ReckonIunderstand。Youdon’tmeetmanystrangersan’Isortofhityouwrong——makin’youfeeltoomuch——an’talktoomuch。Whoan’
whatyouareisnoneofmybusiness。Butwemet……An’Ireckonsomethin’hashappened——perhapsmoretomethantoyou……Nowletmeputyoustraightaboutclothesan’women。ReckonIknowmostwomenlovenicethingstowearan’thinkbecauseclothesmakethemlookprettythatthey’renicerorbetter。Butthey’rewrong。You’rewrong。Maybeit’dbetoomuchforagirllikeyoutobehappywithoutclothes。Butyoucanbe——youaxejustasnice，an’——an’fine——an’，forallyouknow，agooddealmoreappealin’tosomemen。\"
\"Stranger，y’ushoremustexcusemytemperan’theshowImadeofmyself，\"repliedthegirl，withcomposure。\"That，tosaytheleast，wasnotnice。An’Idon’twantanyonethinkin’betterofmethanI
deserve。MymotherdiedinTexas，an’I’velivedoutheahinthiswildcountry——agirlaloneamongroughmen。Meetin’y’uto—daymakesmeseewhatahardlottheyare——an’whatit’sdonetome。\"
Jeansmotheredhiscuriosityandtriedtoputoutofhismindagrowingsensethathepitiedher，likedher。
\"Areyouasheepherder？\"heasked。
\"ShoreIamnowan’then。Myfatherlivesbackheahinacanyon。
He’sasheepman。Latelythere’sbeenherdersshotat。Justnowwe’reshortan’Ihavetofillin。ButIlikeshepherdin’an’Ilovethewoods，andtheRimRockan’alltheTonto。Iftheywereall，I’dshorebehappy。\"
\"Herdersshotat！\"exclaimedJean，thoughtfully。\"Bywhom？
An’whatfor？\"
\"Troublebrewin’betweenthecattlemendownintheBasinan’thesheepmenupontheRim。Dadsaysthere’llshorebehelltopay。
ItellhimIhopethecattlemenchasehimbacktoTexas。\"
\"Then——Areyouontheranchers’side？\"queriedJean，tryingtopretendcasualinterest。
\"No。I’llalwaysbeonmyfather’sside，\"shereplied，withspirit。
\"ButI’mboundtoadmitIthinkthecattlemenhavethefairsideoftheargument。\"
\"Howso？\"
\"Becausethere’sgrasseverywhere。Iseenosenseinasheepmangoin’
outofhiswaytosurroundacattlemanan’sheepoffhisrange。Thatstartedtherow。Lordknowshowit’llend。FormostallofthemheaharefromTexas。\"
\"SoIwastold，\"repliedJean。\"An’Iheard’mostalltheseTexansgotrunoutofTexas。Anytruthinthat？\"
\"ShoreIreckonthereis，\"shereplied，seriously。\"But，stranger，itmightnotbehealthyfory’uto，saythatanywhere。Mydad，forone，wasnotrunoutofTexas。ShoreInevercanseewhyhecameheah。
He’saccumulatedstock，buthe’snotrichnorsowelloffashewasbackhome。\"
\"Areyougoin’tostayherealways？\"queriedJean，suddenly。
\"IfIdosoit’llbeinmygrave，\"sheanswered，darkly。\"Butwhat’stheuseofthinkin’？Peoplestayplacesuntiltheydriftaway。Y’ucannevertell……Well，stranger，thistalkiskeepin’y’u。\"
Sheseemedmoodynow，andanoteofdetachmentcreptintohervoice。
Jeanroseatonceandwentforhishorse。Ifthisgirldidnotdesiretotalkfurtherhecertainlyhadnowishtoannoyher。Hismulehadstrayedoffamongthebleatingsheep。Jeandroveitbackandthenledhishorseuptowherethegirlstood。Sheappearedtallerand，thoughnotofrobustbuild，shewasvigorousandlithe，withsomethingaboutherthatfittedtheplace。Jeanwasloathtobidhergood—by。
\"WhichwayistheRim？\"heasked，turningtohissaddlegirths。
\"South，\"shereplied，pointing。\"It’sonlyamileorso。I’llwalkdownwithy’u……Supposey’u’reonthewaytoGrassValley？\"
\"Yes;I’verelativesthere，\"hereturned。Hedreadedhernextquestion，whichhesuspectedwouldconcernhisname。Butshedidnotask。Takingupherriflesheturnedaway。Jeanstrodeaheadtoherside。\"ReckonifyouwalkIwon’tride。\"
