Translation:The High Mountains/37

“As from tomorrow I'm setting up my guard post in the vicinity, said the forest ranger. However, I'll need help. First of all a hut; then I'll have to be able to inform the policemen who are at the Small Village or at the police station in Petra, as well as the second forest ranger who is near the woodcutters. Also I'll need a second ranger, and if necessary a third.”

When Andreas heard this, he got a whistle out of his pocket. Then he made a signal to the other children to get out their whistles and to whistle all together, as soon as he raised his hand.

A thunderous whistling was heard by the ten whistles. You could have heard it really far away.

—If you need us young ones, said Andreas, we are here. We have our whistles, our sticks and our bags. We can go to the Small Village and to Petra and to the woodcutters.

—That would be good work, said the forest ranger.

—And we will stand guard, said Andreas. Don't see us as children; we are twenty-six.

The forest ranger looked at the children curiously. He saw they were suntanned; they appeared courageous. Andreas seemed to know how to lead.

—Who's with you here? He asked. Who's accompanying you?

—Nobody.

—You're all alone?

—All alone.

—Since when?

—A week.

—Children who can stay here alone can also help the forest ranger. Come with me.

He led them to a densely wooded place. There he showed them how they were to stand guard during the night and what they should do if it happened that they should hear axe blows against the trees.