viously，standinginahalf—defiantposture，hersleevesrolledaboveherelbowsandherfaceflushedwithheatandexcitement。AfterFred’sthirdmissilehadrungupontherocksbelow，shesnatchedupastoneandsteppedim—
　　patientlyoutontheledgeinfrontofhim。Hecaughtherbytheelbowsandpulledherback。
　　"Notsoclose，yousilly！You’llspinyourselfoffinaminute。"
　　"Youwentthatclose。There’syourheel—mark，"sheretorted。
　　"Well，Iknowhow。Thatmakesadifference。"Hedrewamarkinthedustwithhistoe。"There，that’sright。
　　Don’tstepoverthat。Pivotyourselfonyourspine，andmakeahalfturn。Whenyou’veswungyourlength，letitgo。"
　　Theasettledtheflatpieceofrockbetweenherwristandfingers，facedthecliffwall，stretchedherarminposition，whirledroundonherleftfoottothefullstretchofherbody，andletthemissilespinoutoverthegulf。Shehungexpectantlyintheair，forgettingtodrawbackherarm，hereyesfollowingthestoneasifitcarriedherfortuneswithit。Hercomradewatchedher；thereweren’tmany
　　girlswhocouldshowalinelikethatfromthetoetothethigh，fromtheshouldertothetipoftheoutstretchedhand。Thestonespentitselfandbegantofall。Theadrewbackandstruckherkneefuriouslywithherpalm。
　　"Thereitgoesagain！Notnearlysofarasyours。WhatISthematterwithme？Givemeanother。"Shefacedthecliffandwhirledagain。Thestonespunout，notquitesofarasbefore。
　　Ottenburglaughed。"WhydoyoukeeponworkingAFTERyou’vethrownit？Youcan’thelpitalongthen。"
　　Withoutreplying，Theastoopedandselectedanotherstone，tookadeepbreathandmadeanotherturn。Fredwatchedthedisk，exclaiming，"Goodgirl！Yougotpastthepinethattime。That’sagoodthrow。"
　　Shetookoutherhandkerchiefandwipedherglowingfaceandthroat，pausingtofeelherrightshoulderwithherlefthand。
　　"Ah——ha，you’vemadeyourselfsore，haven’tyou？
　　WhatdidItellyou？Yougoatthingstoohard。I’lltellyouwhatI’mgoingtodo，Thea，"Freddustedhishandsandbegantuckingintheblouseofhisshirt，"I’mgoingtomakesomesingle—sticksandteachyoutofence。You’dbeallrightthere。You’relightandquickandyou’vegotlotsofdriveinyou。I’dliketohaveyoucomeatmewithfoils；
　　you’dlooksofierce，"hechuckled。
　　Sheturnedawayfromhimandstubbornlysentoutanotherstone，hangingintheairafteritsflight。HerfuryamusedFred，whotookallgameslightlyandplayedthemwell。Shewasbreathinghard，andlittlebeadsofmoisturehadgatheredonherupperlip。Heslippedhisarmabouther。"Ifyouwilllookasprettyasthat——"hebenthisheadandkissedher。Theawasstartled，gavehimanangrypush，droveathimwithherfreehandinamannerquitehostile。Fredwasonhismettleinaninstant。Hepinnedbothherarmsdownandkissedherresolutely。
　　Whenhereleasedher，sheturnedawayandspokeover
　　hershoulder。"Thatwasmeanofyou，butIsupposeI
　　deservedwhatIgot。"
　　"Ishouldsayyoudiddeserveit，"Fredpanted，"turningsavageonmelikethat！Ishouldsayyoudiddeserveit！"
　　Hesawhershouldersharden。"Well，IjustsaidIde—
　　servedit，didn’tI？Whatmoredoyouwant？"
　　"Iwantyoutotellmewhyyouflewatmelikethat！
　　Youweren’tplaying；youlookedasifyou’dliketomurderme。"