SohefoundhimselfbesideagirlwiththefreestepofaMountaineer。
Herbare，brownheadcameupnearlytohisshoulder。Itwasasmall，prettyhead，graceful，wellheld，andthethickhaironitwasashiny，softbrown。Sheworeitinabraid，ratheruntidilyandtangled，hethought，anditwastiedwithastringofbuckskin。Altogetherherapparelproclaimedpoverty。
Jeanlettheconversationlanguishforalittle。Hewantedtothinkwhattosaypresently，andthenhefeltarathervaguepleasureinstalkingbesideher。Herprofilewasstraightcutandexquisiteinline。Fromthissideviewthesoftcurveoflipscouldnotbeseen。
Shemadeseveralattemptstostartconversation，allofwhichJeanignored，manifestlytohergrowingconstraint。PresentlyJean，havingdecidedwhathewantedtosay，suddenlybegan:\"Ilikethisadventure。Doyou？\"
\"Adventure！Meetin’meinthewoods？\"Andshelaughedthelaughofyouth。\"Shoreyoumustbehardupforadventure，stranger。\"
\"Doyoulikeit？\"hepersisted，andhiseyessearchedthehalf—avertedface。
\"Imightlikeit，\"sheanswered，frankly，\"if——ifmytemperhadnotmadeafoolofme。InevermeetanyoneIcaretotalkto。Whyshoulditnotbepleasanttorunacrosssomeonenew——someonestrangeinthisheahwildcountry？\"
\"Weareasweare，\"saidJean，simply。\"Ididn’tthinkyoumadeafoolofyourself。IfIthoughtso，wouldIwanttoseeyouagain？\"
\"Doy’u？\"Thebrownfaceflashedonhimwithsurprise，withalighthetookforgladness。Andbecausehewantedtoappearcalmandfriendly，nottooeager，hehadtodenyhimselfthethrillofmeetingthosechangingeyes。
\"SureIdo。ReckonI’moverboldonsuchshortacquaintance。ButI
mightnothaveanotherchancetotellyou，sopleasedon’tholditagainstme。\"
Thisdeclarationover，Jeanfeltreliefandsomethingofexultation。
Hehadbeenafraidhemightnothavethecouragetomakeit。Shewalkedonasbefore，onlywithherheadbowedalittleandhereyesdowncast。Nocolorbutthegold—browntanandthebluetraceryofveinsshowedinhercheeks。Henoticedthenaslightswellingquiverofherthroat;andhebecamealivetoitsgracefulcontour，andtohowfullandpulsatingitwas，hownoblyitsetintothecurveofhershoulder。Hereinherquiveringthroatwastheweaknessofher，theevidenceofhersex，thewomanlinessthatbeliedthemountaineerstrideandthegraspofstrongbrownhandsonarifle。IthadaneffectonJeantotallyinexplicabletohim，bothinthestrangewarmththatstoleoverhimandintheutterancehecouldnotholdback。
\"Girl，we’restrangers，butwhatofthat？We’vemet，an’Itellyouitmeanssomethin’tome。I’veknowngirlsformonthsan’neverfeltthisway。Idon’tknowwhoyouarean’Idon’tcare。Youbetrayedagooddealtome。You’renothappy。You’relonely。An’ifIdidn’twanttoseeyouagainformyownsakeIwouldforyours。SomethingsyousaidI’llnotforgetsoon。I’vegotasister，an’Iknowyouhavenobrother。An’Ireckon……\"
AtthisjunctureJeaninhisearnestnessandquitewithoutthoughtgraspedherhand。Thecontactcheckedtheflowofhisspeechandsuddenlymadehimaghastathistemerity。Butthegirldidnotmakeanyefforttowithdrawit。SoJean，inhalingadeepbreathandtryingtoseethroughhisbewilderment，heldonbravely。Heimaginedhefeltafaint，warm，returningpressure。Shewasyoung，shewasfriendless，shewashuman。BythishandinhisJeanfeltmorethaneverthelonelinessofher。Then，justashewasabouttospeakagain，shepulledherhandfree。
\"Heah’stheRim，\"shesaid，inherquaintSoutherndrawl。
\"An’there’sY’urTontoBasin。\"
Jeanhadbeenintentonlyuponthegirl。Hehadkeptstepbesideherwithouttakingnoteofwhatwasaheadofhim。Atherwordshelookedupexpectantly，tobestruckmute。
