Ott 



up through the woods. We often talked of going 

 to the top of Long's Peak when she should be- 

 come strong enough to do so. This time came 

 just after her eighth birthday. As I was as eager 

 to have her make the climb as she was to make 

 it, we started up the next morning after her aunt 

 had given permission for her to go. She was 

 happy when I lifted her at last into the saddle, 

 away up on old " Top's " back. She was so small 

 that I still wonder how she managed to stay on, 

 but she did so easily. 



Long's Peak is not only one of the most scenic 

 of the peaks in the Rocky Mountains, but it is 

 probably the most rugged. From our starting- 

 place it was seven miles to the top; five of these 

 miles may be ridden, but the last two are so steep 

 and craggy that one must go on foot and climb. 



After riding a little more than a mile, we came 

 to a clear, cold brook that is ever coming down 

 in a great hurry over a steep mountain-side, 

 splashing, jumping, and falling over the boulders 

 of one of nature's stony stairways and forming 

 white cascades which throw their spray among 

 the tall, dark pines. I had told Harriet that ouzels 



100 



