He appeared much surprised.
"Thank you," he said, finally. "You certainly have been observant." Then he
turned to his officers. "Gentlemen, here's a new point of view from
first-hand observation. I call it splendid conservation. It's in the line
of my policy. It considers the settler and lumberman instead of combating
him."
He shook hands with me again. "You may be sure I'll not lose sight of you.
Of course you will be coming West next summer, after your term at college?"
"Yes, sir, I want to--if Dick--"
He smiled as I hesitated. That man read my mind like an open book.
"Mr. Leslie goes to the Coconina Forest as head forest ranger. Mr. Williams
goes as his assistant. And I have appointed Mr. Bent game warden in the
same forest. You may spend next summer with them."
I stammered some kind of thanks, and found myself going out and down-stairs
with my friends.
"Oh, Dick! Wasn't he fine? ... Say, where's Coconina Forest?"
"It's over across the desert and beyond the Grand Canyon of Arizona.
Penetier is tame compared to Coconina. I'm afraid to let you come out
there."
"I don't have to ask you, Mr. Dick," I replied.
"Lad, I'll need a young fellar bad next summer," said old Hiram, with
twinkling eyes. "One as can handle a rope, an' help tie up lions an' sich.
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