Hefeltasheerforce，adownwarddrawingofanimmenseabyssbeneathhim。
Ashelookedafarhesawablackbasinoftimberedcountry，thedarkestandwildesthehadevergazedupon，ahundredmilesofbluedistanceacrosstoanunflungmountainrange，hazypurpleagainstthesky。
Itseemedtobeastupendousgulfsurroundedonthreesidesbybold，undulatinglinesofpeaks，andonhissidebyawallsohighthathefeltliftedaloftontherunofthesky。
Southeasty’useetheSierraAnchas，\"saidthegirlpointing。\"ThatnotchintherangeisthepasswheresheeparedriventoPhoenixan’
Maricopa。ThosebigroughmountainstothesoutharetheMazatzals。
RoundtothewestistheFourPeaksRange。An’y’u’restandin’ontheRim。\"
JeancouldnotseeatfirstjustwhattheRimwas，butbyshiftinghisgazewestwardhegraspedthisremarkablephenomenonofnature。
Forleaguesandleaguesacolossalredandyellowwall，arampart，amountain—facedcliff，seemedtozigzagwestward。Grandandboldwerethepromontoriesreachingoutoverthevoid。Theyrantowardthewesteringsun。Sweepingandimpressivewerethelonglinesslantingawayfromthem，slopingdarklyspotteddowntomergeintotheblacktimber。Jeanhadneverseensuchawildandruggedmanifestationofnature’sdepthsandupheavals。Hewasheldmute。
\"Stranger，lookdown，\"saidthegirl。
Jean’ssightwaseducatedtojudgeheightsanddepthsanddistances。
Thiswalluponwhichhestoodsheeredprecipitouslydown，sofarthatitmadehimdizzytolook，andthenthecraggybrokencliffsmergedintored—slided，cedar—greenedslopesrunningdownanddownintogorgeschokedwithforests，andfromwhichsoareduparoarofrushingwaters。Slopeafterslope，ridgebeyondridge，canyonmergingintocanyon——sothetremendousbowlsunkawaytoitsblack，deceivingdepths，awildernessacrosswhichtravelseemedimpossible。
\"Wonderful！\"exclaimedJean。
\"Indeeditis！\"murmuredthegirl。\"ShorethatisArizona。IreckonIloveTHIS。Theheightsan’depths——theawfulnessofitswilderness！\"
\"An’youwanttoleaveit？\"
\"Yesan’no。Idon’tdenythepeacethatcomestomeheah。ButnotoftendoIseetheBasin，an’forthatmatter，onedoesn’tliveongrandscenery。\"
\"Child，evenonceinawhile——thissightwouldcureanymisery，ifyouonlysee。I’mgladIcame。I’mgladyoushowedittomefirst。\"
Shetooseemedunderthespellofavastnessandlonelinessandbeautyandgrandeurthatcouldnotbutstriketheheart。
Jeantookherhandagain。\"Girl，sayyouwillmeetmehere，\"hesaid，hisvoiceringingdeepinhisears。
\"ShoreIwill，\"shereplied，softly，andturnedtohim。ItseemedthenthatJeansawherfaceforthefirsttime。Shewasbeautifulashehadneverknownbeauty。Limnedagainstthatscene，shegaveitlife——wild，sweet，younglife——thepoignantmeaningofwhichhauntedyeteludedhim。Butshebelongedthere。Hereyeswereagainsearchinghis，asif。forsomelostpartofherself，unrealized，neverknownbefore。Wondering，wistful，hopeful，glad—theywereeyesthatseemedsurprised，torevealpartofhersoul。
Thenherredlipsparted。TheirtremulousmovementwasamagnettoJean。
Aninvisibleandmightyforcepulledhimdowntokissthem。Whateverthespellhadbeen，thatrude，unconsciousactionbrokeit。
Hejerkedaway，asifheexpectedtobestruck。\"Girl——I——I\"——hegaspedinamazeandsudden—dawningcontrition——\"Ikissedyou——butIswearitwasn’tintentional——Ineverthought……\"
TheangerthatJeananticipatedfailedtomaterialize。Hestood，breathinghard，withahandheldoutinunconsciousappeal。Bythesamemagic，perhaps，thathadtransfiguredheramomentpast，shewasnowinvestedagainbytheoldercharacter。