　　Shebrushedbackherhairimpatiently。"Ididn’tmeananything，really。YouinterruptedmewhenIwaswatchingthestone。Ican’tjumpfromonethingtoanother。Ipushedyouwithoutthinking。"
　　Fredthoughtherbackexpressedcontrition。Hewentuptoher，stoodbehindherwithhischinabovehershoul—
　　der，andsaidsomethinginherear。Thealaughedandturnedtowardhim。Theyleftthestone—pilecarelessly，asiftheyhadneverbeeninterestedinit，roundedtheyellowtower，anddisappearedintothesecondturnofthecanyon，wherethedeadcity，interruptedbythejuttingpromon—
　　tory，beganagain。
　　OldBiltmerhadbeensomewhatembarrassedbytheturnthegamehadtaken。Hehadnotheardtheirconver—
　　sation，butthepantomimeagainsttherockswasclearenough。Whenthetwoyoungpeopledisappeared，theirhostretreatedrapidlytowardtheheadofthecanyon。
　　"Iguessthatyoungladycantakecareofherself，"hechuckled。"YoungFred，though，hehasquiteawaywiththem。"
　　VI
　　DAYwasbreakingoverPantherCanyon。Thegulfwascoldandfullofheavy，purplishtwilight。Thewoodsmokewhichdriftedfromoneofthecliff—houseshunginabluescarfacrossthechasm，untilthedraftcaughtitandwhirleditaway。Theawascrouchinginthedoorwayofherrockhouse，whileOttenburglookedafterthecracklingfireinthenextcave。Hewaswaitingforittoburndowntocoalsbeforeheputthecoffeeontoboil。
　　Theyhadlefttheranchhousethatmorningalittleafterthreeo’clock，havingpackedtheircampequipmentthedaybefore，andhadcrossedtheopenpasturelandwiththeirlanternwhilethestarswerestillbright。Duringthedescentintothecanyonbylantern—light，theywerechilledthroughtheircoatsandsweaters。Thelanterncreptslowlyalongtherocktrail，wheretheheavyairseemedtoofferresistance。Thevoiceofthestreamatthebottomofthegorgewashollowandthreatening，muchlouderanddeeperthaniteverwasbyday——anothervoicealtogether。Thesullennessoftheplaceseemedtosaythattheworldcouldgetonverywellwithoutpeople，redorwhite；thatunderthehumanworldtherewasageologicalworld，conductingitssilent，immenseoperationswhichwereindifferenttoman。Theahadoftenseenthedesertsunrise，——alight—
　　heartedaffair，wherethesunspringsoutofbedandtheworldisgoldeninaninstant。Butthiscanyonseemedtowakenlikeanoldman，withrheumandstiffnessofthejoints，withheaviness，andadull，malignantmind。Shecrouchedagainstthewallwhilethestarsfaded，andthoughtwhatcouragetheearlyracesmusthavehadtoenduresomuchforthelittletheygotoutoflife。
　　Atlastakindofhopefulnessbrokeintheair。Inamo—
　　mentthepinetreesupontheedgeoftherimwereflashingwithcopperyfire。Thethinredcloudswhichhungabovetheirpointedtopsbegantoboilandmoverapidly，weavinginandoutlikesmoke。Theswallowsdartedoutoftheirrockhousesasatasignal，andflewupward，towardtherim。Littlebrownbirdsbegantochirpinthebushesalongthewatercoursedownatthebottomoftheravine，whereeverythingwasstillduskyandpale。Atfirstthegoldenlightseemedtohanglikeawaveupontherimofthecan—
　　yon；thetreesandbushesupthere，whichonescarcelynoticedatnoon，stoodoutmagnifiedbytheslantingrays。
