THE LAST CAMP 193 



connaissance since the Forest Service came into ex- 

 istence and before, and I've never known a more 

 difficult job than we have just completed nor met 

 a better spirit than you've put into yotar work. 

 We've run nearly a hundred and fifty miles of base- 

 line, cruised more than two hundred and fifty 

 thousand acres of timber and woodland and made 

 thirty-two camps, and all in the roughest and most 

 constantly difficult cruising country I've ever come 

 across. Primarily we are working for a living. 

 But in a sense we've gained something even more 

 important by this season's experience. We have 

 been developed and changed by our daily tasks, 

 and the habit of doing them, in spite of all obstacles, 

 honestly. We have broadened our point of view by 

 the associations made here in the woods and through 

 a better understanding of one another. We are dif- 

 ferent men from those who started out in May. I 

 want you to know that I feel deeply the value of it 

 all to myself and that I am certain that though we 

 separate now to the four winds the results of our 

 summer's experience will remain with each of us 

 through life." 



We were rather surprised by this speech. Frazer 

 was essentially undemonstrative, and we knew that 

 he felt all and more than he had said. And his talk 

 gave us a sort of lonesome, empty feeling. When he 

 spoke of parting, it was as if some friend had died. 

 Never again, we thought, would there be such days 

 for any of us. Set we knew that we were the better 



