It was one of those sunny days that tempt nearly every one to ride or walk. The mountain roads were rather lonely, and Mrs. Dainty insisted that whether Dorothy were riding Romeo, or driving in the phaeton, the groom must ride at a little distance behind her. There were the lovely, slender birches on either side of the roads, there were patches of bright green moss upon which the sunlight rested, there were blackberry vines and woodbine wreathing the low stone walls, and here and there a mullein raised its stately head from its base of velvet leaves. Oh, it seemed like an enchanted country, where new beauties were to be found on either hand! "Look!" cried Dorothy, "close beside that mullein is an evening primrose, and their blossoms are the same color." Then a tiny chipmunk sprang upon the wall, sat erect, and watched them for a moment, then ran up the trunk of a slender tree, where from a low branch he watched until they had passed. Then back to the wall he sprang, where he chattered as if scolding the little girls who had disturbed his solitude. It may be that, instead, he was talking to himself, and telling what charming little girls they were. A long way from the hotel they passed Jack Tiverton, with a number of other boys who were staying at a hotel a few miles distant from the Cleverton. They were all somewhat larger than Jack, and he thought it fine to be with them. He had met them at a ball game three weeks before, and he had been very busy holding their acquaintance ever since. "We're going to catch the echo, and keep it, too!" shouted Jack. "It's mocking you now," said Dorothy, with a laugh. "I know it," said Jack, "but we'll catch it, and fasten it so it can't get away." "_How_ will you fasten an echo?" Nancy asked, turning, and looking over her shoulder as the little phaeton sped past. "Trust us to find a way!" cried Jack, and the others laughed as if they already knew exactly how to do it. They left the road, and, vaulting over the wall, crossed the open field, singing a gay, rollicking song as they went. "They just _say_ they're going hunting for the echo," said Dorothy, "and they say it for fun, but I wonder where they are going, and what they truly are going to do." The groom, riding nearer, touched his hat. "Please, Miss Dorothy, I heard the lads saying that there's an old house over near that mountain, where a hermit lived years ago, and they're off to find it if they can." "Then why didn't they say so, instead of telling such a tale about catching the echo?" Dorothy asked. "They were saying that they wanted to find the hut, and hunt in it, and around it ter find things the old fellow may have hidden. They feared you or Miss Nancy might tell some other lad. They're wanting it all to themselves." Having told this bit of information, the groom allowed the carriage to pass him, and once more rode behind it.