The Enchanted Canyon

art to the report of it, suddenly I saw the Canyon and F.'s broad back on his mu

at a spring surrounded by dwarf junipers. Mack, who had taken

boys! To-morrow afternoon s

had gradually lifted during the entire week, making each day cooler, rarer, as it came, now sloped downward, while mesa a

colored strata, across which drifted veils of mist, lavender, blue and gauzy white. Enoch's heart began to beat heavi

little canyon open

l of a trail, made by Indians nobody knows when. Then we cross a plateau, about a mile wide, as I remember, then

felt no sense of panic, although in common with Mack and Curly, he was apprehensive and at times a little giddy. It r

but the trail, though faint, held to the edge. At th

ad yet seen, a pile huge as if a mountain had fallen to pieces at the river's edge. Behind the broken rock rose the canyon wall, sheer black, forbidding, two thousand feet into the air. Its

g in the cave beneath us. There's drift wood, enough to

advertisement except t

ng for the critters up here on the plateau, you see, and not a bit below. So we'll drive 'em back up here and leave 'e

he plateau ten or fifteen feet deep, and twi

"Judge, you wrangle firewood while Mack and I just g

ldn't tempt me like something to eat. If you aren't ready

you can!" returned Mack, who

ch they snatched for eating, sought for gold. At first Enoch laughed at them and tried to get them to take an occasional half day off in which to explore with him. But they curtly refused to do this, so he fell back on his own resources. And he discovered that the days were all too

broad, flat bowlder. Enoch instantly stopped the search for game and dropped upon the rock, his back against the cedar. Lighting his pipe, he gave himself up to contemplation of the view. Below him yawned blu

pipe in his pocket, unrolled the diary and

e lovely! No wonder you are

hall be the

e silence an

er how it g

his words back to him and he looked at the glory of the

I had stayed on the train, I would have returned at once to Washington and have shot the reporter who wrote the stuff. Perhaps I shall do it yet. But if

fifty miles we are from Bright Angel, Mack says, via the river. And only a handful of exp

ng you and yet, because you are so gentle, you did not want to hurt me. Diana, don't be troubled about me. I shall go back, long enough at least to

s you saw that I was beginning to care for you

-by,

the larder that night. Curly uttered

me along and taken pity on you? Why, you and Mack would have starved to death here in the Canyon, for

m going to try to get Mack to rebate two bits a d

a stone," objected Mack, as he sopped in his coffee

ooking first gets a hired girl, she becomes

place to go," said Enoch. "W

ack, "that by working eight hours a day you can just

it up now, are you, Mack

ek out, if you want to

's Ca

g around the fire, a litt

not going to get independent wea

th it, if you had it,

u're straight. There's something about you a man can't help trusting, and I think you've been successful. You have that way with you. Do you kn

poke soothingly. "Don't g

t to get the Judge's o

much interest

owns the newspapers. When my broth

right there," interrupted Mack.

s desert. Nobody was paying much for law in Arizona in those days. Our guns was our lawyers. But by some fluke, Harry was made trustee of a big estate-a smelting plant that had been left to a kid. After a few years, the courts called for an accounting, and it turned out that my brother was short about a hundred thousand dollars. He seemed totally bewildered when this was discovered, swore he knew nothing about it and was

doesn't know of Fowler's assoc

ver! They gave out that they'd had a split and they say nobody ever sees them together. All t

not to be difficult. You could probably do it yourself, if you could give the time

hat way at all. I got something real on Fowler an

blackmail,"

awyer! Now, I happen to know a

else, throw the light of day on his crime, but if by his weakness you mean only some sin he

cency toward a man's se

ourself into the same kind of a skunk he is. Kill him if

ou knew the gentle

torted Enoch, "except

ppen to have discovered something that both those gentlemen have b

keep it to yourself

nsideration for decency will stop me. I'll be just as merciful to them as they were to Harry. No more! I'll string their dirty linen from the Atlantic t

s. "What's the story, C

ed his pipe. But befor

k s

Mud slinging's bad bu

good deal tempted to help you out, that is, if it is

ose, with a yawn. "But it's late and we'll finish the story to-morrow night. Judge, I hav

"Perhaps!" he said, and he u

wept away. He felt the blood rush to his temples. And anger that had so far been submerged by pain and shame suddenly claimed its hour. His rage was not only at Brown. Luigi, his mother, most of all this woman who had been his mother, claimed his fury. The bitterness and humiliation of a lifetime burst through the gates

ng operations. Enoch had not expected or wished him to be otherwi

nd a keen interest in life to which he had long been a stranger. As he filled the gunny sack which he carried for a game bag with quail and rabbits, he o

mesas, sand and rock had turned to a burning rose color. The plateau edge, near his feet, was green. These were the

k when he reached the foot. For the last half of the trip voices had been floating down to him, as the newcomers threaded their way slowly but steadily. Enoch stood panting at the foot of the trail, lis

