CHAPTER XV 



HARRIET — LITTLE MOUNTAIN CLIMBER 



LITTLE Harriet Peters, a six-year-old friend 

 of mine, was listening intently to the com- 

 ments of the climbers whom I had just 

 guided to the summit of Long's Peak. They were 

 describing their trip to a number of others. Pres- 

 ently Harriet turned to me and asked what birds 

 and animals lived on the top of this high peak of 

 the Rockies. 



Often I had been asked what could be seen from 

 the top of the Peak; many people were curious 

 about the size of the summit; most interested climb- 

 ers wanted to know how long it took to go up and 

 back; but never before had any one asked what 

 lived there. 



When the mountain-climbing discussion ended 

 this little girl very soberly asked if I would some 

 time take her to the top of Long's Peak. 



"Yes," I replied, "just as soon as we feel that you 

 can go up and back easily. It is a long, steep 

 climb." 



Then she wanted to know: "Is it uphill all the 

 way?" 



I had early become interested in Harriet, she 



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