swelled by a recruit from Burnsville, a hand- the cabins, and glimpses of white-clothed tables some, wiry young Carolinian, mounted on a spir- loaded with smoking viands wooed to repose ited sorrel. The more the merrier. Away they and luxury. But no; have we not said it?dashed, crushing into ice-bound mud-holes, Forward! splashing through shallow fords, galloping up hills and trotting down. Ah, it was glorious! What though the sky was overcast and the earth powdered with snow! what though the morning breeze cut like a knife! There was life and courage in every draught. Then they had set themselves a task, and staked their manhood on its accomplishment; forward, forward! The horses smoked like hot cakes, the riders' beards and ear-locks were white with frost, warm fires gleamed temptingly through the open doors of Now they ride the Caney River, whose waters roll clear and cold as liquid ice; now on the further bank their dripping steeds clatter over the pebbles. The ninth mile-board from Burnsville is past, the road has dwindled to a mere bridle-path half lost among thickets of dogwood and laurel. Now their confident advance is checked, for they must grope for the path as it wanders alternately through the stream and among the bushes. At length the Tennesseean rises in his stirrups and shouts triumphantly. Near the banks of the stream, in a grove of lofty | s'pose I ken go. But you'd better light and take firs, rises a column of blue, curling smoke. a bite of something to eat." In a few minutes the riders drew rein in front No. They had already breakfasted, lightly of a cabin fresh hewn from the forest. A short to be sure; but they were bent on the accomdistance from the door stood a stalwart wood-plishment of their undertaking, and preferred man leaning on a rifle, and attended by two dogs. In the door behind him was a group composed of a white-haired sire, two women, four children, and a boy. But we have no time to go into particulars. This is Tom Wilson, of course; that's his father, his wife and children, his wife's sister, perhaps; and the boy is his factotum. going on immediately. Now Tom Wilson is not a man of "mighty many words," and so, accoutred as he was, he plunged into [the bushes] "and bade them follow." As they advanced, the guide proposed his plans for the ascent. They could ride to the upper place a mile distant, and leaving their horses there in comfortable quarters, accomplish "Quarter to ten o'clock," said Larkin. the rest of the way on foot. The Squire looked The travelers made known their wishes in at his fat legs, and raised himself considerably few words. Tom Wilson scratched his curly pate. "Well, I hain't no mighty much to do no time; so I in his stirrups, as if to calculate his weight. When arrived at the upper place, Wilson informed them that they might even carry the horses a mile further if they wished. The Squire preferred it, and the animals, obedient to rein and whip, turning their heads reluctantly away from the fodder stacks, trudged along up the narrow path. This soon became so steep that every nerve of man and beast was strained to its utmost tension in the effort to hold on their way. The rider was obliged to use hand and foot to keep clear of the rocks and branches on the upper side, while the slightest misstep on the part of the horse would have sent them rolling a thousand feet into the dark gorge below. The snow, which had slightly powdered the lower country, was more decided as they ascended, and increased the hazard of the journey. Every two or three hundred yards a stream would spirt across their path, covering every thing near with ice, and they were then obliged to dismount and carefully lead their animals over. In this way they at length reached a cove from whence there seemed to be no exit upward, except by flight. Making a virtue of necessity, it was agreed to leave the horses here; so they were unsaddled and securely tethered among the bushes, where they could entertain themselves eating moss and twigs until their companions returned. Tom Wilson, who, during these proceedings, had stretched his stalwart form upon a snowcovered bank, now rose and led the way. Nothing loth our adventurers followed, at first with words of cheer, quick-spoken jests, then silently, then panting and sobbing audibly. Still they strove with hearts of controversy, until the last breath seemed to be leaving their bodies, and they sunk in the path from pure exhaustion. No one had strength to chide his comrade, and all were glad of a chance to stop. This is what Professor Guyot calls 'work for a giant.' It is too much for a fat, easy-living man of my inches," groaned the Squire. "This is no tavern," cries the guide; we've yet a mighty ways to travel." citement of starting had eaten but sparingly. In addition, the rapid ride and the frosty air had put the keenest edge upon their appetites, yet unfortunately not a biscuit had been provided.. According to the calculation of the guide, the summit was yet a mile and a half distant, and rating their speed by what had been accomplished this was full an hour and a half. Then an hour at least on the summit and three to descend. The prospect was appalling. Although no one dared to acknowledge fatigue, it was reckoned no disgrace to be hungry, and the complaints on that score were loud and manifold. The guide at length spoke up. "Men! if we stop here ciphering and grumbling, we'll never see the top of the Black." The remark was well-timed, and stirred up the dying embers of that enthusiasm which had hitherto sustained them. "Old Virginia never tire!" shouted Larkin, springing up the slippery path. "Tennessee is always thar!" yelled the wiry Jones, following with good heart. "Old North State is generally somewhar when you look for her!" cried Burnsville. Now Squire Broadacre didn't say any thing, but tugged and toiled after them as well as he could; nathless he thought to himself that if those plump legs of his were elsewhere under some well-loaded dinner-table, he wouldn't begrudge a cool hundred. Having worried on in this way for half a mile or more the enthusiasm again died out, and now unrepressed complaints of hunger and exhaustion were heard from all. "Thanks to fortune!" cried Larkin, "I've found something to eat in my pocket." This announcement was