　　Long，thinstreaksoflightbegantoreachquiveringlydownintothecanyon。Theredsunroserapidlyabovethetopsoftheblazingpines，anditsglowburstintothegulf，abouttheverydoorsteponwhichTheasat。Itboredintothewet，darkunderbrush。Thedrippingcherrybushes，thepaleaspens，andthefrostyPINONSwereglitteringandtrembling，swimmingintheliquidgold。Allthepale，dustylittleherbsofthebeanfamily，neverseenbyanyonebutabotanist，becameforamomentindividualandimport—
　　ant，theirsilkyleavesquitebeautifulwithdewandlight。
　　Thearchofskyoverhead，heavyasleadalittlewhilebe—
　　fore，lifted，becamemoreandmoretransparent，andonecouldlookupintodepthsofpearlyblue。
　　Thesavorofcoffeeandbaconmingledwiththesmellofwetcedarsdrying，andFredcalledtoTheathathewasreadyforher。Theysatdowninthedoorwayofhiskitchen，withthewarmthofthelivecoalsbehindthemandthesunlightontheirfaces，andbegantheirbreakfast，Mrs。Biltmer’sthickcoffeecupsandthecreambottlebetweenthem，thecoffee—potandfrying—panconvenientlykeepinghotamongtheembers。
　　"Ithoughtyouweregoingbackonthewholeproposi—
　　tion，Thea，whenyouwerecrawlingalongwiththatlan—
　　tern。Icouldn’tgetawordoutofyou。"
　　"Iknow。Iwascoldandhungry，andIdidn’tbelieve
　　therewasgoingtobeanymorning，anyway。Didn’tyoufeelqueer，atall？"
　　Fredsquintedabovehissmokingcup。"Well，Iamneverstrongforgettingupbeforethesun。Theworldlooksunfurnished。WhenIfirstlitthefireandhadasquarelookatyou，IthoughtI’dgotthewronggirl。Pale，grim——
　　youwereasight！"
　　Thealeanedbackintotheshadowoftherockroomandwarmedherhandsoverthecoals。"Itwasdismalenough。
　　Howwarmthesewallsare，allthewayround；andyourbreakfastissogood。I’mallrightnow，Fred。"
　　"Yes，you’reallrightnow。"Fredlitacigaretteandlookedathercriticallyasherheademergedintothesunagain。"Yougetupeverymorningjustalittlebithand—
　　somerthanyouwerethedaybefore。I’dloveyoujustasmuchifyouwerenotturningintooneoftheloveliestwo—
　　menI’veeverseen；butyouare，andthat’safacttobereckonedwith。"Hewatchedheracrossthethinlineofsmokeheblewfromhislips。"Whatareyougoingtodowithallthatbeautyandallthattalent，MissKronborg？"
　　Sheturnedawaytothefireagain。"Idon’tknowwhatyou’retalkingabout，"shemutteredwithanawkwardnesswhichdidnotconcealherpleasure。
　　Ottenburglaughedsoftly。"Oh，yes，youdo！Nobodybetter！You’reacloseone，butyougiveyourselfawaysometimes，likeeverybodyelse。Doyouknow，I’vede—
　　cidedthatyouneverdoasinglethingwithoutanulteriormotive。"Hethrewawayhiscigarette，tookouthistobacco—pouchandbegantofillhispipe。"Yourideandfenceandwalkandclimb，butIknowthatallthewhileyou’regettingsomewhereinyourmind。Allthesethingsareinstruments；andI，too，amaninstrument。"Helookedupintimetointerceptaquick，startledglancefromThea。
　　"Oh，Idon’tmind，"hechuckled；"notabit。Everywoman，everyinterestingwoman，hasulteriormotives，manyof’emlesscreditablethanyours。It’syourconstancy
　　thatamusesme。Youmusthavebeendoingiteversinceyouweretwofeethigh。"
　　Thealookedslowlyupathercompanion’sgood—humoredface。Hiseyes，sometimestoorestlessandsympatheticintown，hadgrownsteadierandclearerintheopenair。Hisshortcurlybeardandyellowhairhadreddenedinthesunandwind。Thepleasantvigorofhispersonwasalwaysdelightfultoher，somethingtosignaltoandlaughwithinaworldofnegativepeople。WithFredshewasneverbe—
