“You are especially employed to guard this virgin timber, though, of course, you must protect any part of the forest you happen to be in.  Take some good hikes over the region right away and get acquainted with it.  Use your map and, if possible, learn the region by heart.  Then your map will mean something to you.  Learn where the virgin timber lies.  Keep a close watch on it, and on any fishermen or campers.  I’ll spend at least two days a week out here and you must report to me each time I am here.  Meantime, you must report to the office every night the last thing before you turn in.  The chief said you had a wireless and could do it.  Maybe you can, but it beats me to know how.”

“We’ll show you in a little while,” smiled Charley as he glanced at his watch.  “Willie will surely be listening in within twenty minutes and we’ll call him.”

“I’ll have to take your word for it,” said the ranger.  “I can’t wait a minute.  It will be long after dark before I get out of the mountains.  I telephoned my wife I’d be late, but she always worries when I’m out after dark.  You know snakes are bad up here, and they’re all out at night.  And by the way, you’d better carry some of this permanganate.  Do you know anything about it, and what to do with it if you’re bitten?” The ranger started to pull a bottle from his pocket.

“Thanks,” said Charley.  “It’s mighty good of you to offer to share with us.  But we have permanganate and a syringe both, and we know what to do with them.”

“Good.  But be careful where you step.  What do you wear on your feet?”

He examined the boys’ shoes and canvas leggings.  “They’re all right.  I don’t believe any snake will bite through them.  But high leather boots would be safer.  Bear it in mind when you buy new shoes.  Now I must go.”

“When and where am I to report to you?” asked Charley.

They agreed upon a place of meeting, half-way between the highway and Charley’s camp, whereupon the ranger, holding out his hand, said, “Good-bye and good luck to you.”

“Do you have to go?” asked Charley.  “Couldn’t you stay overnight with us?”

“I’d like to, but the wife would worry herself sick.”

“Suppose she knew that you were going to stay here.  Would that make it all right?”

“I’m often away overnight during the fire season,” smiled the ranger.  “It’s the snakes that she’s afraid of.  She’d rather have me stay here all night than come through these mountains after dark.  You see her father was bitten by a snake when she was a girl and she is mortally afraid of them.”

“Then you’re going to stay here all night,” said Charley, with decision.  “I’ll get word to her right away.”

The ranger smiled incredulously.  “I wish you could,” he said.  “It would relieve her mind.”

Charley threw aside the pack cover that had been placed over the wireless instruments.  The ranger looked at the outfit with wondering interest.  Charley glanced at his watch and threw over the switch.