His efforts with the dog, however, did not prevent him from thinking of other matters.  Day after day his mind returned to the problem of the forest fire and the piece of green pasteboard.  Ever since he had found the telltale pile of ashes and the charred pasteboard beneath it, Charley had been turning the problem over in his mind.  How he was to solve the puzzle he did not see.  Somewhere, he felt sure, he had seen pasteboard like the charred piece now in possession of Mr. Morton; but when or where he had seen it, he had not the slightest recollection.  How he was ever to find another piece like it, he could not imagine; for as a fire patrol he had neither time nor opportunity to mingle with people.

He could see just one possibility of success.  Undoubtedly there was a great deal more of the green pasteboard in the world than had been contained in the burned box.  Hence persons other than the incendiary must have some of that same pasteboard.  Perhaps some of those persons might bring a bit of it into the forest.  Campers and fishermen often brought food and other things into the woods in pasteboard boxes.  So Charley resolved to examine carefully every camp he came to, and even to scrutinize the remains of camp fires.  But day followed day and Charley found nothing to enlighten him.

One day when Charley was on his way to meet the ranger, he suddenly realized that he was away behind time.  Charley hated the idea of being tardy, especially when he had no reason for being late.  He had been training his dog, and his work with the pup had delayed him more than he realized.  But with haste he could still reach the meeting-place on time.

At the fastest pace that he thought he could hold Charley set off.  His daily hikes through the forest had rapidly made a good walker of him, and now he went along at a rate that would speedily have tired out most travelers.  Sometimes, to rest himself by changing his gait, he went scout pace, walking fifty steps, then jogging fifty.  He allowed nothing to hinder him or take his attention.  When he reached the meeting-place it still lacked a few minutes of the appointed hour.  Charley was pleased to find that he had arrived before the ranger.

When the time of meeting came and the ranger was not there, Charley began to scan the fire trail carefully and to look about for smoke clouds.  He knew that something of moment must be afoot to make the ranger tardy for his appointment.  The ranger was not visible, however, though Charley could see straight down the fire trail for a long distance.

“I’ll go meet him,” said Charley.  “He’s sure to come this way.”

In the sand of the trail he printed a message for the ranger, in case the latter should be coming by an unaccustomed route, and continued along the trail.  He had gone a full mile before he met Mr. Morton.

“Sorry I am late, Charley,” said the ranger.  “A lot of stuff came to the office for you last night and the chief asked me to fetch it out this morning.  I think your new battery has come.”