ASCENT OF THE SDGAK-LOAF. 
no end of time, so I wasn’t going to be beaten by 
him. So, one fine morning I put some biscuit in 
my pocket, and my pipe, and started for the 
top to plant another flag by the side of it ; and I 
scrambled up to a place where the water tumbles 
over a small rocky chasm, wliere I had a jolly 
drink, and put my head under the spout, you 
know ; and when I thought I Avas almost at the 
top I found, when I could see anything for the 
trees, that I Avas only near the base of the thun- 
dering great peak. On I AA^ent, however, uj) the 
sloping side ; and precious hot I can tell you it 
Avas. AVhen I got near the top I had A^ery hard 
Avork, and tore my clothes, and scratched my knees, 
and Avhen alongside that confounded felloAv’s flag, 
I nearly fainted, and lay doAAUi all of a heap. 
“ It Avas liorrid damp, and I felt a sort of all-over- 
ishness, as if I Avas going off the hooks. But I said 
to myself, ‘Never say die,’ and began to craAvl 
doAvn again, but I found the rock much steeper 
than I thought, and slipped and tumbled about like 
anything. At last,” he said, “I gaA^e it up, and 
