ILLUSTRATION No. 2
“Pulls like a horse,” Jack replied.
“I’m Greer, of the forest service,” the stranger said, in a moment. “I saw a fire up here this afternoon, and I was afraid harm might come from it during the gale. One blazing brand down in that cañon, and millions of feet of timber would be destroyed.”
“As you see,” Jack said, “we have no fire.”
“This, I presume,” Greer said, still pulling at the machine, “is the aeroplane your friends came in this evening?”
“The same,” replied Pat shortly.
The lad was annoyed to think that the forester, as he called himself, had been watching them. If he had taken so much interest in their movements, Pat thought, why hadn’t he shown himself before?
Jack’s thoughts seemed to be running in the same direction. In fact, both boys were suspicious of this soft-spoken stranger who had come to them out of the storm with questions on his lips.
“Where are your friends?” Greer asked, in a moment. “I hope they are not out in the forest thinking of starting a fire?”