He had spoken of it before, and she had approved of it.
"When do you think of going ?" she asked.
"The day after to-morrow, if I can get ready." "I will go with you." "No, no, Blanche; the journey will be too great for you.

You cannot go that distance." With a smile, she answered: "Surely, as I have gone with you on so many perilous journeys, you will not deny me this." "Deny you, Blanche?
I can deny you nothing; but I fear the journey will overtax your strength." "I can go wherever you do," she answered.
He made no further objection, and next day they prepared to scale those heights which human feet had never trod.

John had made for each a pair of stout shoes, the soles of which were of a kind of wood almost as elastic as leather and the tops of tanned goat-skins.

Their shoes were well suited for travel through the wilderness and in stony countries.
Knowing what a fatiguing journey lay before them, John travelled slowly and at the end of the first day halted at the foot of the mountain, where he built a fire, and they slept in perfect security.
The island was free from poisonous reptiles and insects, and since the foxes had been nearly exterminated, there was not a dangerous animal on the island.

When morning came, they breakfasted and prepared to ascend the mountain.