Near two o’clock they started, having induced Browning to accompany them, much to Merry’s secret satisfaction. “If I find any one is lying to me about this old trail up the mountain,” said the big fellow, as with his coat on his arm he came puffing after the others, “I will certainly deal out retribution in large quantities. Inza says the path is perfectly delightful. Frank says it’s a simple climb. Hodge says it’s almost too easy. While others have told me it’s a simpler matter climbing up the footpath than riding up the road. In fact, I have received the impression that it’s just about as easy to climb the mountain by this footpath as it is to slide down hill on a toboggan.” A little later, when they had struck the first steep ascent and were climbing a path where loose stones abounded and frequently rolled beneath their feet, Bruce began to growl, and gurgle, and make strange sounds in his throat. Looking back, they could see him with his face flushed and perspiring, and his eyes glaring ominously. “What’s the matter, Bruce?” cried Inza laughingly. “No matter! no matter!” he declared, with a touch of savageness in his voice. “But I fancied there must be from the strange sounds coming up to my ears. I fancied a whole pack of wild animals were at our heels.” Again Browning made one of those singular growling gurglings, and then, as a rock rolled beneath his feet and he nearly fell down, he paused and cried: “Where’s Frank Merriwell? Let him come back here just a minute. I want to show him something.” “Can’t stop, Bruce,” laughingly called Merry. “It’s altogether too much trouble.” “Hang you!” panted Browning. “I always regarded you as a man of veracity. I took you to be a second George Washington. But let me tell you now, sir, that my opinion has changed. You have Cap’n Wiley, Baron Munchausen, and old Ananias whipped to a finish. Easy climbing up this path! Simple thing sauntering up this path! Delightful promenade up this path! Can almost go to sleep walking up this path! Yah-h-h-h!” The shouts of laughter these words invoked did not seem to soothe Browning’s feelings or cool him down in the slightest degree. “Laugh, confound you—laugh!” he shouted. “There will be a settlement with somebody! Say, we’re pretty near the top, aren’t we?” “Yes, pretty near the top,” said Frank. “We’ll be there in a short time. Come ahead, Bruce.” “You wait till we do get to the top,” growled Bruce threateningly as he resumed the climb after his amused companions. In a short time Browning found most of the party assembled on a flat ledge where there was an open view of the village below, the country beyond it, and the bay and islands. “Ah!” exclaimed Bruce, in great relief. “Reached the top at last! By George, that was a climb!” “The top?” said Elsie Bellwood. “Why, this isn’t the top of the mountain!” “W-h-a-t?” roared the big fellow in astonishment.