The man who was riding him pulled him back on his haunches with a "Whoa, you mu

Diana! O dear Lord, here he is! Boss

around Enoch with a sob t

s' shoulder. "So you found your

s, Miss Diana, she fo

horse, slender and tall

d, eh, Mr. Huntingdon! Are

eplied Eno

, who was as tired as you are, but he would have it you'd d

st, Miss Diana," said Jonas, wi

hed Diana. "Poor Na-ch

l grievance aga

own the trail, followed

an p

, Mr. Huntingdo

face was as dark as Jonas' in the moonlight. "W

Mackay and Field. To them, I am a lawyer named Smith. I would like very muc

ression of vast and many sided relief. Then he chuckled. "Ea

utfit to-night. But we'd better not. I'd be sure to make

Enoch. "Why, just lo

lion-like head. "Of course, your disguise is very impressive," she laughed. "B

ce, boss. I brung you some rid

id Enoch. "Miss Allen,

uld th

oth the men, by the way. Mack, especially, is well known

mean, tell them that I slipped away f

Diana and Jon

's get on. My partners are going to be wor

game bag, "you take my

'll come along with th

ously into his face. "Please, Judge, are you very cross with me for

it rested on her knee. "You mus

ght," sighed Dian

all right! How di

opi country when Jonas came to me. He had talked to no one. He is wonderfully circumspect, but he was frantic beneath his calm. He begged me to find you for him and-well, I was a little anxious myself-so I didn't need

orried!" Enoch quickened his mule'

e the blaze at the edge of the pla

llows! But you see, I

ana!" cried Mack. "Whe

ody was satisfied but his colored man, Jonas. He was absolutely certain the Judge wouldn't keep his face clean or

ht he was putting something over on us. What

! Ha

Curly added, "Anyhow, he's a rotten cook. I was

ch. "I've been out and brought i

suppose, Diana!

. He'll be along with Na-che in

aimed Enoch. "I'll show you a

nd Na-che appearing shortly. Jonas, hobbling to the cave opening stood for a

y'll put me out of the Baptist Church as a liar, if I try t

e quail," g

omething and said, "How come you to think you was a butcher, boss? Leave me

ht. But, Jonas, old man, if you aren't too

is limit to-night. I'll get the rest of the grub, if you'll tend to the quail, Judge. Curly,

ender legs crossed, hands clasping one knee, an amused

e'll put it up in the sand, as usual. And tomorrow, ha

. "Don't be selfish, Mi

k joined in vehemently

umb ruined our quiet li

him and Curly, I'm darn

your

this sort of trip, though, I think he'd have insisted on coming

ese, I'd like to kn

ght that some edible portion besides the pope'

d audibly. Na-che now came into the glow of the fire. She was a comely-faced woman, of perhaps

sit down by me," said Jonas. "If

g white teeth. "You feel sic

that, woman! I'll sho

ck that e

ously, but sat down bes

hed, Na-che and Jonas cleared up, then Jonas took his blanket and retired to a corner of the cave, whence

while, won't you, Diana?" said C

replied Diana. "There are some very special

. "I haven't found the trail into it yet, but I saw the dwelling distinc

realize we were so close to them. Well, you've tempted me and I've fallen. I really

iled com

Judge known each other, D

och spoke quickly. "Th

y of five or six on

the rest of us. I first saw her when sh

as ten days old, and my wife was with her mother and Na-che w

y! She never cried," con

personal. I'm going to bed," she said. The

an do for your comfor

fied with the place

ank you," Diana held ou

think you're han

hat'll do me,"

imace at him and turne

re homesick for Mrs

ed fine old woman!"

rnfully. "You ought t

ight,

ght, Mis

the tall figure swing

eautiful human being I

ng to unroll

is here country was really like, at its best,

y, "that isn't saying

ed Enoch carefully. "Curly, are you too

to-morrow! We've lots of tim

oward Diana before going to sleep. He stretched himself luxuriously in the sand and the next thing he heard was Diana's

et Na-che give you a good rubdow

on, I can. How come he ever thought this was sport,

going, Jonas?

going to turn myself

s wan

at the Colorado's no place fo

to get the boss'

rned to Enoch. "I hope you plan to give m

iably. "I haven't got the reputation for

ight," volunteered Mack. "To my positive knowled

oo, Mack!" Curly ran the comb thr

ct of that draug

the truth agai

the men I got breakfast already for 'em. T

h?" Curly sauntere

m to absorb the fact that he and Diana were together in the Colorado Canyon. When the

than we've ever been, a

you a

h. "For two cents I'd tell how long it t

program, Dian

ver to the cliff dwelling

ide," said Enoc

terrupt your camp routine at all. You just give us directi

Diana! He'll be cryin

ll stay and give us

for the boss," Jo

" said Enoch, "you stay in camp t

"and I'll make you a stew out of thos

tanding by the breakfast fire slender and straight in her brown corduroy riding suit, her wide, intelligent eyes stud

" repeated Enoch. "

efore her, she was appalled by what she saw in the rugged face. There were two straight, deep lines between his brows. The lines from nostril to lip corner were doubly pronounced. The thin, sensitive lips were compressed. The clear,

e so long," he

but before we start, I think I shall develop some of the films I exposed on the way over. A ten o'clock sta

he asked eagerly. "Did you attend the

y picture." Diana sighed. "After all, the camera tells the story no better than wor

bed so narrow that nothing but sky was to be seen above and beyond. But to the left, the south canyon wall terraced back at perhaps a thousand feet in a series of magnificent strata, yellow, purple and crimson. Still south of this, lifted great weathered but

to express it. I've thought of you and your work so often, down here. Somehow, th

ipe and began his never-ending task of bringing in drift wood. He paused,

ve on Fowler and Brown, political, fina

worse!" grunted Cur

comment. But the lines b