　　calmed。Therewasalwayslifeintheair，alwayssomethingcomingandgoing，arhythmoffeelingandaction，——
　　strongerthanthenaturalaccordofyouth。Asshelookedathim，leaningagainstthesunnywall，shefeltadesiretobefrankwithhim。Shewasnotwillfullyholdinganythingback。But，ontheotherhand，shecouldnotforcethingsthatheldthemselvesback。"Yes，itwaslikethatwhenI
　　waslittle，"shesaidatlast。"Ihadtobeclose，asyoucallit，orgounder。ButIdidn’tknowIhadbeenlikethatsinceyoucame。I’vehadnothingtobecloseabout。I
　　haven’tthoughtaboutanythingbuthavingagoodtimewithyou。I’vejustdrifted。"
　　Fredblewatrailofsmokeoutintothebreezeandlookedknowing。"Yes，youdriftlikearifleball，mydear。It’syour——yourdirectionthatIlikebestofall。Mostfellowswouldn’t，youknow。I’munusual。"
　　Theybothlaughed，butTheafrownedquestioningly。
　　"Whywouldn’tmostfellows？Otherfellowshavelikedme。"
　　"Yes，seriousfellows。Youtoldmeyourselftheywereallold，orsolemn。Butjollyfellowswanttobethewholetarget。Theywouldsayyouwereallbrainandmuscle；
　　thatyouhavenofeeling。"
　　Sheglancedathimsidewise。"Oh，theywould，wouldthey？"
　　"Ofcoursetheywould，"Fredcontinuedblandly。"Jollyfellowshavenoimagination。Theywanttobetheanimat—
　　ingforce。Whentheyarenotaround，theywantagirltobe——extinct，"hewavedhishand。"OldfellowslikeMr。
　　Nathanmeyerunderstandyourkind；butamongtheyoungones，youareratherluckytohavefoundme。EvenI
　　wasn’talwayssowise。I’vehadmytimeofthinkingitwouldnotboremetobetheApolloofahomeyflat，andI’vepaidoutatrifletolearnbetter。Allthosethingsgetverytediousunlesstheyarehookedupwithanideaofsomesort。It’sbecauseweDON’Tcomeouthereonlytolookateachotheranddrinkcoffeethatit’ssopleasantto——lookateachother。"Freddrewonhispipeforawhile，studyingThea’sabstraction。Shewasstaringupatthefarwallofthecanyonwithatroubledexpressionthatdrewhereyesnarrowandhermouthhard。Herhandslayinherlap，oneovertheother，thefingersinterlacing。"Suppose，"
　　Fredcameoutatlength，——"supposeIweretoofferyouwhatmostoftheyoungmenIknowwouldofferagirlthey’dbeensittingupnightsabout：acomfortableflatinChicago，asummercampupinthewoods，musicaleven—
　　ings，andafamilytobringup。Woulditlookattractivetoyou？"
　　Theasatupstraightandstaredathiminalarm，glaredintohiseyes。"Perfectlyhideous！"sheexclaimed。
　　Freddroppedbackagainsttheoldstoneworkandlaugheddeepinhischest。"Well，don’tbefrightened。I
　　won’tofferthem。You’renotanest—buildingbird。YouknowIalwayslikedyoursong，`Meforthejoltofthebreakers！’Iunderstand。"
　　Sheroseimpatientlyandwalkedtotheedgeofthecliff。
　　"It’snotthatsomuch。It’swakingupeverymorningwiththefeelingthatyourlifeisyourown，andyourstrengthisyourown，andyourtalentisyourown；thatyou’reallthere，andthere’snosaginyou。"Shestoodforamomentasifsheweretorturedbyuncertainty，thenturnedsuddenlybacktohim。"Don’ttalkaboutthesethingsanymorenow，"sheentreated。"Itisn’tthatI