\"ShoreIreckonmycallin’y’uagentlemanwasalittleprevious，\"
shesaid，witharatherdrybitterness。\"But，stranger，yu’resudden。\"
\"You’renotinsulted？\"askedJean，hurriedly。
\"Oh，I’vebeenkissedbefore。Shoremenareallalike。\"
\"They’renot，\"hereplied，hotly，withasubtlerushofdisillusion，adullingofenchantment。\"Don’tyouclassmewithothermenwho’vekissedyou。Iwasn’tmyselfwhenIdiditan’I’dhavegoneonmykneestoaskyourforgiveness……ButnowIwouldn’t——an’Iwouldn’tkissyouagain，either——evenifyou——youwantedit。\"
Jeanreadinherstrangegazewhatseemedtohimavaguedoubt，asifshewasquestioninghim。
\"Miss，Itakethatback，\"addedJean，shortly。\"I’msorry。Ididn’tmeantoberude。Itwasameantrickformetokissyou。Agirlaloneinthewoodswho’sgoneoutofherwaytobekindtome！Idon’tknowwhyIforgotmymanners。An’Iaskyourpardon。\"
Shelookedawaythen，andpresentlypointedfaroutanddownintotheBasin。
\"There’sGrassValley。Thatlonggrayspotintheblack。It’saboutfifteenmiles。RidealongtheRimthatwaytilly’ucrossatrail。
Shorey’ucan’tmissit。Thengodown。\"
\"I’mmuchobligedtoyou，\"repliedJean，reluctantlyacceptingwhatheregardedashisdismissal。Turninghishorse，heputhisfootinthestirrup，then，hesitating，helookedacrossthesaddleatthegirl。
Herabstraction，asshegazedawayoverthepurpledepthssuggestedlonelinessandwistfulness。Shewasnotthinkingofthatscenespreadsowondrouslybeforeher。ItstruckJeanshemightbeponderingasubtlechangeinhisfeelingandattitude，somethinghewasconsciousof，yetcouldnotdefine。
\"Reckonthisisgood—by，\"hesaid，withhesitation。
\"ADIOS，SENOR，\"shereplied，facinghimagain。Sheliftedthelittlecarbinetothehollowofherelbowand，halfturning，appearedreadytodepart。
\"Adiosmeansgood—by？\"hequeried。
\"Yes，good—bytillto—morroworgood—byforever。Takeitasy’ulike。\"
\"Thenyou’llmeetmeheredayafterto—morrow？\"Howeagerlyhespoke，onimpulse，withoutaconsiderationoftheintangiblethingthathadchangedhim！
\"DidIsayIwouldn’t？\"
\"No。ButIreckonedyou’dnotcaretoafter——\"hereplied，breakingoffinsomeconfusion。
\"ShoreI’llbegladtomeety’u。Dayafterto—morrowaboutmid—afternoon。Rightheah。FetchallthenewsfromGrassValley。\"
\"Allright。Thanks。That’llbe——fine，\"repliedJean，andashespokeheexperiencedabuoyantthrill，apleasantlightnessofenthusiasm，suchasalwaysstirredboyishlyinhimataprospectofadventure。
Beforeitpassedhewonderedatitandfeltunsureofhimself。
Heneededtothink。
\"StrangershoreI’mnotrecollectin’thaty’utoldmewhoy’uare，\"
shesaid。
\"No，reckonIdidn’ttell，\"hereturned。\"Whatdifferencedoesthatmake？IsaidIdidn’tcarewhoorwhatyouare。Can’tyoufeelthesameaboutme？\"
\"Shore——Ifeltthatway，\"shereplied，somewhatnon—plussed，withthelevelbrowngazesteadilyonhisface。Butnowy’umakemethink。\"
\"Let’smeetwithoutknowin’anymoreabouteachotherthanwedonow。\"
\"Shore。I’dlikethat。InthisbigwildArizonaagirl——an’Ireckonaman——feelssoinsignificant。What’saname，anyhow？Still，peoplean’thingshavetobedistinguished。I’llcally’u’Stranger’an’besatisfied——ify’usayit’sfairfory’unottotellwhoy’uare。\"
\"Fair！No，it’snot，\"declaredJean，forcedtoconfession。\"Myname’sJean——JeanIsbel。\"
\"ISBEL！\"sheexclaimed，withaviolentstart。\"Shorey’ucan’tbesonofoldGassIsbel……I’veseenbothhissons。\"
