The coffee came to a boil, the skillet gave off a wondrous savor, and when the corn and beans began to sizzle, the trailers sat down to their feast in hearty content, with one of the panniers for a table, and the fir-tree for roof. “This is one of the most perfectly appointed dining-rooms in the world,” exclaimed the alien.
The girl met his look with a tender smile. “I’m glad you like it, for perhaps we’ll stay a week.”
“It looks stormy,” the Supervisor announced, after a glance at the crests. “I’d like to see a soaking rain—it would end all our worry about fires. The country’s very dry on this side the range, and your duty for the present will be to help Tony patrol.”
While he talked on, telling the youth how to beat out a small blaze and how to head off a large one, Wayland listened, but heard his instructions only as he sensed the brook, as an accompaniment to Berea’s voice, for as she busied herself clearing away the dishes and putting the camp to rights, she sang.
“You’re to have the tent,” said her father, “and we two huskies will sleep under the shade of this big fir. If you’re ever caught out,” he remarked to Wayland, “hunt for one of these balsam firs; there’s always a dry spot under them. See here!” And he showed him the sheltered circle beneath the tree. “You can always get twigs for kindling from their inner branches,” he added, “or you can hew into one of these dead trees and get some pitchy splinters. There’s material for everything you want if you know where to find it. Shelter, food, fire are all here for us as they were for the Indians. A ranger who needs a roof all the time is not worth his bacon.”
So, one by one, the principles of camping were taught by the kindly old rancher; but the hints which the girl gave were quite as valuable, for Wayland was eager to show her that he could be, and intended to be, a forester of the first class or perish in the attempt.
McFarlane went farther and talked freely of the forest and what it meant to the government. “We’re all green at the work,” he said, “and we old chaps are only holding the fort against the thieves till you youngsters learn how to make the best use of the domain.”
“I can see that it takes more than technical training to enable a man to be Supervisor of a forest,” conceded Wayland.
McFarlane was pleased with this remark. “That’s true, too. It’s a big responsibility. When I first came on, it was mainly patrolling; but now, with a half dozen sawmills, and these ‘June Eleventh Homesteads,’ and the new ways of marking timber, and the grazing and free-use permits, the office work has doubled. And this is only the beginning. Wait till Colorado has two millions of people, and all these lower valleys are clamoring for water. Then you’ll see a new party spring up—right here in our state.”
Berrie was glowing with happiness. “Let’s stay here till the end of the week,” she suggested. “I’ve always wanted to camp on this lake, and now I’m here I want time to enjoy it.”