of　its　great　lamp；　when　the　yellow　rocks　cast　purple　shad…
  ows；　and　the　resin　was　fairly　cooking　in　the　corkscrew
  cedars。　　The　yuccas　were　in　blossom　now。　　Out　of　each
  clump　of　sharp　bayonet　leaves　rose　a　tall　stalk　hung　with
  greenish…white　bells　with　thick；　fleshy　petals。　　The　nigger…
  head　cactus　was　thrusting　its　crimson　blooms　up　out　of
  every　crevice　in　the　rocks。
  Henry　had　come　out　on　the　pretext　of　hunting　a　spade
  and　pick…axe　that　young　Ottenburg　had　borrowed；　but　he
  was　keeping　his　eyes　open。　　He　was　really　very　curious
  about　the　new　occupants　of　the　canyon；　and　what　they
  found　to　do　there　all　day　long。　　He　let　his　eye　travel　along
  the　gulf　for　a　mile　or　so　to　the　first　turning；　where　the　fis…
  sure　zigzagged　out　and　then　receded　behind　a　stone　prom…
  ontory　on　which　stood　the　yellowish；　crumbling　ruin　of
  the　old　watch…tower。
  From　the　base　of　this　tower；　which　now　threw　its
  shadow　forward；　bits　of　rock　kept　flying　out　into　the　open
  gulfskating　upon　the　air　until　they　lost　their　momen…
  tum；　then　falling　like　chips　until　they　rang　upon　the　ledges
  at　the　bottom　of　the　gorge　or　splashed　into　the　stream。
  Biltmer　shaded　his　eyes　with　his　hand。　　There　on　the　prom…
  ontory；　against　the　cream…colored　cliff；　were　two　figures
  nimbly　moving　in　the　light；　both　slender　and　agile；　entirely
  absorbed　in　their　game。　　They　looked　like　two　boys。　　Both
  were　hatless　and　both　wore　white　shirts。
  Henry　forgot　his　pick…axe　and　followed　the　trail　before
  the　cliff…houses　toward　the　tower。　　Behind　the　tower；　as
  he　well　knew；　were　heaps　of　stones；　large　and　small；　piled
  against　the　face　of　the　cliff。　　He　had　always　believed　that
  the　Indian　watchmen　piled　them　there　for　ammunition。
  Thea　and　Fred　had　come　upon　these　missiles　and　were
  throwing　them　for　distance。　　As　Biltmer　approached　he
  could　hear　them　laughing；　and　he　caught　Thea's　voice；
  high　and　excited；　with　a　ring　of　vexation　in　it。　　Fred　was
  teaching　her　to　throw　a　heavy　stone　like　a　discus。　　When
  it　was　Fred's　turn；　he　sent　a　triangular…shaped　stone　out
  into　the　air　with　considerable　skill。　　Thea　watched　it　en…
  viously；　standing　in　a　half…defiant　posture；　her　sleeves
  rolled　above　her　elbows　and　her　face　flushed　with　heat
  and　excitement。　　After　Fred's　third　missile　had　rung　upon
  the　rocks　below；　she　snatched　up　a　stone　and　stepped　im…
  patiently　out　on　the　ledge　in　front　of　him。　　He　caught　her
  by　the　elbows　and　pulled　her　back。
  〃Not　so　close；　you　silly！　　You'll　spin　yourself　off　in　a
  minute。〃
  〃You　went　that　close。　　There's　your　heel…mark；〃　she
  retorted。
  〃Well；　I　know　how。　　That　makes　a　difference。〃　　He　drew
  a　mark　in　the　dust　with　his　toe。　　〃There；　that's　right。
  Don't　step　over　that。　　Pivot　yourself　on　your　spine；　and
  make　a　half　turn。　　When　you've　swung　your　length；　let　it
  go。〃
  Thea　settled　the　flat　piece　of　rock　between　her　wrist　and
  fingers；　faced　the　cliff　wall；　stretched　her　arm　in　position；
  whirled　round　on　her　left　foot　to　the　full　stretch　of　her
  body；　and　let　the　missile　spin　out　over　the　gulf。　　She　hung
  expectantly　in　the　air；　forgetting　to　draw　back　her　arm；
  her　eyes　following　the　stone　as　if　it　carried　her　fortunes
  with　it。　　Her　comrade　watched　her；　there　weren't　many
  girls　who　could　show　a　line　like　that　from　the　toe　to　the
  thigh；　from　the　shoulder　to　the　tip　of　the　outstretched
  hand。　　The　stone　spent　itself　and　began　to　fall。　　Thea　drew
  back　and　struck　her　knee　furiously　with　her　palm。
  〃There　it　goes　again！　　Not　nearly　so　far　as　yours。　　What
  IS　the　matter　with　me？　　Give　me　another。〃　　She　faced　the
  cliff　and　whirled　again。　　The　stone　spun　out；　not　quite　so
  far　as　before。
  Ottenburg　laughed。　　〃Why　do　you　keep　on　working
  AFTER　you've　thrown　it？　　You　can't　help　it　along　then。〃
  Without　replying；　Thea　stooped　and　selected　another
  stone；　took　a　deep　breath　and　made　another　turn。　　Fred
  watched　the　disk；　exclaiming；　〃Good　girl！　　You　got　past
  the　pine　that　time。　　That's　a　good　throw。〃
