s that bad for you, but ef
you'll notice, it's the overflow from that little pool that runs down
through the meadow."

"And it would spoil the drinking water for the horses," exclaimed
Wilbur; "I hadn't thought of that. I'm awfully glad you're along,
Rifle-Eye, for I should be making all sorts of mistakes."

Under the advice of his friend Wilbur washed up and put away the dishes
and then settled down for the evening. He made up his day's report, and
then thought he would write a long letter. But he had penned very, few
sentences when he began to get quite sleepy and to nod over the paper.
The Ranger noted it, and told him promptly to go to bed.

"I'll finish this letter first," said Wilbur.

A moment or two later he was again advised to turn in, and again Wilbur
persisted that he would finish the letter first. There was a short
pause.

"Son," said Rifle-Eye, "what do you suppose you are ridin' from point to
point of the forest for?"

"To see if there's any sign of fire," said the boy.

"And you've got to look pretty closely through those glasses o' yours,
don't you?"

The boy admitted that they were a little dazzling and that he had to
look all he knew how.

"Then, if you make your eyes heavy and tired for the next mornin',
you're robbin' the Service of what they got you for--your eyesight,
ain't you? I ain't forcin' you, noways. I'm only showin' you what's the
square thing."

Wilbur put forward his chin obstinately, then, thinking of the kindness
he had received from the Ranger all the way through, and realizing that
he was in the right, said:

"All right, Rifle-Eye, I'll turn in."

About half an hour later, just as the old woodsman stretched himself on
his pile of boughs outside the tent, he heard the boy mutter:

"I hope I'll never have to live anywhere but here."

The following day and the next were similar in many ways to the first.
Wilbur and the Ranger rode the various trails, the boy learning the
landmarks by which he might make sure that he was going right, and
making acquaintance with the few settlers who lived in his portion of
the forest. On Sunday morning, however, the Ranger told the boy he must
leave him to his own devices.

"I've put in several days with you gettin' you started," he said, "an' I
reckon I'd better be goin' about some other business. There's a heap o'
things doin' all the time, an' as it is I'm pressed to keep up. But
I'll drop in every now an' again, an' you're allers