"How long do we stay here, Mr. Mabie?" asked Bluff, never hesitating
when in search of information.

"Possibly a week or so. Then back to the ranch, and a new line of
experiences. This terribly dry weather is making me anxious, for the
range is drying up, and we shall be hard set to find pasture for the
cattle soon, unless rain comes along."

"Do you have such a dry spell in summer often up here?" asked Frank.

"Never saw the equal of this since I settled in the valley, many years
ago. Now, down in Ohio, where I originally came from, they have drouths
even in May, at times, and I've seen things go to the dogs more than
once, gardens dried up, and even a forest fire in July, but never up
here," replied the stockman.

"The woods look as though it wouldn't take a great deal to set them
going," declared Frank. "One of the men threw a match down to-day, after
lighting his cigarette, and it seemed like magic the way the fire
flashed up. He had to be quick to jump on it before the breeze carried
it along."

Mr. Mabie frowned.

"I won't ask you which man it was, Frank; but I must warn them again to
be more than ordinarily careful about throwing matches around and
leaving a fire burning anywhere in the woods. Many a grand forest has
been ruined by such carelessness," he said.