\"Hehasthree，\"repliedJean，withrelief，nowthesecretwasout。
\"I’mtheyoungest。I’mtwenty—four。NeverbeenoutofOregontillnow。Onmyway——\"
Thebrowncolorslowlyfadedoutofherface，leavingherquitepale，witheyesthatbegantoblaze。Thesupplenessofherseemedtostiffen。
\"Myname’sEllenJorth，\"sheburstout，passionately。Doesitmeananythin’toy’u？\"
\"Neverhearditinmylife，\"protestedJean。\"SureIreckonedyoubelongedtothesheepraiserswho’reontheoutswithmyfather。
That’swhyIhadtotellyouI’mJeanIsbel……EllenJorth。
It’sstrangean’pretty……ReckonIcanbejustasgooda——afriendtoyou——\"
\"NoIsbel，caneverbeafriendtome，\"shesaid，withbittercoldness。
Strippedofhereaseandhersoftwistfulness，shestoodbeforehimoneinstant，entirelyanothergirl，ahostileenemy。Thenshewheeledandstrodeoffintothewoods。
Jean，inamaze，inconsternation，watchedherswiftlydrawawaywithherlithe，freestep，wantingtofollowher，wantingtocalltoher;
buttheresentmentrousedbyhersuddenlyavowedhostilityheldhimmuteinhistracks。Hewatchedherdisappear，andwhenthebrown—and—greenwallofforestswallowedtheslendergrayformhefoughtagainsttheinsistentdesiretofollowher，andfoughtinvain。
CHAPTERII
ButEllenJorth’smoccasinedfeetdidnotleaveadistinguishabletrailonthespringypineneedlecoveringoftheground，andJeancouldnotfindanytraceofher。
Alittlefutilesearchingtoandfrocooledhisimpulseandcalledpridetohisrescue。Returningtohishorse，hemounted，rodeoutbehindthepackmuletostartitalong，andsoonfeltthereliefofdecisionandaction。ClumpsofsmallpinesgrewthicklyinspotsontheRim，makingitnecessaryforhimtoskirtthem;atwhichtimeshelostsightofthepurplebasin。Everytimehecamebacktoanopeningthroughwhichhecouldseethewildruggednessandcolorsanddistances，hisappreciationoftheirnaturegrewonhim。
ArizonafromYumatotheLittleColoradohadbeentohimanendlesswasteofwind—scoured，sun—blastedbarrenness。Thisblack—forestedrock—rimmedlandofuntroddenwayswasaworldthatinitselfwouldsatisfyhim。SomeinstinctinJeancalledforalonely，wildland，intothefastnessesofwhichhecouldroamatwillandbetheotherstrangeselfthathehadalwaysyearnedtobebuthadneverbeen。
EveryfewmomentsthereintrudedintohisflowingconsciousnesstheflashingfaceofEllenJorth，thewayshehadlookedathim，thethingsshehadsaid。\"ReckonIwasafool，\"hesoliloquized，withanacutesenseofhumiliation。\"SheneversawhowmuchinearnestIwas。\"AndJeanbegantorememberthecircumstanceswithavividnessthatdisturbedandperplexedhim。
Theaccidentofrunningacrosssuchagirlinthatlonelyplacemightbeoutoftheordinary——butithadhappened。Surprisehadmadehimdull。
Thecharmofherappearance，theappealofhermanner，musthavedrawnhimattheveryfirst，buthehadnotrecognizedthat。Onlyatherwords，\"Oh，I’vebeenkissedbefore，\"hadhisfeelingsbeencheckedintheirheedlessprogress。Andtheutteranceofthemhadmadeadifferencehenowsoughttoanalyze。Somepersonalityinhim，somevoice，someideahadbeguntodefendherevenbeforehewasconsciousthathehadarraignedherbeforethebarofhisjudgment。Suchdefenseseemedclamoringinhimnowandheforcedhimselftolisten。Hewanted，inhishurtpride，tojustifyhisamazingsurrendertoasweetandsentimentalimpulse。
Herealizednowthatatfirstglanceheshouldhaverecognizedinherlook，herpoise，hervoicethequalityhecalledthoroughbred。Raggedandstainedappareldidnotproveherofacommonsort。Jeanhadknownanumberoffineandwholesomegirlsofgoodfamily;andherememberedhissister。ThisEllenJorthwasthatkindofagirlirrespectiveofherpresentenvironment。Jeanchampionedherloyally，evenafterhehadgratifiedhisselfishpride。
