Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net [Illustration: cover of The Boy with the U. S. Survey] [Illustration: THE CHIEF GEOGRAPHER OF THE UNITED STATES, SURVEYING THE SIERRAS, WITH ASSISTANT TOPOGRAPHER. _Photograph by U.S.G.S._] U. S. SERVICE SERIES. THE BOY WITH THE U. S. SURVEY BY FRANCIS ROLT-WHEELER With Thirty-seven Illustrations from Photographs taken by the U. S. Geological Survey [Illustration] BOSTON LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO. Published, August, 1909 COPYRIGHT, 1909, BY LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO. All rights reserved THE BOY WITH THE U. S. SURVEY Norwood Press BERWICK & SMITH CO. Norwood, Mass. U. S. A. To My Son ROGER ROLT-WHEELER PREFACE Just as manly, courageous, and daring work as has ever been done in the past still is being done, and adventures as great as the world has contained before are happening to-day in these United States. The difference is that while the explorer and adventurer of the past too often sought but personal glory in his exploits, these now are done in the name of and for the benefit of the American people. The adventures in this volume, startling as they may seem, were recounted to the author by the very men who underwent them; slight details only being changed to fit them into the rapid sequence with which they have to be compressed in the pages of a book. This little company of "men who dare" are real beings, living a real life, and ennobling as well as enriching their country by their efforts. In the administration of this department, manliness, alertness, untiring industry, and unfailing courage are the prime essentials, favoritism is unknown, and every American boy and man has an equal chance. The world is not yet all sordid and commonplace and the glamour of an undiscovered peril is not yet all worn away. To show the inner and the outer worth of the United States Geological Survey, as well as to depict the adventurous possibilities open to a lad of perseverance and spirit, is the intent and purpose of THE AUTHOR. CONTENTS CHAPTER I PAGE A START AT THE CAPITAL 1 CHAPTER II A TENDERFOOT SNIPE-SHOOT 23 CHAPTER III FOOLING A RESCUE PARTY 44 CHAPTER IV IN THE GIANT TULE SWAMPS 67 CHAPTER V PERIL IN THE GRAND CANYON 88 CHAPTER VI A LONE HAND AGAINST HUNGER 109 CHAPTER VII SAVED BY HIS NERVE 130 CHAPTER VIII THE LAND WHERE IT NEVER RAINS 149 CHAPTER IX A FIRST-CLASS BUCKING MULE 172 CHAPTER X AMERICANS THAT ARE FORGOTTEN 190 CHAPTER XI WHERE PRIMITIVE JUSTICE REIGNS 210 CHAPTER XII THE ALASKAN TRIP BEGUN 234 CHAPTER XIII WRESTLING WITH A MOUNTAIN GOAT 252