THE FOREST RANGER 



455 



men to immediate suffocation. The mine timbers were on fire, and the tunnel 

 was filled with smoke. Pulaski stood at the mouth of the tunnel, with drawn 

 revolver and held the men back. In the gang of 40, there were but few 

 Americans. These helped Pulaski control the the others, most of whom before 

 long were lying on the ground gasping for breath, crying and praying. In 

 five hours, the cave became a mad house. Now and then tortured men would 

 rush upon the indomitable ranger, trying to get past him to the open, only 

 to be hurled back and grimly ordered to lie down with faces close to the 

 ground. That he was able to stand and fight men within and fire without 

 for as long as he did is a miracle and sets a new sandard for American hardi- 

 hood. At first it was thought that Ranger Pulaski would lose his sight, but 

 prompt treatment in a hospital saved his eyes. Pulaski is a great-grandson 

 of Count Pulaski, the polish exile of Revolutionary fame. He is the oldest 

 male in direct line of descent and inheritor of the title of count — but Pulaski 

 American forest ranger, does not care for that sort of thing. 



Through the efforts of such men as Pulaski, the people of the United 

 States are saved each year thousands of acres of valuable timber land that 

 otherwise would be fire swept and worthless. But before fires can be alto- 

 gether prevented, larger forces of rangers must be provided, and much work 

 done in preparing permanent systems of fire protection. The bleached and 

 deadened tree trunks which cover many a western mountain side are mute 

 witnesses of the tardiness of our Government in giving needed protection to 

 its forests. 



It is a big task to think of attempting to reforest these burned areas, yet 

 the Forest Service is making a beginning in this direction. The rangers, along 

 with their other duties, gather each year hundreds of bushels of cones from 

 which the seeds are taken and either sown broadcast or sown in seed beds in 

 nurseries, and the seedlings thus produced, set out on steep slopes, unsuited to 

 agriculture or beneath the chapparal or aspen that cover the burns where 

 forests once stood. 



Not much is yet apparent in the way of visible results, but the work is yet 

 in its infancy and, doubtless, before long many a desolate spot will again be 

 brightened and made useful by tree planting. The work of the ranger is a work 

 that looks forward, and these humble servants of Uncle Sam are not easily 

 discouraged. Skilled men are planning the work they do, and the laborers 

 are worthy of their hire. 



