Unexplored!

tablishing a line of back-fire, but the ground soon became too hot for them, while the air was filled c

exhausted party took turn and turn about, snatching a few hours'

his own ship arrived. It had had a search for him, and had landed, appare

It carried two propellers at the top. The pilot had only to start these and it sucked itself straight

d roof if he had to, (provided, of course, that the roof was flat

ssage," said the pilot. "There!

ooned-there at the Red Top fire-outlook!-'Fire on three sides, on fourth, rapids of Kawa River Gorge. Send help-if you can,

like Mexicans

ne. Like tinder the dried firs burst into a shower of sparks, and with a call to the men, he darted after it. Ace remained

premely well. He knew his

Ranger can't land with that DeHaviland, if he does go after Rosa.

or the bombing-plane!-That poor kid!" He shuddered. "What's t

an about it. Besides, he's got his hands full, wherever he is. But a forest guard was killed l

us flying over a fire. Isn't

––" Ace hesitated

've heard of 'em going to a rock-slide and piling up a barricade of stone and lying be

with the suddenness of a mach

at–

each man soaked his blanket and got under it in midstream while the fire jumped to the other bank. They made a sort of tepee around their heads, got clear under water, and ju

achine, and Ted knew what it

you can bring it

is spirits a toss. "Anyw

. "Going to leave your side-kick behind?"

ed the girl. "Be on me

own. He would first circle well away from the fire, with its super-heated air column, till they came to the gorge of the K

y from the fire zone. Though the day was fair, the spiral of hot air rising above the flaming forest kept them pitchi

rough, upper air, they felt as if they were in a swift elevator. A cloud to the West looked like a fleecy carpet beneath them. The West w

f the flames!-Now they were looking straight down into that picture of red and-black. Rosa, watching frantically from the wee patch of green which was her mountain meadow, looked l

own the gorge of

Ace accomplished the quick swoop, Ted snat

down the canyons that branches Westward from the gleaming crest of the main divide, the snow-c

him in trembling knees. He had been all steel. Now he litera

ver, broke down and wept hysterical

sed them. When, four hours later, Ace awoke and responded to Pedro's "Come and get it!

a government subsidy to encourage commercial aviation. Our Congress has thus far refus

ve the equipment, and the men could protect not only our National Forests, but at the same time keep a watchful

l the state of Utah! At that rate how long will our forests last? And think what a paper fa

ven up their lives in th

e's a bigger fight to put up in Con

doing good work,

ying to,

y can communicate with those below by radio. And they don't have to have smooth landing places, merely ground that is free from st

," Ted enthused, "flying over fires, and finding landing places

t," minimized Ace, modestly. "These accidents

tion, had been stationing the men at intervals to back-fire as far down the ridge as they could stand

miners along the slope, planning himself to take the extreme Western post, where the ri

ridge, where, like the tooth of a comb, it joined t

gion,-as you may have noticed,-and it's likely riddled with caves. Keep an eye out for indications

he boys, though inwardly

o have food ready for t

nd coffee, and fresh meat for one meal, and for the next, erbwurst and pickles, macaroni to be baked with cheese, and tea. She hoped-for more reasons than one-that the Rang

ack but mighty hard to walk in, where the ground was rough. Her bobbed curly hair, red silk blouse and fringed sash added

en camping in the Thompson River Valley. She had found the delectable sweet on a Douglas fir. Some of the dry white masses had been all of two inches long, though most of it had been in the form o

not dried out too quickly after the spring rains, as moisture is necessary as well as sunlight,-(so long as it does not rain and melt off this excess of the tree's digested starch). She had

ed save for some cones of the sugar pine, which she proceed

on the syrup can. Finally sending it clattering to the stony ground,-as she watched from behind two trees that grew close together,-the wee things sat up there on the edge of the can, dipping out its contents with their hand-like pa

nto that deathly silence of the doomed forest slopes, deserted alike by song birds and chipmunks, the

could not. Though the wind still blew up-canyon, they approached the river gorge at right angles, and were able to make t

tretch of seedling firs that clothed the creek bank, showering into sparks at the far end, shot toward them sky rockets of leaping flame. Turning in a pan

obbled horse jerk

apping through the under-brush at the speed of an express train. Its sound

clump of saplings. Then it was too late: The shooting tongues of red were upon them. Dragging Pedro down beside him,-for the roar drowned his voic

sing! He turned to press his sco

as thought they dragged the horse in after them and held him, trembling and snorting, his

fine back-fire, didn't it?-Let's rest awhile." His nerve

tside. He was a fine animal, black as jet and as high-spirited as Spitfire himself. Ted appraised him with longi

"Mexican handiwork, that!" Pedro thought

e sooner than