A SPORTSMAN'S EDEN 45 



sunset faded into twilight and a million stars 

 were born to light the heavens. We told the 

 rangers of the forest fire on Baldy, and while 

 we spread our beds upon the ground they made 

 preparations for an early morning start to fight 

 the Baldy fire. 



Forest rangers furnish their own saddle and 

 pack horses and as a general rule have excel- 

 lent animals, well cared for and particularly 

 adapted for the rugged mountain work that 

 they are called upon to perform. The ranger's 

 equipment, when he is on more or less extended 

 duty, consists of tents, blankets, several days' 

 provisions, cooking utensils, axes, ropes, a rifle, 

 and usually a six-shooter. Each man has one 

 pack horse besides his saddle horse. When he 

 is on light patrol duty, however, all his equip- 

 ment and rations are taken on his saddle, and 

 he is able to carry several days* rations in this 

 way, for he eliminates tent and all equipment 

 not absolutely essential, for comfort must often 

 be sacrificed to weight and speed. 



We left Rudd and Rogers, packing and sad- 

 dling up, shortly after daybreak the next morn- 

 ing, and wound our way down Rock Creek 

 Canon and across country to White River 

 Canon, following the river down as its canon 

 widened into a valley. 



