THE CONQUEST OF PEGAN HILL. 



LOOKING southward from the heights above 

 Arlington, Belmont and Waltham, the distant 

 horizon is bounded at one point by a wooded 

 ridge having a bold outline and, to the explorer, 

 a most challengeful air. Contour map and com- 

 pass declared this ridge to be Pegan Hill, the 

 dominant height of the Needham - Natick re- 

 gion. Taking the 8 o'clock train on the " Woon- 

 socket division," which in my mind had previ- 

 ously been classed with the " Saugus branch " 

 as a railway snare to be avoided, I sought on 

 April 18 the unknown town of Dover. My 

 companion was a determined man who years ago 

 had registered a vow to climb Pegan Hill or 

 perish among its cliffs and forests. 



The early morning of April 18 was gray and 

 somewhat chilly. My friend brought an um- 

 brella and overcoat, I wore rubber boots and an 

 overcoat. By noon the mercury had passed 80 

 and was still vigorous. 



As we left the train, maps in hand, Pegan 

 Hill was reported to bear due west. We raised 

 our eyes to meet the challengeful foe, A broad 



