The state herald., 1920-12-17


every year by forest fire. A fire can
be stopped easily n It Is seen soon
after II stnrts. But let Il burn awhile.
In this dry season. and It's terror-a
wall OF flame that races through the
forests and can hardly be stopped.
And maybe you don't realize how
enormous this region Is-literally hun
dreds of miles across. We're the last
outpOst-there are four cabins. II you
can find them. In the first seventy
miles back to town. So they have to
put lookouts on the high points. md
now they're coming to the use of air
planes so they cnn keep even better
watch. Snowbird and girl friend
from college got Jobs this summer ms
lookouts-all through the forest serv.
Ice they are hiring women for the
work. They are more vigilant than
men. less inclined to take chances.
and work cheaper. These two girls
have cabin near spring. and they
cook their own food. and are making
what Is big wages In the mountains.
I'm rather hoping she'll drop over for
few minutes tonight"
Good Lord-does she travel over
these hills In the darkness?"
The mountalneer laughed-a de-
lighted sound that came somewhat
curiously from the bearded lips Of the
stern. dark man. "Dan, I'll swear she's
afraid Of nothing that walks the face
nj hn aa, ,th nd tcv,t rh
hasn't had experience either. She's
dead shot with pistol. for one thing.
She's physically strong. and every
muscle Is hard as nails. She used to
have Shag. too-the best dog In all
these mountains. She's a mountain
girl, I tell you; whoever wins her has
got to be able to tame herr The
mountaineer laughed again.
The call to supper came then. and
Dan got his first sight Of mountain
food. There were potatoes. newly
dug. mountain vegetables that were
crisp and cold. steak OF peculiar
shape. and great howl OF purple ber-
ries to be eaten with sugar and cream.
Dams appetite was not as rule pnr-
tlcularly good. But evidently the long
ride had affected him. He simply
didn't have the moral courage 10 re-
fuse when the elder Lennox heaped
his plate.
"Good heavens. can't eat ail that"
he said. as II was passed TO him. But
the others laughed and told him to
take heart.
He took heart. II was a singular
thing. but at that first bite his sudden
confidence In his eustatory ability al
most overwhelmed him. 80 he cut
himself a bite Of the tender steak
folly half as generous as the bites that
Bill: was consuming across the table.
And Its 6rst flavor simply filled him
with delight.
"what Is this meatf' he asked.
"Fve certainly tnsted II before"
"Tll bet few dollars thnt you
haven't. II you've lived nil your life
In the Middle West" Lcnnox nm.
swered. "Mnybe you've got what the
scientists call IN Inherited memory Of
It. It's the kind Of meat your grand.
father used to live on--venIson."
Soon after dinner Lennox led him
out OF the house for his first glimpse
Of the hills In the darkness.
They walked together out to the
gate. across the first of the wide nns-
lures where. AT certain seasons. Len.
nox kept his cattle; and nj last they
came ont upon the tree-c6vercd ridge.
The moon was just rising. They could
see II casting curious CLINT over the
very tips OF the pines But II couldn't
get down between them. They stood
too close. too tall and thick for that.
And for a moment. Dams only sensa-
tlon was one OF silence.
"You have TO stand stiil n moment.
10 really know anything" Lennox told
him.
They both stood still. Dan was ns
motlonless ms that day In the park.
long weeks before. when the squirrel
had climbed on his shoulder. The first
effect was n sensation that the silence
was deepening around them. II wasn't
really true. II was simply that he
Ind become aware of the little con.
tinnous sounds Of which usually he
was unconscious. and they tended 10
acceniunte the hush of the night. Hc
knew, lust ns nil mountnincers know,
TINT the wilderness about him was
stirring and pulslng with life Some
OF the sounds were quite clcnr--an
occasional stir OF pebble or the crack
OF twlg and some. like the falntcst
lwltchlns OF leaves In the brush not
ten feet distant, could only be guessed
nt.
"whai Is making the soundsf" he
asked.
He didn't know n. nj the time. hut
Lennox turned quickly toward him. n
wasn't TINT the question hnd surprised
the mountalncer. Rather II was the
tone In which Dan Ind spohcn. II wns
perfectly cool. perfectly self-con.
tnlncd.
"rhc one right close is n chipmunk.
| don't know whnt the others are: no