"Where's the kyacks?" he demanded. [Footnote: Kyacks--pack sacks slung either side the pack saddle.] "You don't get any kyacks," stated Thorne crisply. "Got to pack all that stuff without 'em?" "Sure." Hicks set methodically to work, gathering up the loose articles, thrusting them into sacks, lashing the sacks on the crossbuck saddle. At the end of a half-hour, he stepped back. "That might ride--for a while," said Thorne. "I never pack without kyacks," said Hicks. "So I see. Well, sit down and watch the rest of them. Ware!" Thorne shouted. The prospector disengaged himself from the sprawling and distant group. "Throw those things off, and empty out those bags," ordered Thorne. "Now, there's your camp outfit. Pack it, as fast as you can." Ware set to work, also deliberately, it seemed. He threw a sling, packed on his articles, and over it all drew the diamond hitch. "Reckon that'll travel," he observed, stepping back. "Good pack," commended Thorne briefly, as he glanced at his watch. "Eleven minutes." "Eleven minutes!" echoed Bob to California John, who sat near, "and the other man took thirty-five! Impossible! Ware didn't hurry any; he moved, if anything, slower than the other man." "He didn't make no moves twice," pointed out California John. "He knows how. This no-kyack business is going to puzzle plenty of those boys who can do good, ordinary packing." "It's near noon," Thorne was saying; "we haven't time for another of those duffers. I'll just call up your partner, Ware, and we'll knock off for dinner." The partner did as well, or even a little better, for the watch credited him with ten and one-half minutes, whereupon he chaffed Ware hugely. Then the pack horse was led to a patiently earned feed, while the little group of rangers, with Thorne, his sister and Bob, moved slowly toward headquarters. "That's all this morning, boys," he told the waiting group as they passed it. "This afternoon we'll double up a bit. The rest of you can all take a try at the packing, but at the same time we'll see who can cut down a tree quickest and best." "Stop and eat lunch with us," Amy was urging Bob. "It's only a cold one--not even tea. I didn't want to miss the show. So it's no bother." They all turned to and set the table under the open. "This is great fun," said Bob gratefully, as they sat down. "Good as a field day. When do you expect to begin your examinations? That's what these fellows are here for, isn't it?" He looked up to catch both Thorne and Amy looking on him with a comically hopeless air. "You don't mean to say!" cried Bob, a light breaking in on him. "--of course! I never thought----" "What do you suppose we would examine candidates for Forest Ranger in--higher mathematics?" demanded Amy. "Now that's practical--that's got some sense!" cried Bob enthusiastically.