  She　took　out　her　handkerchief　and　wiped　her　glowing
  face　and　throat；　pausing　to　feel　her　right　shoulder　with　her
  left　hand。
  〃Ahha；　you've　made　yourself　sore；　haven't　you？
  What　did　I　tell　you？　　You　go　at　things　too　hard。　　I'll　tell
  you　what　I'm　going　to　do；　Thea；〃　Fred　dusted　his　hands
  and　began　tucking　in　the　blouse　of　his　shirt；　〃I'm　going　to
  make　some　single…sticks　and　teach　you　to　fence。　　You'd　be
  all　right　there。　　You're　light　and　quick　and　you've　got　lots
  of　drive　in　you。　　I'd　like　to　have　you　come　at　me　with　foils；
  you'd　look　so　fierce；〃　he　chuckled。
  She　turned　away　from　him　and　stubbornly　sent　out
  another　stone；　hanging　in　the　air　after　its　flight。　　Her　fury
  amused　Fred；　who　took　all　games　lightly　and　played　them
  well。　　She　was　breathing　hard；　and　little　beads　of　moisture
  had　gathered　on　her　upper　lip。　　He　slipped　his　arm　about
  her。　　〃If　you　will　look　as　pretty　as　that〃　he　bent　his
  head　and　kissed　her。　　Thea　was　startled；　gave　him　an
  angry　push；　drove　at　him　with　her　free　hand　in　a　manner
  quite　hostile。　　Fred　was　on　his　mettle　in　an　instant。　　He
  pinned　both　her　arms　down　and　kissed　her　resolutely。
  When　he　released　her；　she　turned　away　and　spoke　over
  her　shoulder。　　〃That　was　mean　of　you；　but　I　suppose　I
  deserved　what　I　got。〃
  〃I　should　say　you　did　deserve　it；〃　Fred　panted；　〃turning
  savage　on　me　like　that！　　I　should　say　you　did　deserve　it！〃
  He　saw　her　shoulders　harden。　　〃Well；　I　just　said　I　de…
  served　it；　didn't　I？　　What　more　do　you　want？〃
  〃I　want　you　to　tell　me　why　you　flew　at　me　like　that！
  You　weren't　playing；　you　looked　as　if　you'd　like　to　murder
  me。〃
  She　brushed　back　her　hair　impatiently。　　〃I　didn't　mean
  anything；　really。　　You　interrupted　me　when　I　was　watching
  the　stone。　　I　can't　jump　from　one　thing　to　another。　　I　pushed
  you　without　thinking。〃
  Fred　thought　her　back　expressed　contrition。　　He　went
  up　to　her；　stood　behind　her　with　his　chin　above　her　shoul…
  der；　and　said　something　in　her　ear。　　Thea　laughed　and
  turned　toward　him。　　They　left　the　stone…pile　carelessly；　as
  if　they　had　never　been　interested　in　it；　rounded　the　yellow
  tower；　and　disappeared　into　the　second　turn　of　the　canyon；
  where　the　dead　city；　interrupted　by　the　jutting　promon…
  tory；　began　again。
  Old　Biltmer　had　been　somewhat　embarrassed　by　the
  turn　the　game　had　taken。　　He　had　not　heard　their　conver…
  sation；　but　the　pantomime　against　the　rocks　was　clear
  enough。　　When　the　two　young　people　disappeared；　their
  host　retreated　rapidly　toward　the　head　of　the　canyon。
  〃I　guess　that　young　lady　can　take　care　of　herself；〃　he
  chuckled。　　〃Young　Fred；　though；　he　has　quite　a　way　with
  them。〃
  VI
  DAY　was　breaking　over　Panther　Canyon。　　The　gulf　was
  cold　and　full　of　heavy；　purplish　twilight。　　The　wood
  smoke　which　drifted　from　one　of　the　cliff…houses　hung　in　a
  blue　scarf　across　the　chasm；　until　the　draft　caught　it　and
  whirled　it　away。　　Thea　was　crouching　in　the　doorway　of
  her　rock　house；　while　Ottenburg　looked　after　the　crackling
  fire　in　the　next　cave。　　He　was　waiting　for　it　to　burn　down　to
  coals　before　he　put　the　coffee　on　to　boil。
  They　had　left　the　ranch　house　that　morning　a　little　after
  three　o'clock；　having　packed　their　camp　equipment　the
  day　before；　and　had　crossed　the　open　pasture　land　with
  their　lantern　while　the　stars　were　still　bright。　　During　the
  descent　into　the　canyon　by　lantern…light；　they　were　chilled
  through　their　coats　and　sweaters。　　The　lantern　crept　slowly
  along　the　rock　trail；　where　the　heavy　air　seemed　to　offer
  resistance。　　The　voice　of　the　stream　at　the　bottom　of　the
  gorge　was　hollow　and　threatening；　much　louder　and　deeper
  than　it　ever　was　by　dayanother　voice　altogether。　　The
  sullenness　of　the　place　seemed　to　say　that　the　world　could
  get　on　very　well　without　people；　red　or　white；　that　under
  the　human　world　there　was　a　geological　world；　conducting
  its　silent；　immense　operations　which　were　indifferent　to
  man。　　Thea　had　often　seen　the　desert　sunrise；a　light…