particularly good humor. And when he stopped on the bank above camp I could
have shouted. He wore his corduroys as if he were ready for outdoor life.
There was a smile on his face as he tied Billy, and, coming down, he poked
into everything in camp and asked innumerable questions. Hal talked about
the bass until I was afraid he would want to go fishing and postpone our
forestry tramp in the woods. But presently he spoke directly to me.

"Well, Kenneth, are you going to come out with the truth about that
Wild-West scheme of yours? Now that you've graduated you want a fling. You
want to ride mustangs, to see cowboys, to hunt and shoot--all that sort of
thing."

When father spoke in such a way it usually meant the defeat of my schemes.
I grew cold all over.

"Yes, father, I'd like all that-- But I mean business. I want to be a
forest ranger. Let me go to Arizona this summer. And in the fall I'd--I'd
like to go to a school of forestry."

There! the truth was out, and my feelings were divided between relief and
fear. Before father could reply I launched into a set speech upon forestry,
and talked till I was out of breath.

"There's something in what you say," replied my father. "You've been
reading up on the subject?"

"Everything I could get, and I've been trying to apply my knowledge in the
woods. I love the trees. I'd love an outdoor life. But forestry won't be
any picnic. A ranger must be able to ride and pack, make trail and camp,
live alone in the woods, fight fire and wild beasts. Oh! It'd be great!"