200 THE LOG OF A TIMBER CRUISER 



" Your able Supervisor, " here he bowed graciously 

 to Johns, who seemed in rare good humour, "has 

 been giving me much valuable material regarding 

 your forests in general, and the Gila National Forest 

 in particular. And in consequence I have, I think 

 I may say, a much more comprehensive grasp of the 

 subject than I had before our conference. " 



Here the speaker paused, while we all cheered. 



He bowed and went on: 



"I have learned much about the Gila, but nothing 

 which could be termed derogatory. It was with 

 pleasure, therefore, that I gathered from my son 

 to-day that he intends taking the examination of 

 Assistant Forest Ranger next week, which test, I 

 understand, some of you young gentlemen are also 

 to attempt. 



"I speak of this now, among Horace's good 

 friends, because in the past, I have, like all fathers, 

 at times felt some misgivings in regard to his choice 

 of a career. And I realise that to the association 

 with you boys, his companions in camp and cabin 

 to you and to his friends in Silver City is due this 

 sudden resolve on his part, a resolve I have only 

 sympathy for, a resolve that will cause him, I trust, 

 to bear his part worthily in a world of men." 



The speaker was visibly moved. His words held 

 the unmistakable ring of genuine feeling. We felt 

 a little uncomfortable, and, I'm afraid, a little sorry 

 for him. Horace a ranger ! Did he have it in him 

 to make good? It was hard to say. But then we 



