Hesitatingly the man looked back and then dropped his eyes.
"Well, I said I knew it was here."
"You knew more than that. You have been using it. How long ago was it built?"
"A month—Oh, I dunno—"
"What about a month?" she insisted, gesturing bruskly. "What about a month?"
"I dunno."
She relaxed a trifle again and eyed the confused, visibly agitated man. For a breath the place was in utter silence. The gloom deepened; the wind held off. It was as though the crisis were at hand.... And just then the man at the foot of the trail across the flat put down his rifle and said with a short laugh:
"I didn't make you out, Tom."
When Jane spoke again it was in an easier tone.
"How did you happen to come to this country, Cole?"