The rollicking voice and twinkling eyes, which were Jack's chief
charms, made Patty laugh outright at his song. But, not to be
outdone in fun, and also, to keep herself from growing serious,
she sang back at him:

"I don't want to stay at this place,
I don't like it any more!
I am going to the mountains,
Where I've never been before.
I shall tramp the mountain pathways,
I shall climb the mountain's peak;
I don't want to stay in this place,
So I'll go away next week!"

"All right for you!" declared Jack. "Go on, and joy go with you!
But don't you send me any picture postcards of yourself lost in a
perilous mountain fastness,--'cause I won't come and rescue you.
So there!"

"What is a mountain fastness?" demanded Patty. "It sounds frisky."

"It isn't," replied Jack; "it's a deep gorge, with ice-covered
walls and no way out; and as the darkness falls, dreadful growls
are heard on all sides, and wild animals prowl--and prowl--and
prow-ow-owl!"

Jack's voice grew deep and terrible, as he suggested the awful
situation, but Patty laughed gaily as she said:

"Well, as long as they keep on prowling, they certainly can't harm