The Butler County Press

There was a little boy who longed for adventure. He had heard his grandfather talk of a wonderful adventure to be had at the top of a mountain where lived a strange old man.

They had never gone all the way to see the old man, for there had been a lovely half-way place where they had always stopped and had a picnic, and then decided to put off the long climb until another time.

Tommy knew, for he had thought it all out, that he would only be able to get just so far at a time. In fact, they had told him so. They had told him that was the reason they had not gone farther.

So he decided he would not expect a great deal to happen at once, nor to accomplish a lot in a short climb. He was willing that the progress should be slow. He knew all along the way he would enjoy himself.

It was holiday time and Tommy made up his mind that he would find the pond and the cave, and he hoped he would see the old man.

Tommy's grandfather was delightedly excited over the idea. "I'll lend you the stick I used to take with me when I started on that trip—only I hope you will go all the way. Then, when you come back you can tell me about it."

His grandfather's eyes shone at the very thought.

So bright and early one morning Tommy started off. No one went with him, for the few boys of his own age didn't like the idea of such a long, long tramp just for a sight of the pretty pond and a possible old man and a possible treasure.

"There's enough to do down by the river here not to go all that way to look for anything." they told him. "Besides, that story of the treasure sounds foolish. There aren't any treasures any more."

But it all sounded so thrilling to Tommy. It was like living years and years ago, somehow, and looking for things that were beautiful, and becoming friends with strange, strange, creatures, and finding a treasured reward at the end. Oh, what would it matter if it was a great effort! What an adventure!

He had a blanket and a knapsack of food and his grandfather's stick.

"Don't be gone too long," his grandfather had said, for his grandfather would miss him as would the other members of the family. But they all envied Tommy his great adventure. They had all dreamed of adventures themselves.

Up and down the hills he climbed through woods and woods. After a long time when he was feeling quite weary he came to a small lake. He thought it was a very pretty lake, and he wondered if it would not be fun to stop here and explore. Probably this would do as well as the other. It was a long climb here, and he was quite, quite tired. But then he remembered that this was where the others had stopped.

There was a higher hill beyond this, then some woods, and then up to the tip-top, it was called. That was where the beautiful pond was to be found, so they said. But now that he was feeling so tired he wondered if the pond really was there. No one had seen it. No one was really sure. Maybe the old man wasn't quite right in his mind. Maybe there wasn't anything there at all—no adventures to be had, no cave, no treasure, no wonderful, wonderful beauty.

He sat and thought about it, but then decided he would go and see, though he was just a little discouraged when no one was really sure.

He had just begun to climb the next hill when he heard a hissing and a swishing in the grass.

Well, he was glad he had his stick with him. There must be no delay. Without a doubt this sound meant a snake.

And no sooner had he thought this than the snake was wriggling along ahead of him. He raised his stick— and kept it raised. Certainly the snake was showing no sign of hurting him. In fact, he was timidly hurrying away. After all, he was rather a pretty snake and he had almost a helpless look. How dreadful, Tommy thought to himself, not to have legs and have to move this way. He put down his stick and the snake looked around.

"Dear me, but that's a relief," the snake said in his funny, hissing voice. Yet Tommy could understand him perfectly.

"What's a relief?" Tommy asked.

"To think that you're a friend," the snake replied.