"This is becoming intriguing," said Milton Rhodes, "if it isn't anything else. You spoke of a black fate, a curse: what has noble Old He, as the old mountain-men called Rainier, to do with such insignificant matters as the destinies of us insects called humans?" "According to the old fellow I mentioned, that old acquaintance of the Scrantons, it was there, on Rainier, that this dark and mysterious business started." "What was it that started?" "That's just it. The man didn't know himself what had happened up there." "Hum," said Milton Rhodes. "That," I went on, "was many years ago. It was just, I believe, after Kautz climbed the mountain. Yes, I am sure he said 'twas just after that. And this man who told us the story--his name was Simpson--said 'twas something that Scranton learned on Kautz's return to Steilacoom that led to his, Scranton's, visit, to Old He. Not from Kautz himself, though Scranton knew the lieutenant well, but from the soldier Hamilton." "What was it that he learned?" "There it is again!" I told him. "Simpson said he could tell what that something was, but he told us that he would not do so." "A very mysterious business," smiled Milton Rhodes. "I hope that our visitor's story, whatever it is, will prove more definite." "Wasn't it," I asked, "in the fifties that Kautz made the ascent?" "In July, 1857. And pretty shabbily has history treated him, too. It's always Stevens and Van Trump, Van Trump and Stevens. Why, their Indian, Sluiskin, is better known than Kautz!" "But I thought," said I, "that Stevens and Van Trump were the very first men to reach the summit of Mount Rainier." "Oh, don't misunderstand me, Bill," answered Milton Rhodes. "All honor to Stevens and Van Trump, the first of men to reach the very top of the mountain; but all honor, too, to the first white man to set foot on Rainier, the discoverer of the great Nisqually Glacier, the first to stand upon the top of Old He, though adverse circumstances prevented his reaching the highest point." "Amen," said I--as little dreaming as Kautz, Stevens and Van Trump themselves had ever done of that discovery which was to follow, and soon now at that. For a time we held desultory talk, then fell silent and waited. There was a lull in the storm; the darkness lifted, then suddenly it fell again, and the rain began to descend with greater violence than ever. Milton Rhodes had left his chair and was standing by one of the eastern windows. "This must be our visitor, Bill," he said suddenly. I arose and went over to his side, to see a big sedan swinging in to the curb. "Yes!" exclaimed Rhodes, his face beginning to brighten. "There is Mr. James W. Scranton. "Let us hope, Bill," he added, "that the mystery which he is bringing us will prove a real one, real and scientific." The next moment a slight figure, collar up to ears, stepped from the car and headed swiftly up the walk, leaning sidewise against the wind and rain.