132 THE BUTTERFLY HUNTERS. 



diet's help got his boots on and started off with the rest, 

 although he made a great show of limping and was pretty 

 silent all the rest of the day. Some time before sunset the 

 party reached the Falls House, which was a small country 

 hotel. It stood in a beautiful spot, at the foot of a deep, 

 rocky gorge, and from its windows could be seen the 



waterfall which gave the name to the house. All around 



* 



rose the grand old rocky forms of mountains, some covered 

 with heavy forests, others with sides of bare precipitous 

 rock, supporting nothing save a few creeping brambles. 

 The boys were all very glad to eat a hot supper and go 

 to bed. Hal and Johnny Webb stayed up longer than 

 the rest and went out on to a rustic bridge near by to see 

 the Falls by moonlight. It was very still ; not a sound 

 could be heard except the splash of the water as it leaped 

 over the rocks. The boys sat a long time without speak- 

 ing. Johnny was thinking of his sister Annie at home, 

 and wondering if next Summer she would be strong 

 enough to visit this beautiful place with him. At last 

 Mr. Benedict came out to bring them in, for in the morn- 

 ing they were going through the gorge, and some rest 

 was necessary to prepare them for it. There were quite 

 a number of ladies and gentlemen at the hotel, who were 

 going through the gorge at the same time, and they were 

 glad to have our merry young folks join the party. 



The next morning the boys were all rested, and even 