Itwasthen——contendingwithanintangibleandstealingglamour，unrealandfanciful，likethedreamofaforbiddenenchantment——thatJeanarrivedatthepartinthelittlewoodlanddramawherehehadkissedEllenJorthandhadbeenunrebuked。Whyhadshenotresentedhisaction？Dispelledwastheillusionhehadbeendreamilyandnoblyconstructing。\"Oh，I’vebeenkissedbefore！\"Theshocktohimnowexceededhisfirstdismay。Halfbitterlyshehadspoken，andwhollyscornfulofherself，orofhim，orofallmen。Forshehadsaidallmenwerealike。Jeanchafedunderthesmartofthat，ataunteverydecentmanhated。Naturallyeveryhappyandhealthyyoungmanwouldwanttokisssuchred，sweetlips。Butifthoselipshadbeenforothers——neverforhim！Jeanreflectedthatnotsincechildishgameshadhekissedagirl——untilthisbrown—facedEllenJorthcamehisway。
Hewonderedatit。Moreover，hewonderedatthesignificanceheplaceduponit。Afterall，wasitnotmerelyanaccident？Whyshouldheremember？Whyshouldheponder？Whatwasthefaint，deep，growingthrillthataccompaniedsomeofhisthoughts？
Ridingalongwithbusymind，Jeanalmostcrossedawell—beatentrail，leadingthroughapinethicketanddownovertheRim。Jean’spackmuleledthewaywithoutbeingdriven。AndwhenJeanreachedtheedgeofthebluffonelookdownwasenoughtofetchhimoffhishorse。
Thattrailwassteep，narrow，cloggedwithstones，andasfullofsharpcornersasacrosscutsaw。Onceonthedescentwithapackedmuleandaspiritedhorse，Jeanhadnotimeformindwanderingsandverylittleforoccasionalglimpsesoutoverthecedartopstothevastbluehollowasleepunderawesteringsun。
Thestonesrattled，thedustrose，thecedartwigssnapped，thelittleavalanchesofredearthsliddown，theiron—shodhoofsrangontherocks。
ThisslopehadbeennarrowattheapexintheRimwherethetrailleddownacrack，anditwidenedinfanshapeasJeandescended。Hezigzaggeddownathousandfeetbeforetheslopebenchedintodividingridges。Herethecedarsandjunipersfailedandpinesoncemorehidthesun。Deepravineswereblackwithbrush。Fromsomewhererosearoarofrunningwater，mostpleasanttoJean’sears。Freshdeerandbeartrackscoveredoldonesmadeinthetrail。
ThosetimberedridgeswerebutbillowsofthattremendousslopethatnowsheeredaboveJean，endinginamagnificentyellowwallofrock，greenedinniches，stainedbyweatherrust，carvedandcrackedandcaverned。AsJeandescendedfartherthehumofbeesmademelody，theroarofrapidwaterandthemurmurofarisingbreezefilledhimwiththecontentofthewild。SheepmenlikeColterandwildgirlslikeEllenJorthandallthatseemedpromisingormenacinginhisfather’slettercouldneverchangetheIndianinJean。Sohethought。Harduponthatconclusionrushedanother——onewhichtroubledwithitsstingingrevelation。SurelytheseinfluenceshehaddefiedwerejusttheonestobringoutinhimtheIndianhehadsensedbuthadneverknown。TheeventfuldayhadbroughtnewandbitterfoodforJeantoreflectupon。
