Produced by Bill Brewer

THE YOUNG FORESTER

By Zane Grey

I. CHOOSING A PROFESSION

I loved outdoor life and hunting. Some way a grizzly bear would come in when I tried to explain forestry to my brother.

"Hunting grizzlies!" he cried. "Why, Ken, father says you've been reading dime novels."

"Just wait, Hal, till he comes out here. I'll show him that forestry isn't just bear-hunting."

My brother Hal and I were camping a few days on the Susquehanna River, and we had divided the time between fishing and tramping. Our camp was on the edge of a forest some eight miles from Harrisburg. The property belonged to our father, and he had promised to drive out to see us. But he did not come that day, and I had to content myself with winning Hal over to my side.

"Ken, if the governor lets you go to Arizona can't you ring me in?"

"Not this summer. I'd be afraid to ask him. But in another year I'll do it."

"Won't it be great? But what a long time to wait! It makes me sick to think of you out there riding mustangs and hunting bears and lions."

"You'll have to stand it. You're pretty much of a kid, Hal--not yet fourteen. Besides, I've graduated."

"Kid!" exclaimed Hal, hotly. "You're not such a Methuselah yourself! I'm nearly as big as you. I can ride as well and play ball as well, and I can beat you all--"

"Hold on, Hal! I want you to help me to persuade father, and if you get your temper up you'll like as not go against me. If he lets me go I'll bring you in as soon as I dare. That's a promise. I guess I know how much I'd like to have you."

"All right," replied Hal, resignedly. "I'll have to hold in, I suppose. But I'm crazy to go. And, Ken, the cowboys and lions are not all that interest me. I like what you tell me about forestry. But who ever heard of forestry as a profession?"

"It's just this way, Hal. The natural resources have got to be conserved, and the Government is trying to enlist intelligent young men in the work--particularly in the department of forestry. I'm not exaggerating when I say the prosperity of this country depends upon forestry."

I have to admit that I was repeating what I had read.

"Why does it? Tell me how," demanded Hal.

"Because the lumbermen are wiping out all the timber and never thinking of the future. They are in such a hurry to get rich that they'll leave their grandchildren only a desert. They cut and slash in every direction, and then fires come and the country is ruined. Our rivers depend upon the forests for water. The trees draw the rain; the leaves break it up and let it fall in mists and drippings; it seeps into the ground, and is held by the roots. If the trees are destroyed the rain rushes off on the surface and floods the rivers. The forests store up water, and they do good in other ways."

Table of contents (by pages)

• 1: The Young Forester by Zane Grey
• 2: Hal often had nightmares even on ordinary nights
• 3: But forestry won't be any picnic
• 4: Look at that bunch of sapling maples
• 5: That forestry really means the salvation of our country
• 6: Then I recognized that they were maple sugar trees
• 7: Takes another feller's quirt that's a whip
• 8: Holston is the station where I get off
• 9: We were due at Holston at eight o'clock
• 10: On the instant I got a bad impression of Holston
• 11: Nobody's got a half hitch on you
• 12: I'm going to meet a friend out in Penetier
• 13: Cless fell to packing a lean pack pony
• 14: Meanwhile my mustang kept steadily up the slow rising trail
• 15: At the same moment the mustangs snorted
• 16: I headed Hal up the gentle forest slope
• 17: But suppose I did not find Dick at the sawmill
• 18: 'Tain't nothin' new fer Greaser
• 19: I walked up the trestle and into the mill
• 20: I put Greaser with Bud an' Bill on his trail
• 21: With that Buell went into his office and closed the door
• 22: What'd they have to do with the Greaser
• 23: I was astounded to recognize Buell
• 24: And he watched Buell with flaming eyes
• 25: I doubt if the Westerners will take to forestry
• 26: I've been on Penetier about a year
• 27: Something will be doing round Holston before many days
• 28: There were several figures moving around the campfire
• 29: One of the lumbermen threw brush on the fire
• 30: Greaser smoked out his cigarette
• 31: Stockton had a great bruise on his forehead
• 32: Buell was superbly mounted on a sleek bay
• 33: Then Stockton ordered a halt for camp
• 34: Stockton let the remark pass without further comment
• 35: The most striking thing about Herky Jerky
• 36: Herky Jerky returned with a long
• 37: Herky Jerky soon had me sputtering
• 38: Dick and I resumed our talk about forestry
• 39: And Herky and Bill looked glum and thoughtful
• 40: I kept the advantage over Greaser
• 41: I took a long look at the canyon
• 42: The deer leaped down the slope
• 43: And then I got down to one haunch
• 44: Suddenly the coyotes became silent
• 45: And I lost no time in running down into the glade
• 46: Are there many lions cougars here
• 47: He had never heard of forestry
• 48: Presently we came to where the canyon forked
• 49: The first canyon had been easy climbing compared to this one
• 50: But you can beat him to it mebbe
• 51: Cubby evidently intended to reach the ground
• 52: The cub bounded through the glade
• 53: An' mebbe they'll leave only one to guard Leslie
• 54: Will you keep out the stockmen
• 55: And he went slower and yet slower
• 56: Cubby would not let well enough alone
• 57: For Cubby lunged forward and down
• 58: And had tied Cubby to a peg in the log wall
• 59: Herky Jerky stood directly in his path
• 60: And beyond them I saw as much of Herky as his boots
• 61: I saw Buell loom up hugely and Bud slowly rise
• 62: With a growl Buell mounted the ladder
• 63: It was plain that Herky and the others
• 64: Herky scratched his head and grinned
• 65: Herky Jerky did not wait for permission
• 66: Herky Jerky had his gun in hand
• 67: As he jumped between Buell and me
• 68: Herky Jerky said unpleasant things
• 69: I happened to catch Herky Jerky's eye
• 70: Presently Dick breathed heavily and Hiram snored
• 71: And then Hiram Bent stopped again
• 72: Sweeping up the slope of Penetier
• 73: It seemed that the whole of Penetier was under my feet
• 74: I hung a canteen on the pommel
• 75: But Target was still going hard
• 76: And Herky flaming with excitement
• 77: Bud scowled and Herky grumbled
• 78: Always toward the far side of the canyon
• 79: I saw Bill and Herky skinning a deer
• 80: Herky mounted the one horse left
• 81: The buckle was an Injun's I shot
• 82: The first person I met was Cless
• 83: My friend in Harrisburg wrote me of your ambition and
• 84: Penetier is tame compared to Coconina