　　wanttokeepanythingfromyou。ThetroubleisthatI’vegotnothingtokeep——except（youknowaswellasI）thatfeeling。ItoldyouaboutitinChicagoonce。Butitalwaysmakesmeunhappytotalkaboutit。Itwillspoiltheday。
　　Willyougoforaclimbwithme？"SheheldoutherhandswithasmilesoeagerthatitmadeOttenburgfeelhowmuchsheneededtogetawayfromherself。
　　Hesprangupandcaughtthehandssheputoutsocor—
　　dially，andstoodswingingthembackandforth。"Iwon’tteaseyou。Aword’senoughtome。ButIloveit，allthesame。Understand？"Hepressedherhandsanddroppedthem。"Now，whereareyougoingtodragme？"
　　"Iwantyoutodragme。Overthere，totheotherhouses。
　　Theyaremoreinterestingthanthese。"Shepointedacrossthegorgetotherowofwhitehousesintheothercliff。
　　"Thetrailisbrokenaway，butIgotupthereonce。It’spossible。Youhavetogotothebottomofthecanyon，crossthecreek，andthengouphand—over—hand。"
　　Ottenburg，loungingagainstthesunnywall，hishandsinthepocketsofhisjacket，lookedacrossatthedistantdwell—
　　ings。"It’sanawfulclimb，"hesighed，"whenIcouldbeperfectlyhappyherewithmypipe。However——"HetookuphisstickandhatandfollowedTheadownthewatertrail。"Doyouclimbthispatheveryday？Yousurelyearnyourbath。Iwentdownandhadalookatyourpooltheotherafternoon。Neatplace，withallthoselittlecottonwoods。Mustbeverybecoming。"
　　"Thinkso？"Theasaidoverhershoulder，assheswungroundaturn。
　　"Yes，andsodoyou，evidently。I’mbecomingexpertatreadingyourmeaninginyourback。I’mbehindyousomuchonthesesingle—foottrails。Youdon’twearstays，doyou？"
　　"Nothere。"
　　"Iwouldn’t，anywhere，ifIwereyou。Theywillmakeyoulesselastic。Thesidemusclesgetflabby。Ifyougoin
　　foropera，there’safortuneinaflexiblebody。MostoftheGermansingersareclumsy，evenwhenthey’rewellsetup。"
　　TheaswitchedaPINONbranchbackathim。"Oh，I’llnevergetfat！ThatIcanpromiseyou。"
　　Fredsmiled，lookingafterher。"Keepthatpromise，nomatterhowmanyothersyoubreak，"hedrawled。
　　Theupwardclimb，aftertheyhadcrossedthestream，wasatfirstabreathlessscramblethroughunderbrush。
　　Whentheyreachedthebigboulders，Ottenburgwentfirstbecausehehadthelongerleg—reach，andgaveTheaahandwhenthestepwasquitebeyondher，swingingherupuntilshecouldgetafoothold。Atlasttheyreachedalittleplat—
　　formamongtherocks，withonlyahundredfeetofjagged，slopingwallbetweenthemandthecliff—houses。
　　Ottenburglaydownunderapinetreeanddeclaredthathewasgoingtohaveapipebeforehewentanyfarther。
　　"It’sagoodthingtoknowwhentostop，Thea，"hesaidmeaningly。
　　"I’mnotgoingtostopnowuntilIgetthere，"Theain—
　　sisted。"I’llgoonalone。"
　　Fredsettledhisshoulderagainstthetree—trunk。"Goonifyoulike，butI’mheretoenjoymyself。Ifyoumeetarattlerontheway，haveitoutwithhim。"
　　Shehesitated，fanningherselfwithherfelthat。"Ineverhavemetone。"
　　"There’sreasoningforyou，"Fredmurmuredlanguidly。
　　Theaturnedawayresolutelyandbegantogoupthewall，usinganirregularcleftintherockforapath。Thecliff，whichlookedalmostperpendicularfromthebottom，wasreallymadeupofledgesandboulders，andbehindtheseshesoondisappeared。ForalongwhileFredsmokedwithhalf—closedeyes，smilingtohimselfnowandagain。
