The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-08-12

He WAS beginning TO be hungry also
he had eaten = v,ry early breakfast
and he fell to wondering Just where
and when they were to camp. but he
endured in silence $50 long as Berrie
makes no complaint my mouth is
shut" he told himself. Surely I can
stand it If she can And SO StruS
gled on.
Up and up the pathway looped.
minute little boggy meadows
Oh whose bottomless ooze the grass
shook like blanket. descending ra-
vines and climbing back to dark and
muddy slopes. The forest was drip
ping. green and silent now--a mystic
rious menacing jungle.
I'm glad I'm not riding this pass
Wayland said us they PAUSED
again for breath.
$50 am l." she answered. but her
thought was not his. She was happy
ut the prospect of teaching him how
to camp.
At last they reached the ragged edge
of timber line. and there. rolling away
under the mist. lay the bare. grassy.
upward climbing naked neck Of the
great peak. The wind had grown
keener moment by moment, and when
they left the storm twisted pines be-
low its breath had wintry nip. The
rain had ceased to fall. but the clouds
still hung densely to the loftiest sum-
mits. 1t was Il sinister yet beautiful
world-a world as silent as u dream.
and through the short. thick grass the
slender trail ran like timid serpent.
Now we're Oh the divide. called
Berea. and as she spoke they seemed
to enter upon q boundless Alpine plain
of velvet russet grass. This is the
Bear Tooth plateau" Low monuments
of loose rock stood ON small ledges. as
though to mark the course. and in the
hollows dark ponds of icy water lay.
half surrounded by masses of compact
snow.
This is stormy place in winter"
McFarlane explained. These piles Of
stone are mighty valuable in bliz-
zard. I've crossed this divide in Au-
gust In snow so thick could not see
Il rod
Half an hour later they began to de-
scend. Wind twisted, storm bleached
dwarf pines were first to show. then
the frs. then the blue green spruces.
and then the sheltering deeps of the
undespoiled forest opened. and the roar
Of splendid stream was heard. But
still the supervisor kept his resolute
way. making no promises as to dinner.
though his daughter called: Wed bet
ter 60 into camp at Beaver lake.
hope you're not starved" she called to
Wayland.
''But / am" he replied so frankly
that she never knew how faint he real
" was. His knees were trembling with
weakness. and he stumbled dangerous
II as he trod the loose rocks in the
path.
They were all afoot now descending
swiftly, and the horses romped down
the trail with expectant haste. so that
in less than an hour from timber line
they were back into the sunshine OF
the lower valley. and at 8 o'clock OIL
thereabouts they came out upon the
bank Of an exquisite lake. and with a
CHEEKY shout McFarlane called out
Here we are. out of the wilderness.
Then to Wayland. well. boy. how did
you stand 1T"
''Just middling." replied Wayland
reticent from weariness and with JOY
of their camping place.
With businesslike certitude Berri'
unsaddled her horse. turned him loost
and lent skillfuI hand ut removin:
the panniers from the pack animals
while wayland. willing. but a little un
certain. stood awkwardly about. Tn
der her instruction he collected deaf
branches of a standing fir. and from
these few cones kindled Il blaze
while the supervisor hobbled the horse
and set the tent.
One by one the principles of campin:
were taught by the kindly old rancher
but the hints which the girl gave wer'
quite rs valuable. for Wayland wa
eager to show her that he could b
and intended TO be forester of tn
first class or perish in the attempt.
McFarlane went further and talke'
freely OF the forest and what it mean
to the government. Were all gree
at the work." he said. "and we ol,
chaps are only holding the fort asains
the thieves till you youngsters lear
how to make the best use of the dc
main."
Berrie was glowing with happiness
Lets stay here till the end of tn
week. she suggested. I've alway
wanted to camp on this lake. and noy
I'm here l want time to enjoy it.
well stay day or two." said he
father. '.but must get over TO tina
ditch survey which is being made d
the head Of Poplar. and then Moor
Is coming over to look at some timbe
on Porcupine.
The young people cut willow rod
and went angling 1T the outlet Of tn
lake with prodigious success. The W;
ter rippled with trout. and in half a
hour they had all they could use fe
supper and breakfast. and. behold. eve
as they were returning with their spo
they met covey of grouse strollin
leisurely down to the lakes edge. "lsn
It wonderful place." exclaimed th
happy girl II wish we could stay
month"
Its like being on the. Swiss Famil
Robinson's island. never was MOI
content he said ferventiy.
wouldn't mind staying here all vii
for"