"To me," replied Plant. "Mighty good little joint for the mountains, ain't it?" "Why have you a United States Forest Ranger working on the fences then?" inquired Thorne crisply. Plant stared after his compact, alert figure. The fat man's lower jaw had dropped in astonishment. Nobody had ever dared question his right to use his own rangers as he damn well pleased! A slow resentment surged up within him. He would have been downright angry could he have been certain of this inspector's attitude. Thorne was cold and businesslike, but he had humorous wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. Perhaps all this monkey business was one elaborate josh. If so it wouldn't do to fall into the trap by getting mad. That must be it. Plant chuckled a cavernous chuckle. Nevertheless he ordered his ranger to knock off fence mending for the present. By two o'clock Thorne pushed back his chair and stretched his arms over his head. Plant laughed. "That pretty near finishes what we have here," said he. "There really isn't much to it, after all. We've got things pretty well going. To-morrow I'll get one of the boys to ride out with you near here. If you want to take any trips back country, I'll scare up a pack." This was the usual and never-accepted offer. "I haven't time for that," said Thorne, "but I'll look at that bridge site to-morrow." "When must you go?" "In a couple of days." Plant's large countenance showed more than a trace of satisfaction. On leaving the Supervisor's headquarters, Thorne set off vigorously up the road. He felt cramped for exercise, and he was out for a tramp. Higher and higher he mounted on the road to the mill, until at last he stood on a point far above the valley. The creak and rattle of a wagon aroused him from his contemplation of the scene spread wide before him. He looked up to see a twelve-horse freight team ploughing toward him through a cloud of dust that arose dense and choking. To escape this dust Thorne deserted the road and struck directly up the side of the mountain. A series of petty allurements led him on. Yonder he caught a glimpse of tree fungus that interested him. He pushed and plunged through the manzañita until he had gained its level. Once there he concluded to examine a dying yellow pine farther up the hill. Then he thought to find a drink of water in the next hollow. Finally the way ahead seemed easier than the brush behind. He pushed on, and after a moment of breathless climbing reached the top of the ridge. Here Thorne had reached a lower spur of that range on which were located both the sawmill and Plant's summer quarters. He drew a deep breath and looked about him over the topography spread below. Then he examined with an expert's eye the wooded growths. His glance fell naturally to the ground. "Well, I'll be" began Thorne, and stopped. Through the pine needles at his feet ran a shallow, narrow and meandering trough. A rod or so away was a similar trough. Thorne set about following their direction. They led him down a gentle slope, through a young growth of pines and cedars to a small meadow. The grass had been eaten short to the soil and trampled by many little hoofs. Thorne walked to the upper end of the meadow. Here he found old ashes. Satisfied with his discoveries, he glanced at the westering sun, and plunged directly down the side of the mountain. Near the edge of the village he came upon California John. The old man had turned Star into the corral, and was at this moment seated on a boulder, smoking his pipe, and polishing carefully the silver inlay of his Spanish spade-bit. Thorne stopped and examined him closely, coming finally to the worn brass ranger's badge pinned to the old man's suspenders. California John did not cease his occupation. "You're a ranger, I take it," said Thorne curtly. California John looked up deliberately. "You're an inspector, I take it," said he, after a moment. Thorne grinned appreciation under his close-clipped moustache. This was the first time he had relaxed his look of official concentration, and the effect was most boyish and pleasing. The illumination was but momentary, however. "There have been sheep camped at a little meadow on that ridge," he stated. "I know it," replied California John tranquilly. "You seem to know several things," retorted Thorne crisply, "but your information seems to stop short of the fact that you're supposed to keep sheep out of the Reserve." "Not when they have permission," said California John. "Permission!" echoed Thorne. "Sheep are absolutely prohibited by regulation. What do you mean?" "What I say. They had a permit." "Who gave it?" (6 'What for?" California John polished his bit carefully for some moments in silence. Then he laid it one side and deliberately faced about. "For ten dollars," said he coolly, looking Thorne in the eye. Thorne looked back at him steadily. "You'll swear to that?" he asked. "I sure will," said California John. "How long has this sort of thing gone on?" "Always," replied the ranger. "How long have you known about it?" "Always," said California John. "Why have you never said anything before?" "What for?" countered the old man. There ain't no good in saying anything. "I'd just get fired. He's my superior officer. They used to teach me in the army that I ain't got no call to criticize what my officer does. It's my job to obey orders the best I can." "Why do you tell me, then?" "You're my superior officer, too— and his." "So were all the other inspectors who have been here.". "Them hell!" said California John. Thorne returned to his hotel very thoughtful. It was falling dark, and the preliminary bell had rung for supper. Nevertheless he lit his lamp and clicked off a letter to a personal friend in the Land Office requesting the latter to forward all Plant's vouchers for the past two years. Then he hunted up Auntie Belle. "I thought I should tell you that I won't be leaving my room Wednesday, as I thought," said he. "My business will detain me longer." + T XV HORNE curtly explained himself to Plant as detained on clerical business. While awaiting the vouchers from Washington, he busily gathered the gossip of the place. Naturally the cattle situation was one of the first phases to come to his attention. After listening to what was to be said, he despatched a messenger back into the mountains requesting the cattlemen to send a representative. Ordinarily he would have gone to the spot himself; but just now he preferred to remain nearer the centre of Plant's activities. Jim Pollock appeared in due course. He explained the state of affairs carefully and dispassionately. Thorne heard him to the end without cornment. "If the feed is too scarce for the number of cattle, that fact should be officially ascertained," he said finally. "Davidson - California John was sent back last fall to look into it. I didn't see his report, but John's a good cattleman himself, and there couldn't be no two opinions on the matter.” Thorne had been shown no copy of such a report during his official inspection. He made a note of this. "Well," said he finally, "if on investigation I find the facts to be as you state them—and that I can determine only on receiving all the evidence on both sides - I can promise you relief for next season. The Land Office is just, when it is acquainted with the facts. I will ask you to make affidavits. I am obliged to you for your trouble in coming." Jim Pollock made his three-day ride back more cheered by these few and tentative words than by Superintendent |