　　Occasionallyheliftedaneyebrowasheheardtherattleofsmallstonesamongtherocksabove。"Inatemper，"heconcluded；"dohergood。"Thenhesubsidedintowarmdrowsinessandlistenedtothelocustsintheyuccas，and
　　thetap—tapoftheoldwoodpeckerthatwasneverwearyofassaultingthebigpine。
　　Fredhadfinishedhispipeandwaswonderingwhetherhewantedanother，whenheheardacallfromtheclifffarabovehim。Lookingup，hesawTheastandingontheedgeofaprojectingcrag。Shewavedtohimandthrewherarmoverherhead，asifsheweresnappingherfingersintheair。
　　Ashesawhertherebetweentheskyandthegulf，withthatgreatwashofairandthemorninglightabouther，FredrecalledthebrilliantfigureatMrs。Nathanmeyer’s。
　　Theawasoneofthosepeoplewhoemerge，unexpectedly，largerthanweareaccustomedtoseethem。Evenatthisdistanceonegottheimpressionofmuscularenergyandaudacity，——akindofbrilliancyofmotion，——ofaperson—
　　alitythatcarriedacrossbigspacesandexpandedamongbigthings。Lyingstill，withhishandsunderhishead，Ottenburgrhetoricallyaddressedthefigureintheair。
　　"YouarethesortthatusedtorunwildinGermany，dressedintheirhairandapieceofskin。Soldierscaught’eminnets。OldNathanmeyer，"hemused，"wouldlikeapeepathernow。Knowingoldfellow。AlwaysbuyingthoseZornetchingsofpeasantgirlsbathing。Nosaginthemeither。Mustbethecoldclimate。"Hesatup。
　　"She’llbegintopitchrocksonmeifIdon’tmove。"Inresponsetoanotherimpatientgesturefromthecrag，heroseandbeganswingingslowlyupthetrail。
　　Itwastheafternoonofthatlongday。Theawaslyingonablanketinthedoorofherrockhouse。SheandOtten—
　　burghadcomebackfromtheirclimbandhadlunch，andhehadgoneoffforanapinoneofthecliff—housesfartherdownthepath。Hewassleepingpeacefully，hiscoatunderhisheadandhisfaceturnedtowardthewall。
　　Thea，too，wasdrowsy，andlaylookingthroughhalf—
　　closedeyesupattheblazingbluearchovertherimofthecanyon。Shewasthinkingofnothingatall。Hermind，like
　　herbody，wasfullofwarmth，lassitude，physicalcontent。
　　Suddenlyaneagle，tawnyandofgreatsize，sailedoverthecleftinwhichshelay，acrossthearchofsky。Hedroppedforamomentintothegulfbetweenthewalls，thenwheeled，andmounteduntilhisplumagewassosteepedinlightthathelookedlikeagoldenbird。Heswepton，followingthecourseofthecanyonalittlewayandthendisappearingbeyondtherim。Theasprangtoherfeetasifshehadbeenthrownupfromtherockbyvolcanicaction。Shestoodrigidontheedgeofthestoneshelf，straininghereyesafterthatstrong，tawnyflight。Oeagleofeagles！Endeavor，achievement，desire，gloriousstrivingofhumanart！Fromacleftintheheartoftheworldshesalutedit……Ithadcomealltheway；whenmenlivedincaves，itwasthere。
　　Avanishedrace；butalongthetrails，inthestream，underthespreadingcactus，therestillglitteredinthesunthebitsoftheirfrailclayvessels，fragmentsoftheirdesire。
　　VII
　　FROMthedayofFred’sarrival，heandTheawereunceasinglyactive。TheytooklongridesintotheNavajopineforests，boughtturquoisesandsilverbrace—
　　letsfromthewanderingIndianherdsmen，androdetwentymilestoFlagstaffupontheslightestpretext。Theahadneverfeltthispleasantexcitementaboutanymanbefore，andshefoundherselftryingveryhardtopleaseyoungOttenburg。Shewasnevertired，neverdull。Therewasazestaboutwakingupinthemorninganddressing，aboutwalking，riding，evenaboutsleep。
