Sunset and twilight gave way
to night, and the canyon bird whistled its melancholy notes, and
the wind sang softly in the cliffs, and the camp-fire blazed and
burned down to red embers. To Venters a subtle difference was
apparent in all of these, or else the shadowy change had been in
him. He hoped that on the morrow this slight depression would
have passed away.
In that measure, however, he was doomed to disappointment.
Furthermore, Bess reverted to a wistful sadness that he had not
observed in her since her recovery. His attempt to cheer her out
of it resulted in dismal failure, and consequently in a darkening
of his own mood. Hard work relieved him; still, when the day had
passed, his unrest returned. Then he set to deliberate thinking,
and there came to him the startling conviction that he must leave
Surprise Valley and take Bess with him. As a rider he had taken
many chances, and as an adventurer in Deception Pass he had
unhesitatingly risked his life, but now he would run no
preventable hazard of Bess's safety and happiness, and he was too
keen not to see that hazard. It gave him a pang to think of
leaving the beautiful valley just when he had the means to
establish a permanent and delightful home there. One flashing
thought tore in hot temptation through his mind--why not climb up
into the gorge, roll Balancing Rock down the trail, and close
forever the outlet to Deception Pass? "That was the beast in
me--showing his teeth!" muttered Venters, scornfully.
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