of 



tance above, the fire had destroyed every living 

 thing. 



At the forks I found many things of interest. 

 The branch with dark waters from the barren 

 slopes was already swollen to many times its 

 normal volume and was thick with sediment 

 from the fire-scarred region. The stream with 

 white waters from the forest had risen just a 

 trifle, and there was only a slight stain visible. 

 These noticeable changes were produced by an 

 hour of rain. I dipped several canfuls from the 

 deforested drainage fork, and after each had 

 stood half a minute the water was poured off. 

 The average quantity of sediment remaining 

 was one fifth of a canful, while the white water 

 from the forested slope deposited only a thin 

 layer on the bottom of the can. It was evident 

 that the forest was absorbing and delaying the 

 water clinging to its soil and sediment. In fact, 

 both streams carried so much suggestive and 

 alluring news concerning storm effects on the 

 slopes above that I determined to hasten on in 

 order to climb over and watch them while they 

 were dashed and drenched with rain. 



272 



