to think his more noteworthy feats of altitude had been accomplished about the Alps, the Pyrenees, the Andes, and the lesser Appalachians.

“But you’ve climbed them, haven’t you?”

He burned his bridges behind him. “Only the — ah — eastern slopes.”

“Oh, that’s all right, then. We’re going to do the west. It’ll be wonderful having you — — ”

“Me!”

“Nothing. Let’s go on with the list. M-m-m — where were we? Oh, yes. Now trout flies. Which do you honestly think best for mountain trout? The Silver Doctor or the Gray Hackle or the Yellow Professor? U’m?”