“Well, you remember the day I first met you in the forest, Charley, I was cruising with two good timber estimators.  They’re skilled men.  We were making the estimate on which this sale was based.  I sent in my estimate and the department made its figures on that basis.  But the timber that is actually being taken out doesn’t begin to scale what I thought it would.  Of course I was wrong in not cruising a bigger strip.  But I just couldn’t spare the time, then.  Evidently the stand over in Lumley’s district is not so heavy as it is here.  The right way to estimate timber is to cruise strips entirely across the stand.  You can’t make a correct estimate by cruising an acre or two as I did and estimating an entire stand on the basis of that acre or two.  You see the stand in the bottom may be half as heavy again as the stand on the hillside.”

Mr. Marlin paused.  After a moment, he went on, “Before the lumbermen get into your district I want to make another estimate.  You and I will cruise a few strips the entire width of the stand.  That will take quite a little time.  We can’t start to-day, but we’ll get at it at the first opportunity.  Meantime, I want you to get all the practice you can in scaling lumber, so that you can do it readily.  You will have to scale every stick cut in your district and keep tally on all the lumber that is taken out.  It’s highly important work, for the state depends upon your figures to get its just pay for the lumber cut.  If you make mistakes, the state will lose accordingly.  I want you to practice scaling so that you can do it as readily as you can measure a board with a yardstick.”

“Then I’ll do some practicing to-day,” said Charley.  “You sent my crew into another district and I can put in a whole afternoon practicing.”

“Very good.  I’ll take you out to the skidways where the logs are being piled by the highway, and you can work there as long as you like.  Do you have that log-rule I gave you?”

“Sure.  But what about this?  How shall I know if my measurements are correct?”

“I’ll tell you what we’ll do.  You scale every pile of logs at the highway and make a record of your measurements.  When Lumley turns in his official record we can compare your figures with his.  Then you will know how nearly right you are.”  They went down the mountain and climbed into the motor-car.

“Perhaps you would rather do this some other time,” said the forester suddenly.  “You’ll have to walk back, for I must go right along to my office.  And it’s a great deal farther back here than it would have been to Lumley’s house.”

Charley’s reply was a good-natured laugh.  “Have you ever found me afraid of a little hike?” he asked.  “I may not have another opportunity as good as this, for I’m going to be mighty busy when my crew gets back.”

They drove on, and at the skidways Mr. Marlin dropped his subordinate.  “I’ll be out to see you to-morrow,” he said, “with some maps and specifications I must work out to-night.  Good-bye.”