"I didn’t expect to find a house at the falls," he said and forced a smile; "and, you see it seems pretty good to me to get out-of-doors again. I’ve been looking forward to spending tonight in the open air. I think, if that branch I passed back there around the curve, goes to the canyon, I’ll try it." "Yes, it does," answered Samantha. "It goes up past ther granite tower an’ down to ther ford above Mr. Stratton’s place. I ’low Pete Smith blazed that ther branch ter skip our ranch. He wa’n’t goin’ ter resk no chances o’ kemin’ ercross Mill." "Then," said Forrest, "that’s the trail I want. I intend to prospect south from the canyon. And I ought to find it dry up there for a camp tonight; it’s pretty wet in the timber, and the tower should make a good windbreak from this Chinook. But I must hurry to make it before dark." "You better stop ’ith us," said Samantha, her warm heart creeping into her tone. "It’s lonesome up ther, an’ I could cook you some mighty nice trout." But he would not, and Samantha tied Ketchem and walked with the young man as far as the curve. "Say," she said impulsively, breaking the silence, "don’t you feel so cut up ’bout that ther homestead. Uncle Eben always ’lowed you wanted that piece, an’ ’at she knew it; an’ I dunno what she done it fur, but you jes’ wait tell you find out ther reason. She ain’t ther kind ter do a mean thing." "Oh, I know that; I know that," he answered quickly. "Don’t think I blame her. It was her right, if she wanted the land. I don’t need another reason. Good-night." But Samantha followed a step further. "Say," she called, "ef she hedn’t filed on that piece Mill would. He counted on homesteadin’ that one, ’stead o’ this. She got in ahead o’ him, but he jes’ hates to own he got cut out by er girl." Her little, uncertain laugh, meant to cheer him, followed him up the trail. Then presently he reached the branch and pushed up swiftly towards the tower. "If I had stopped at Olympia to make the entry at the Land Office, I should have discovered the truth," he thought. "And of course—of course Mill, or some other man, must have taken it long ago, if she had let the opportunity go. Tomorrow, tomorrow—I’ll go down and see what she has made of it. I couldn’t now. Not tonight." He stumbled through a darker tangle of undergrowth and came out in the open at the tower. But the forces at work earlier in the Pass had lately been busy here. Suddenly a great crack yawned at his feet. It seemed to mark off, accurately, as though a master hand had drawn the line, the whole jutting front of the cliff, and like the beginnings of a moat enclosed the leaning column. He moved back a few yards to the trees, and found a dry place for his blanket, under the spreading boughs of a fir. Presently the light of his camp-fire cut the gloom, and the air was redolent with the savor of toasting bacon.