My First Summer 



formation that it was the Liberty Cap Pro- 

 fessor Butler and his companion had gone 

 to climb, and that if I waited at the head 

 of the fall I should be sure to find them 

 on their way down. I therefore climbed 

 the ladders alongside the Vernal Fall, and 

 was pushing forward, determined to go to 

 the top of Liberty Cap rock in my hurry, 

 rather than wait, if I should not meet my 

 friend sooner. So heart-hungry at times 

 may one be to see a friend in the flesh, 

 however happily full and care-free one's 

 life may be. I had gone but a short dis- 

 tance, however, above the brow of the Ver- 

 nal Fall when I caught sight of him in 

 the brush and rocks, half erect, groping 

 his way, his sleeves rolled up, vest open, 

 hat in his hand, evidently very hot and 

 tired. When he saw me coming he sat 

 down on a boulder to wipe the perspi- 

 ration from his brow and neck, and taking 

 me for one of the valley guides, he in- 

 quired the way to the fall ladders. I pointed 

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