The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1916-06-08
CHAPTER XVI.
Tho enlrIt of the east.

] no BplTW OI tne EAots
Company II, under Captain Donald.
son, they trotted swiftly up with the
quickstep OF hnrdtrained infantry
and stood IN column Of fours while
the oflcors sought the head OF Of
fairs. Daily promptly sent for the
young forest ranger, and in less than
Il takes IN the telling these two keen
Bitted Westerner5, the woodsmar
and the soldier. were ready TO crap
pie with tho enemy LightmarchinF
Kits were dumped upon the ground
and tho hnTd.muscled men took 10
The hiris and the timber under quick
decisive orders Two hours later
wagons arrived with conmIssary sup
piles and the smoky, blackened val
ley took on q military mir.
II wes q Titan struggle. and Il was
Indicative OF the force that has con
luered nature-the human atoms toll
ing IN semidarkness beneath the
threatening forest. choked by the
smoke, 1ayed by the almost unbear
able heat, menaced by the flames that
at any moment might sweep here or
there among the rocks and declivitles
Of the uneven hills and cut on escape
That was the great danger they
guarded ngainst--the possibility Of
getting hemmed in. Guards were de-
tailed 10 watch the vanguards OF the
Zoe. 10 note the speed OF the flames
the lie OF the timber. the lines that
we're likely 70 so fastest. following the
iihereat growths. but In the mysterl-
ous dusk and the silence Of vast
mingled sounds they we're impotent
and each man had TO take care OF him
self.
The mighty boom Of falling patri.
archs Of the forest. hoary with a thou
sand years Of age. crashing through
obstructing branches. shook the earth
each moment. With each such stu
pendous fall wealth and world-econ
omy and prudence trembled at the
sacrilege. Il was a carnival Of waste
a sacrifice OF the gifts Of God-and
among all those who fought It with
heart and hand and brain there was
1one who knew its worldwide import
so well. who lamented It so keenly
as the lean. brown forest rangers
whose special foe It was.
And to think a dozen miles Of gov
ernment trails would have prevented
IT," cried the leader with an oath
Out IN the valleys beyond. the heavy
smoke had obscured the setting sun
entirely. Over the crest Of the Coast
Range Il had spread up to the heay.
ems, drifted afar on the changing wind
and all the distant valley OF the VIII
iametts knew that the forest fires
we're burning IN the hills.
The papers throughout the Htate
told OF it that day and Il awakened
no more interest than would have at
tended the announcement OF a heavier
run OF salmon than was usual in the
Columbia.
They were too common, those fires
that sported with the national wealth
each year, too much q part Of every
day life. and they did not know that
this was to be a marker Of time in
The coast country,
Time was when they we're unknown,
these monsters Of destruction--a long
past time It was. when those first for
est rangers. the silent Red Men Of
the hills, had burned out the under
brush each year so that O pony might
go anywhere unhindered.
The silent rangers had gone with
the years-passed to the Hunting
Grounds and the reservations. via civ
uization, and now the great timber
had shed It's dry foliage and It's pitch,
the little growths had sprung up sea
son after season, the vines had crept
between and a man might not pene.
trate the Businesses without built
trails
So Destiny took up the land and
played with Il that hot, dry August.
All through the early hours Of the
long night they labored, dirty, black.
ened, tattered scarecrows Of men, run
ming here and there, digging like mad
IN the wide trench that was to stop
the surface flames, saving unceN.
ingly at the towering trees, while the
guards brought twentyminute tidings
OF the approaching Ere
High against the dun, smoke-light.
ened sky the dark canopy OF the East
Belt whispered and moaned as II in
fear, and from time to time sandry a
haggard, grim-lipped specter Of a man,
lifted his bloodshot eyes toward IT, Il
was stili his own. his future OF the
Dnliugworth, despite the tangle OF
Iiampdens threats. the unrecorded
deed and the unfinished trail Of the
yellow Pines at the south, and IT
pulled at his heart pathetcally
There was still a stretch OF almost