“I have the maps,” Mr. Rogers said. “Here are the government maps of the Presidentials, and here is the little Appalachian Club book, with maps and trails.” He brought out a small book in a green leather cover like a pocketbook, and opened it, unfolding two maps of the Presidential range, like big blueprints. The boys leaned their heads together over it, and began to spell out the trails. “Gulf Side Trail,” cried Art. “That sounds good.” “Here’s the Crawford Bridle Path--that’s a long one--shall we go up that?” asked Lou. Mr. Rogers nodded. “That’s the way we’ll get up Washington,” he said. “Hi, I like this one!” Peanut exclaimed. “Six Husbands’ Trail! She goes down--or _he_ does, seeing it’s husbands--into the Great Gulf, and then up again--let’s see--up Jefferson. Wow, by the contour intervals it looks like a steep one!” “It is a steep one--wait till you see it,” said Mr. Rogers. Art had now turned back from the map into the reading matter. “Listen to this!” he exclaimed. “Here’s a description of the Tuckerman Ravine path up Mount Washington. It’s three and six-tenth miles, and the time given for it is four hours and fifteen minutes. That’s less than a mile an hour. Gee, I call that pretty slow!” “Do you?” laughed the Scout Master. “Well, if we average a mile an hour on the steep trails, I’ll be satisfied. You wait till you hit the head wall with a pack on your back, and a blanket on your shoulder, and see how many miles an hour you want to travel!” “Keeps sounding better and better!” cried Peanut. “Golly, I can’t wait! When do we start?” It was agreed, as soon as Rob got home from college, to start the day before the Fourth of July, and celebrate the Fourth in the mountains. Rob suspected that Mr. Rogers suggested this date partially in order to keep Peanut from getting into trouble “the night before,” as Peanut was always a leader in the attempts to ring the Congregational church bell, and this year the sheriff had declared he’d arrest any boy he caught near the steeple. But Peanut was too excited over the mountain hike to worry much at losing the night before fun. On the afternoon of the second, all five Scouts had their equipments ready, and brought them to Mr. Rogers’ house, which was nearest to the station. The next morning they were on hand half an hour before train time, and marched to the station with a flag flying, for Peanut declared, as he unfurled it, that he was going to plant Old Glory on the top of something on the Fourth of July. Two hours later they changed cars for the White Mountain express, at Springfield, and soon were rolling up the Connecticut valley, through country which was strange to them. CHAPTER III FOURTH OF JULY ON KINSMAN