id, the elk steaks were just what each
one had been hungering for, and as the cook supplemented these with a
heaping platter of flapjacks the contentment of the four chums seemed
complete.

"How long do we stay here, Mr. Mabie?" asked Bluff, never hesitating
when in search of information.

"Possibly a week or so. Then back to the ranch, and a new line of
experiences. This terribly dry weather is making me anxious, for the
range is drying up, and we shall be hard set to find pasture for the
cattle soon, unless rain comes along."

"Do you have such a dry spell in summer often up here?" asked Frank.

"Never saw the equal of this since I settled in the valley, many years
ago. Now, down in Ohio, where I originally came from, they have drouths
even in May, at times, and I've seen things go to the dogs more than
once, gardens dried up, and even a forest fire in July, but never up
here," replied the stockman.

"The woods look as though it wouldn't take a great deal to set them
going," declared Frank. "One of the men threw a match down to-day, after
lighting his cigarette, and it seemed like magic the way the fire
flashed up. He had to be quick to jump on it before the breeze carried
it along."

Mr. Mabie frowned.

"I won't ask you which man it was, Frank; but I must warn them again to
be more than ordinarily careful about throwing matches around and
leaving a fire burning anywhere in the woods. Many a grand forest has
been ruined by such carelessness," he said.

"How does that happen, sir?" inquired Bluff.

"It is easy. The careless hunter or trapper leaves his dying fire when
he breaks camp. Then up comes a sudden wind and some of the red cinders
are blown into the dead leaves or punk grass. Fanned by the breeze, they
become a roaring flame in a minute, and the mischief is done. Be
careful, boys, please."

"We certainly will, sir," replied Frank sincerely. "Not to speak of the
damage done, it must be mighty unpleasant to be caught in a forest fire.
I've read of such things, but never hankered for a personal experience."

On the following day they started to look into the possibilities for big
game around the new camp.

"Reddy, here, says he knows of a bear den that we ought to visit some
time later. While at it, you boys must see all there is going in the way
of sport, for you may never come out this way again, though I hope that
will not be the case. To-day, however, we will take things a bit easy,"
remarked t