248 THE ADVENTURES OF A NATURE GUIDE 



had the resourcefulness to appreciate nature under 

 all conditions — moonlight and starlight, in rain 

 and snow — and could impart that pleasure to 

 others; were masters of woodcraft— knew how to 

 build and to extinguish a camp-fire and how to 

 select a camp site; understood horses and the pack- 

 ing of a pack horse. The ways and means of mak- 

 ing their parties safe and comfortable, their knowl- 

 edge of first aid, their vigilance in prevention of 

 accidents, and their mastery of the trail, all became 

 so much a matter of second nature that they were 

 able to give all thought and energy to interesting 

 their people in the natural history features. They 

 had a quick eye for the interesting, the unusual, 

 and the beautiful; they could use a camera. 



The nature guide who understands human na- 

 ture and possesses tact and ingenuity is able to hold 

 divergent interests and scattering members of his 

 party together. He appreciates, too, the eloquence 

 of silence and is skilful in controlling, directing, and 

 diverting the conversation of members of his party 

 lest the beauty of the outdoors be marred by lack 

 of discrimination of some one. He is master of the 

 art of suggestion. He is a leader rather than a 

 teacher. He has control of his party so that he 

 may entertain, instruct, and command without their 

 being aware that he is ruling with a hand of iron 

 when the best results of the trip demand it. 



Good outdoor books are a part of the nature 

 guide's equipment and he is able to introduce 



