THE BEAUTIFUL LADDER. 
77 
from their instructor, “ I will admit that I have 
been very much interested to-day without the 
adjuncts of feminine attractions and good eat¬ 
ing ; which piece of good news may lead you 
to cherish some hopes that I may yet be 
brought into a tolerable degree of civilization.” 
Bravo, chum!” was the response of Ru¬ 
dolph ; “ that is a very encouraging sign, if the 
fit will only last long enough to hold you to the 
better purpose. There must be something in 
man’s destiny worthy of a noble ambition, and 
it certainly is more manly to strive to search it 
out than to drop down to the level of the brutes, 
to live without an object and die without a hope.” 
“ Well,” replied Davidson, “ if I hold to my 
present determination, the bears and wolves 
may lose a rare companionship, and so let us 
open our eyes and ears, and may our better 
angel guide us to a happy conclusion!” 
“Amen to that prayer!” said Lewis, “and 
may he give us a good speeding 1” 
7 * 