Thetraillandedhiminthebowlder—strewnbedofawidecanyon，wherethehugetreesstretchedacanopyoffoliagewhichdeniedthesunlight，andwhereabeautifulbrookrushedandfoamed。HereatlastJeantastedwaterthatrivaledhisOregonsprings。\"Ah，\"hecried，\"thatsureisgood！\"Darkandshadedandfernyandmossywasthisstreamway;andeverywhereweretracksofgame，fromthegiantspreadofagrizzlybeartothetiny，birdlikeimprintsofasquirrel。Jeanheardfamiliarsoundsofdeercracklingthedeadtwigs;andthechatterofsquirrelswasincessant。Thisfragrant，coolretreatundertheRimbroughtbacktohimthedimrecessesofOregonforests。Afterall，JeanfeltthathewouldnotmissanythingthathehadlovedintheCascades。Butwhatwasthevaguesenseofallnotbeingwellwithhim——theessenceofafaintregret——theinsistenceofahoveringshadow？Andthenflashedagain，etchedmorevividlybytherepetitioninmemory，apictureofeyes，oflips——ofsomethinghehadtoforget。
WildandbrokenasthisrollingBasinfloorhadappearedfromtheRim，therealityoftravelingoveritmadethatfirstimpressionadeceitofdistance。Downhereallwasonabig，rough，brokenscale。Jeandidnotfindevenafewrodsoflevelground。Bowldersashugeashousesobstructedthestreambed;sprucetreeseightfeetthicktriedtolorditoverthebrawnypines;theravinewasaveritablecanyonfromwhichoccasionalglimpsesthroughthefoliageshowedtheRimasaloftyred—tippedmountainpeak。
Jean’spackmulebecamefrightenedatscentofabearorlionandranoffdowntheroughtrail，imperilingJean’soutfit。Itwasnotaneasytasktoheadhimoffnor，whenthatwasaccomplished，tokeephimtoatrot。Buthisfrightandsucceedingskittishnessatleastmadeforfasttraveling。JeancalculatedthathecoveredtenmilesundertheRimbeforethecharacterofgroundandforestbegantochange。
Thetrailhadturnedsoutheast。Insteadofgorgeaftergorge，red—walledandchokedwithforest，therebegantoberollingridges，somehigh;otherswereknolls;andathickcedargrowthmadeupforafallingoffofpine。Thesprucehadlongdisappeared。Juniperthicketsgavewaymoreandmoretothebeautifulmanzanita;andsoononthesouthslopesappearedcactusandascrubbyliveoak。Butforthewell—brokentrail，Jeanwouldhavefaredillthroughthistoughbrush。
Jeanespiedseveraldeer，andagainacoyote，andwhathetooktobeasmallherdofwildhorses。Nomoreturkeytracksshowedinthedustypatches。Hecrossedanumberoftinybrooklets，andatlengthcametoaplacewherethetrailendedormergedinaroughroadthatshowedevidenceofconsiderabletravel。Horses，sheep，andcattlehadpassedalongtherethatday。Thisroadturnedsouthward，andJeanbegantohavepleasurableexpectations。
Theroad，likethetrail，leddowngrade，butnolongeratsuchsteepangles，andwasborderedbycedarandpinyon，jack—pineandjuniper，mescalandmanzanita。Quitesharply，goingaroundaridge，theroadledJean’seyedowntoasmallopenflatofmarshy，oratleastgrassy，ground。ThisgreenoasisinthewildernessofredandtimberedridgesmarkedanotherchangeinthecharacteroftheBasin。Beyondthatthecountrybegantospreadoutandrollgracefully，itsdark—greenforestinterspersedwithgrassyparks，untilJeanheadedintoalong，widegray—greenvalleysurroundedbyblack—fringedhills。Hispulsesquickenedhere。Hesawcattledottingtheexpanse，andhereandtherealongtheedgelogcabinsandcorrals。
Asavillage，GrassValleycouldnotboastofmuch，apparently，inthewayofpopulation。Cabinsandhouseswerewidelyscattered，asiftheinhabitantsdidnotcaretoencroachupononeanother。Buttheonestore，builtofstone，andstampedalsowiththecharacteristicisolation，seemedtoJeantobearatherremarkableedifice。Notexactlylikeafortdiditstrikehim，butifithadnotbeendesignedfordefenseitcertainlygavethatimpression，especiallyfromthelong，lowsidewithitsdarkeye—likewindowsabouttheheightofaman’sshoulder。Someratherfinehorsesweretiedtoahitchingrail。
