The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1916-01-13
cOoXflCHT SY DOOl MEAD a
CHAPTER XVI.
The Spirit Of the East.

son, LD6y lIOIISu o"ltliy up Win the
fouickstep OF hard-trained infantry
and stood in column OF fours while
the officers sought the head of at
fairs. Daily nron otlv sent for the
young forest ranger, and in less than
1t takes in the telling these two keen
witted Westerners, the woodsman
and the soldier were ready to crap
Die with the enemy. Light-marching
kits were dumped upon the ground
and the hard-muscled men took 70
the hills and the timber under quick.
decisive orders. Two hours later
wagons arrived with commissary sup
plies and the smoky, blackened val
ley took on a military air.
1t was Titan struggle, and 1t was
indicative of the force that has con-
quered nature-the human atoms toll
ing in semidarkness beneath the
threatening forest. choked by the
smoke, f1ayed by the almost unbear-
able heat, menaced by the flames that
at any moment might sweep here or
there among the rocks and declivities
of the uneven hills and cut off escape.
That was the great danger they
guarded against-the possibility Of
getting hemmed in. Guards were de-
tailed to watch the vanguards of the
foe, to note the speed of the flames.
the lie of the timber. the lines that
were likely to go fastest, following the
different growths, but in the mysteri-
GUS dusk and the silence Of vast
mingled sounds they were 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
pendous fall wealth and world-econ-
omy and prudence trembled at the
sacrilege. 1t 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
none 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
eminent 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 it had spread up to the heav-
ems, Grifted afar on the changing wind
and all the distant valley of the Will
lamette knew that the forest fires
were burning in the hills.
The papers throughout the state
told of it that day. and it awakened
no more interest than would have at
tended the announcement Of 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 a 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 were unknown,
these monsters of distinctions 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 pony might
go anywhere unhindered. ,
The silent rangers had gone with
the years-passed to the Hunting
Grounds ard the reservations, via CIV
and now the great timber
had shed it's dry foliage and its pitch, !
he little growths had sprung up sea-
son after season, the vines had crept |
between and a man might not pene-
rate the Businesses without built
rails
So Destiny took up the land and
played with it that hot, dry August.
All through the early hours Of the
ong night they labored, dirty, black
med, tattered scarecrows of zen, run !
ling here and there, digging like Lad |
7 the wide trench that was to stop |
he surface flames, saving unceas-
ngly at TIE towering trees. while the |
,uards brought twenty-minute ti6ings |
# the approaching fire.
High against the dun, smoke-light |
med sky the dark canopy of the East |
Belt whispered and moarei as if in !
ear, ard from tine to the Sardry, a |
grin-ipped specter of man,
fitted his bloodshot eyes toward it 1t
vas still his own. his future of the
despite the ta1gle of |
threats. the unrecorded |
eed and the unfinished trail of the |
elbow Pines at the south. ard it.
ulled at his heart pathetically.
There was still a stretch of almost |
timber near the summit
I the big ridge which must be cut I
trough before the flames reached it,
r all would be lost.
Shall we make it, John?" asked
he owner desperately of Daily. who
an by in the smoke with wet rags to
e ever the mouths of the Inel
Ought to IL the wind stays where
is
1t was two o'clock and that hour in
ne sleeping world outside when all
le elements Ere at ar ebb.
Then, all suddenly, Destiny laughed.
nS Qesti-y's laugh was a whoopinE