CHAPTER IV.

UP THE MOUNTAIN.

An abandoned project—A party for Prescott’s 55 Peak—Anecdotes of Rover—Other knowing dogs—Ronald’s story—Was it a lie?—A cast-off snake’s skin—Black snakes—The pond—Mysterious operations—Setting the water afire—The experiment explained—Fire-damps—Steamboats engulfed in flames—The Mountain—Old Gooden—His adventure with a steel trap—How he lived—His family—The cabin—The spruce gum trade—A foolish habit—The top of the mountain—The view—A monument proposed—The stones—The pole—The descent—Something left behind—A generous and a mean spirit—Ronald’s return—Wearing veils—The reproof—The veil restored—Difficulties of the descent—The lost cap—“Tit for tat”—The cap reclaimed—Arrival home,