human
Wha--what was that?
gpt
Didn't you hear someone talking, Mr. Vaughn?
human
Didn't you hear it?
gpt
I heard several things,
human
Yes, so did I, spoke up the Professor.
gpt
I am quite sure it was persons speaking.
human
There it goes again,
gpt
Didn't you boys ever hear that before?
human
Why, that is the 'coons talking to each other.
gpt
The 'coons? exclaimed Chunky, opening his eyes wide.
human
This is a funny place for 'coons up in this wilderness. What do they live on?
gpt
They browse for a living. I mean the four-legged kind. Animals!
human
Oh! I thought you meant--
gpt
Is it possible that that noise is made by 'coons?
human
Yes; they are conversational little gentlemen. Probably are trying to decide upon the best way of getting a meal out of our camp. Boys, tomorrow morning we shall have to busy ourselves at daylight. We are going to have a lesson in permanent camp building, you know.
gpt
Yes, sir,
human
Afterward, if you are agreeable, we will take a tramp over the mountain to a place where a ranger friend of mine lives.
gpt
Rangers? questioned Stacy.
human
I didn't know they had Texas Rangers in Maine.
gpt
Stacy, you are silly,
human
Nor do they, answered the guide.
gpt
The kind I speak of is a forest ranger.
human
What do they range?
gpt
The forest, answered Rector.
human
That's all there is to range up here.
gpt
The forest rangers watch the forests, explained Vaughn.
human
It is their business to see that no timber is cut unlawfully and to watch out for fires and warn campers and hunters to be careful. It is a fine life.
gpt
I should think it would be, agreed the fat boy.
human
But better for them than for me, with the talking 'coons and other things that you can hear but don't see. I'll get another ghost scare if this keeps on. I wish it were morning.
gpt
Morning will come soon enough,