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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…
hearted affair； where the sun springs out of bed and the
world is golden in an instant。 But this canyon seemed to
waken like an old man； with rheum and stiffness of the
joints； with heaviness； and a dull； malignant mind。 She
crouched against the wall while the stars faded； and thought
what courage the early races must have had to endure so
much for the little they got out of life。
At last a kind of hopefulness broke in the air。 In a mo…
ment the pine trees up on the edge of the rim were flashing
with coppery fire。 The thin red clouds which hung above
their pointed tops began to boil and move rapidly； weaving
in and out like smoke。 The swallows darted out of their
rock houses as at a signal； and flew upward； toward the
rim。 Little brown birds began to chirp in the bushes along
the watercourse down at the bottom of the ravine； where
everything was still dusky and pale。 At first the golden
light seemed to hang like a wave upon the rim of the can…
yon； the trees and bushes up there； which one scarcely
noticed at noon； stood out magnified by the slanting rays。
Long； thin streaks of light began to reach quiveringly
down into the canyon。 The red sun rose rapidly above the
tops of the blazing pines； and its glow burst into the gulf；
about the very doorstep on which Thea sat。 It bored into
the wet； dark underbrush。 The dripping cherry bushes；
the pale aspens； and the frosty PINONS were glittering and
trembling； swimming in the liquid gold。 All the pale； dusty
little herbs of the bean family； never seen by any one but
a botanist； became for a moment individual and import…
ant； their silky leaves quite beautiful with dew and light。
The arch of sky overhead； heavy as lead a little while be…
fore； lifted； became more and more transparent； and one
could look up into depths of pearly blue。
The savor of coffee and bacon mingled with the smell of
wet cedars drying； and Fred called to Thea that he was
ready for her。 They sat down in the doorway of his
kitchen； with the warmth of the live coals behind them and
the sunlight on their faces； and began their breakfast；
Mrs。 Biltmer's thick coffee cups and the cream bottle
between them； the coffee…pot and frying…pan conveniently
keeping hot among the embers。
〃I thought you were going back on the whole proposi…
tion； Thea； when you were crawling along with that lan…
tern。 I couldn't get a word out of you。〃
〃I know。 I was cold and hungry； and I didn't believe
there was going to be any morning； anyway。 Didn't you
feel queer； at all？〃
Fred squinted above his smoking cup。 〃Well； I am
never strong for getting up before the sun。 The world
looks unfurnished。 When I first lit the fire and had a square
look at you； I thought I'd got the wrong girl。 Pale； grim
you were a sight！〃
Thea leaned back into the shadow of the rock room and
warmed her hands over the coals。 〃It was dismal enough。
How warm these walls are； all the way round； and your
breakfast is so good。 I'm all right now； Fred。〃
〃Yes； you're all right now。〃 Fred lit a cigarette and
looked at her critically as her head emerged into the sun
again。 〃You get up every morning just a little bit hand…
somer than you were the day before。 I'd love you just as
much if you were not turning into one of the loveliest wo…
men I've ever seen； but you are； and that's a fact to be
reckoned with。〃 He watched her across the thin line of
smoke he blew from his lips。 〃What are you going to do
with all that beauty and all that talent； Miss Kronborg？〃
She turned away to the fire again。 〃I don't know what
you're talking about；〃 she muttered with an awkwardness
which did not conceal her pleasure。
Ottenburg laughed softly。 〃Oh； yes； you do！ Nobody
better！ You're a close one； but you give yourself away
sometimes； like everybody else。 Do you know； I've de…
cided that you never do a single thing without an ulterior
motive。〃 He threw away his cigarette； took out his
tobacco…pouch and began to fill his pipe。 〃You ride and
fence and walk and climb； but I know that all the while
you're getting somewhere in your mind。 All these things
are instruments； and I； too； am an instrument。〃 He looked
up in time to intercept a quick； startled glance from Thea。
〃Oh； I don't mind；〃 he chuckled； 〃not a bit。 Every
woman； every interesting woman； has ulterior motives；
many of 'em less creditable than yours。 It's your constancy
that amuses me。 You must have been doing it ever since
you were two feet high。〃
Thea looked slowly up at her companion's good…humored
face。 His eyes； sometimes too restless and sympathetic in
town； had grown steadier and clearer in the open air。 His
short curly beard and yellow hair had reddened in the sun
and wind。 The pleasant vigor of his person was always
delightful to her； something to signal to and laugh with in
a world of negative people。 With Fred she was never be…
calmed。 There was always life in the air； always something
coming and going； a rhythm of feeling and action；
stronger than the natural accord of youth。 As she looked
at him； leaning against the sunny wall； she felt a desire to
be frank with him。 She was not willfully holding anything
back。 But； on the other hand； she could not force things
that held themselves back。 〃Yes； it was like that when I
was little；〃