reful never to know anything of this."

Bob opened his mouth to say something; was suddenly struck by a thought,
and closed it again.

"Why do you say that?" he asked at last. "Why do you think Miss Thorne
must know of this?"

But Orde only smiled amusedly beneath his white moustache.

They found Ashley Thorne, and acquainted him with the whole situation.
He listened thoughtfully.

"The matter is over our heads, of course; but we must do our best. Of
course, by all rights the man ought to be indicted; but there can be no
question that there is a common sense that takes the substance of
victory and lets the shadow go."

Orde stayed to supper and over night. In the course of the evening
California John drifted in, and Ware, and Jack Pollock, and such other
of the rangers as happened to be in from the Forest. Orde was at his
best; and ended, to Bob's vast pride, in getting himself well liked by
these conservative and quietly critical men of the mountains.

The next morning Bob and his father saddled their horses and started
early for the mill, Bob having been granted a short leave of absence.
For some distance they rode in silence.

"Father," said Bob, "why did you stop me from contradicting Baker the
other day when he jumped to the conclusion that I was going to quit the
Service?"

"I think you are."

"But--"

"Only if you want to, Bob. I don't want to force you in any way; but
both Welton and I are getting old, and we need younger blood. We'd
rather have you." Bob shook his head. "I know what you mean, and I
realize how you feel about the whole matter. Perhaps you are right. I
have nothing to say against conservation and forestry methods
theoretically. They are absolutely correct. I agree that the forests
should be cut for future growths, and left so that fire cannot get
through them; but it is a grave question in my mind whether, as yet, it
can be done."

"But it is being done!" cried Bob. "There is no difficulty in doing it."

"That's for you to prove, if you want to," said Orde. "If you care to
resign from the Service, we will for two years give you full swing with
our timber, to cut and log according to your ideas--or rather the ideas
of those over you. In that time you can prove your point, or fail.
Personally," he repeated, "I have grave doubts as to whether it can be
done at present; it will be in the future of course."

"Why, what do you mean?" asked Bob. "It is being done every day! There's
no