14000 MILES 



did strike a new road, and went down a hill — such a hill! 

 We preferred walking, and Charlie was willing to be led, 

 so that difficulty was overcome. After quite an after- 

 noon's experience we found a little hotel, where we 

 passed the night, and next morning we retraced the latter 

 part of our drive in search of Pike Hill, where we were 

 told we should find friends and mines all together. 



We were heartily welcomed and initiated into the 

 mysteries of mining, and collected some specimens, all of 

 which were very interesting to us. 



It would seem as if we ought now to be content to 

 turn towards home ; but, after some deliberation, we 

 convinced ourselves it was advisable to go a little farther, 

 now we had got so far, for we might not have another 

 opportunity so good. "A bird in the hand," you know, 

 and it is just as true of a horse. So, after supper and a 

 little music, we got together a good supply of maps, and 

 organized our friends into a geography class. We were 

 very familiar with our own map, but drove into the 

 northern margin last year, and now we seemed likely to 

 entirely overstep its borders. As we studied and ques- 

 tioned our friends, we began to feel as if we could go 

 anywhere ; but prudence prompted us to follow the line 

 of the railroad, so we traced the towns along the 

 Passumpsic, and pinned the precious scrap of paper to 

 our map. 



We watched the clouds until half-past ten next day 

 (we never heed the weather except we are with friends, 

 who always think it seems inhospitable to let us drive off 

 in a storm) ; then started for Wells River, a drive of 

 thirty-one miles. This was the first time since we left 



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