"John Wimple, John Wimple, John Wimple," the young ranger dressed in olive green muttered to himself as he sat on a fallen snag and gazed down on an unfamiliar scene, "how could you have lost the trail?"

"I was doing so well, too," he continued talking to his bewildered horse, patiently waiting to move on to a promised meadow to end what had been a difficult day. "Hey, Blackie, remember when we took my field test? What a pile of 'camp equipage' they threw at me, to pack on you. I could see the purpose of my loading you down with grub, and a Dutch oven, but what a sneaky thing that was to hand me a surveyor's transit and long-legged tripod."

"We made it the required 100 yards, didn't we old boy, before the saddle slipped. Thank God you didn't panic. And there was Dee Wright with that ear-shattering guffaw of his. I don't think that clown will ever let the story of my field test alone. "Course the way that old packer tells a tale, I had to laugh myself."

"That Dee really knows how to throw a diamond hitch, Blackie. You know he and his string were the ones that packed the building materials up Mt. Hood, and Mt. Jefferson, when they tried maintaining fire lookouts on top. Can you imagine that, Old Hoss, climbing a snow-covered mountain?"

"Sure wish I could be like Dee, Blackie. I'm beginning to think I really wasn't cut out for this job. I felt that I filled the requirements. How did they go? Wait a minute, stand still, I have that advertisement tucked down here somewhere in your saddlebags. Yeh. Here it is: "Wanted, Forest Rangers for the newly-formed U.S. Forest Service. Young men, must be thoroughly self-reliant, sound, and able-bodied, capable of enduring hardships, and performing severe labor under trying conditions. Must be able to build trails and cabins, ride and pack horses, and deal tactfully with all classes of people. Must provide own horses, saddles, and pay for upkeep of animals. Salary, $720 per annum."

"Nothing about being able to find your own way, eh, old faithful? Here I am at my wits end; a hungry fire crew depending on me for supplies. My whole career in danger. All because I don't have a good sense of direction. When Dee finds out about this, he probably will laugh that the only reason I passed the field test was that my horse, had more horse sense

"Hummm. Blackie, you got me out of a jam before. We are at Wits End. I bet you know the way home. How about let's give it a try partner?"