　　OnemorningwhenTheacameoutfromherroomatseveno’clock，shefoundHenryandFredontheporch，lookingupatthesky。Thedaywasalreadyhotandtherewasnobreeze。Thesunwasshining，butheavybrowncloudswerehanginginthewest，likethesmokeofafor—
　　estfire。SheandFredhadmeanttoridetoFlagstaffthatmorning，butBiltmeradvisedagainstit，foretellingastorm。Afterbreakfasttheylingeredaboutthehouse，waitingfortheweathertomakeupitsmind。Fredhadbroughthisguitar，andastheyhadthedining—roomtothemselves，hemadeTheagooversomesongswithhim。
　　TheygotinterestedandkeptitupuntilMrs。Biltmercametosetthetablefordinner。OttenburgknewsomeoftheMexicanthingsSpanishJohnnyusedtosing。TheahadneverbeforehappenedtotellhimaboutSpanishJohnny，andheseemedmoreinterestedinJohnnythaninDr。ArchieorWunsch。
　　Afterdinnertheyweretoorestlesstoenduretheranchhouseanylonger，andranawaytothecanyontopracticewithsingle—sticks。Fredcarriedaslickerandasweater，andhemadeTheawearoneoftherubberhatsthathungin
　　Biltmer’sgun—room。Astheycrossedthepasturelandtheclumsyslickerkeptcatchinginthelacingsofhisleggings。
　　"Whydon’tyoudropthatthing？"Theaasked。"I
　　won’tmindashower。I’vebeenwetbefore。"
　　"Nousetakingchances。"
　　Fromthecanyontheywereunabletowatchthesky，sinceonlyastripofthezenithwasvisible。Theflatledgeaboutthewatch—towerwastheonlylevelspotlargeenoughforsingle—stickexercise，andtheywerestillpracticingtherewhen，ataboutfouro’clock，atremendousrollofthunderechoedbetweenthecliffsandtheatmospheresuddenlybecamethick。
　　Fredthrustthesticksinacleftintherock。"We’reinforit，Thea。Bettermakeforyourcavewherethereareblankets。"Hecaughtherelbowandhurriedheralongthepathbeforethecliff—houses。Theymadethehalf—mileataquicktrot，andastheyrantherocksandtheskyandtheairbetweenthecliffsturnedaturbidgreen，likethecolorinamossagate。Whentheyreachedtheblanketedrockroom，theylookedateachotherandlaughed。Theirfaceshadtakenonagreenishpallor。Thea’shair，even，wasgreen。
　　"Darkaspitchinhere，"Fredexclaimedastheyhurriedovertheoldrockdoorstep。"Butit’swarm。Therocksholdtheheat。It’sgoingtobeterriblycoldoutside，allright。"Hewasinterruptedbyadeafeningpealofthunder。
　　"Lord，whatanecho！Luckyyoudon’tmind。It’sworthwatchingoutthere。Weneedn’tcomeinyet。"
　　Thegreenlightgrewmurkierandmurkier。Thesmallervegetationwasblottedout。Theyuccas，thecedars，andPINONSstooddarkandrigid，likebronze。Theswallowsflewupwithsharp，terrifiedtwitterings。Eventhequak—
　　ingaspswerestill。WhileFredandTheawatchedfromthedoorway，thelightchangedtopurple。Cloudsofdarkvapor，likechlorinegas，begantofloatdownfromtheheadofthecanyonandhungbetweenthemandthecliff—houses
　　intheoppositewall。Beforetheyknewit，thewallitselfhaddisappeared。Theairwaspositivelyvenomous—looking，andgrewcoldereveryminute。Thethunderseemedtocrashagainstonecliff，thenagainsttheother，andtogoshriekingoffintotheinnercanyon。