the blocks and step carefully across, while the stones were ragged and had sharp corners. Festing was unable to look up an

minutes' rest," the

ck to rock, and a few big drops fell. Then as the echoes died away the hillside was hidden by a c

if this goes on," Mi

len. "I expect we have seen the worst, and

et down, but Miss Jardine grumbled a

I was glad to see it didn't bother you.

is the first time I've cli

e, trust your feet and not your hands,

of business. You see, I helped mark out the line for a new railro

h of the gorge at the foot of the glacier, where the line went

to the edge of exhaustion and run many risks at the s

s stopping and we c

their feet sank, but Festing felt it a relief to have done with the rocks. The narrow tableland they were crossing was comfortingly flat, and he looked forward to descending a long grassy slope. When

could not see the bottom, for it was filled with mist, but the height of the rock wall hinted at its depth. A transverse ravine ra

Then we go nearly straight down, k

I hope. I don't like its l

the sky's clearing, and it was obvious that they must get down. The thunder had gone, but the mist brou

well as with one's feet. Festing helped Miss Jardine when he could, but he had an unpleasant feeling that a rash step might take him over the edge of a precipice. Someti

into a ravine through which water flowed. It was not very deep, but its sides were perpendicula

oss without much trouble, but I do

oked as if she had taken him into

s to the big ghyll. Let's try up, and

ravine. By and by Helen stopped where patches of wet soil checkered the steep rock and a mountain-ash off

ust her judgment. It was the first time he had allowed a woman to give him a lead in a d

n't want to go too far up," she said

acks across first

m go, and when the last splashed into a boggy

short, it would have gone over the fall, but I expect she had a reas

mall mountain-ash gave her a fresh hold and she dropped to the top of a projecting stone. Below this there

Jardine remarked. "I suppose we will see when we arrive. It isn'

to his arms. The shock nearly flung him off, but he steadie

d, glancing at the stone. "However, if

one foot, kicked a hole in the spongy turf. Fin

lightly a

ld not hold her back, but he could steady her, and for a moment felt his muscles crack and the peat tear out from

well," she said. "It looks as if

standing on a boulder in the stream. She gave him an approving nod before she sprang to the next s

he hesitated. It was some distance to the water, and there was no h

ne she chose her time; the sitting glissade is

plunge into the stream, but thought she looked something the worse for wear as they made their way from stone to stone. The other bank was easier, and for a time t

or nine feet it was perpendicular, and afterwards ran down at a very steep slant, b

ack," Helen said. "However,

the patch of gravel. The trouble was that one could not see what lay

r as the edge yond

w the gully, and if I'm mistaken

e. Still I'

each other on the misty hillside in a way that would not have been possible in conventional surroundings. He had seen a possibility of t

umed, "what do

his is the place I thi

re a few cracks in the rock and Helen had got half way down before she took his hands. He felt

e now,"

e hold for your foo

I have.

" he answered wit

the strain was heavy he thrilled as he saw her

," she said, an

next edge, but after a moment o

y I thought. Se

ng dropped safely on the gravel. He leaned against the roc

nce. I suppose that was

. "Just now, however, I wanted to

could have lifted me, but it would ha

of grass that led them to the head of a dale. The mist was thinner, and presently a few scattered

she said. "We are going to the hall,

ace. He wanted to go there, but thought there was some risk of its looking as if he meant to force his society on th

id: "I suppose he remembered that he has

her in surprise.

the plot. It looked as if he wanted an excuse for meeting us a

Helen dryly. "But you wi

ck him that my clothes are damp. It's rather significant that he went on when

said Helen with

remarked. "I think I should like Ca

't a Ca

oes, men like variety. Of course, to some extent, he saw us under a disadva

Helen rejoined and we