received with eager looks and exclamations by his companions. "Here are five chestnuts. Let me see, one for each man." They were served round, and no one had the self-denial to refuse his portion; but each devoured his nut with a satisfaction that was ludi. crous, although most sincere. Burnsville, however, uttered an exclamation which wouldn't print well, and rested his head upon his hands with a look of bitter disappointment. "What ails you now, neighbor?” asked Tom Wilson. And again they breast the slippery steep. After many consecutive efforts they attained a level spot covered with beech-trees. Tom Wilson struck the butt of his gun on the ground, and announced that this was the Bear Garden. "But," he continued, "there hain't no mighty many bar here now," and having thus spoken he again made tracks through the snow. Passing over this level, the path ascends rapidly a worm in it." through tangled thickets of rhododendron and dark forests of balsam fir. The travelers toiled upward in sullen silence, betraying with longdrawn sobs the fatigue which had not yet been acknowledged in words. After some time the guide showed them a mark upon a tree which indicated that there was water at hand, and with a little search they found a spring bubbling from under a rock. Having partaken freely of this welcome refreshment, our friends suddenly discovered that they were furiously hungry. It was in fact half past one o'clock. They had breakfasted at five, and in the haste and ex "Ah!” replied he, with a groan, "mine had "But the darkest night will have a morning, The longest lane will have a turning." They at length reached the foot of a knoll covered with laurel and stunted fir, where they halted to rest. The guide informed them they were then within two hundred yards of the summit of the Black Dome. This inspiriting news set them again in motion, when the Squire, who was seated at the foot of a tree, called out, "It is useless, boys, for me to strive. Time has made his mark upon me, and I can go no farther even if my life depended on it. I will lie here until you return. Only remember, if Tom Wilson finds any thing to eat on the top, clear and cold upon the stunted shrubs and firto send me down a share." 66 'How now! what's the matter? what's the matter?" cried one and all. "Nothing at all, boys. Go on, go on, see the top. As for me, I have already passed the summit point in life's highway, and am only fit to go down hill." "But, uncle," said Larkin, "I have with me a mechanical power that will lift you to the top in a jiffey, the true lever of Archimedes." "How now, you scamp! Why didn't you show it sooner?" "Because," said Bob, "it is only good in a pinch, but ruinous in a long chase. If I had showed it earlier we would never have got to this point." The Squire gave a vigorous whistle as he recorked the flask, and immediately rose to his feet. "I believe," quoth he, cheerily, "I can still go up hill a little further." trees cased in glittering ice. The summit had been recently cleared by the axe, and in the centre a sort of rude observatory was constructed of pine logs ten or twelve feet in height. A little circle, of a hundred paces diameter. comprehended all that our adventurers saw from the top of the Black Mountains; yet the triumph of accomplishment illuminated every face, and for a space fatigue and hunger were both forgotten. As their blood cooled these feelings of exultation passed away, and Nature again began to urge her claims with redoubled force. Burnsville wrapped his blanket about him, and, sinking down at the foot of the observatory, fell into a sort of stupor. A round of brandy stimulated the others to join in an attempt to light a fire. Every thing was wet and frozen; but, by perseverance, they at length accomplished it. The crackling flame did not bring consolation, for although it warmed them, it also suggested cooking, and there was nothing to cook. Hollowcheeked despair began to settle upon the faces around. In a few minutes they stood upon the summit of Mount Mitchell. Around and beneath them rolled dense masses of vapor, shutting out all terrestrial objects except the rounded knoll on which they were standing. Above, the deep- "Uncle," asked Larkin, "is there any nourblue sky was visible, and the sunlight beamed ishment in leather?" "I have heard," said the Squire, "how the defenders of beleaguered cities have subsisted on soup made of jack-boots; but why do you ask?" "I observed the fat frying out of your boots, Sir, and it smelled very savory." "They have been well greased lately; but, my boy, it would never do to eat our boots: without them we could never get down from here." Burnsville, roused from his trance, now joined the circle, his lips blue and his face wearing a savage expression. "Gentlemen," said he, "unless we get some refreshment we will never have strength to get down this mountain. There's one thing can save us, and I've made up my mind to it." The greedy eyes of the party were centred upon the speaker. "There's Tom Wilson's yaller dog: he's young and fat, and, by blood! if we can do no better-" At this moment Wilson drew near with an armful of fresh fuel. "Men! an ideer jist struck me. There's a cabin a little below here, p'raps about a quarter, put up for travelers that come here in the sum mer to see the sun rise. Now, there might be something thar a man could eat." "Hurrah for Tom Wilson! Hurry down, and let's have it! Quick, quick!" "There might, at least, be some hoss feed," he continued. "Bring it! Bring it! Corn, oats, chop, bran, any thing!" "1 Tom scratched his head thoughtfully. know there's some hay and corn cobs there, for I see 'em about three weeks ago." "I speak for half a dozen cobs," said Jones; "red ones I prefer, but I am not finnikin." Tom carefully whistled up his dogs, and sending them ahead presently disappeared in the cloud on his hopeful errand. Hope had thrown our adventurers into a state of excitement, and they eagerly fell to conjecturing the chances of the forage. Some thought of one thing, and some of another; but no one had ventured to suggest any thing above corn meal. "Great Lord!" exclaimed Burnsville, "suppose he should find a ham!" "Young man," said the Squire, sternly, "upon what ground do you base such an absurd idea? You do wrong to trifle with the |