Knowles and Gowan and the engineer returned so late that they found all the others at the supper table. 168 Blake’s freshly sunburnt face was cheerful. Gowan’s expression was as noncommittal as usual. But the cowman’s forehead was furrowed with unrelieved suspense.
“Oh, Mr. Blake!” exclaimed Isobel. “Don’t tell us your report is unfavorable.”
“Afraid I can’t say, as yet,” he replied. “We’ve covered the ground pretty thoroughly for miles along High Mesa and Deep Cañon. If the annual precipitation here is what I estimate it from what your father tells me, it would be possible to put in a drainage and reservoir system that would store four thousand acre feet. Except as an auxiliary system, however, it would cost too much to be practicable. As for Deep Cañon––” He turned to his wife. “Jenny, whatever else happens, I must get you up to see that cañon. It’s almost as grand and in some ways even more wonderful than the Cañon of the Colorado.”
“Then I must see it, by all means,” responded Mrs. Blake. “I shall soon be able to ride up to it, Isobel assures me.”
“Within a few days,” said the girl. “But, Mr. Blake, pardon me––How about the water in the cañon? You surely see no way to lift it out over the top of High Mesa?”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t even guess what can be done until I have run a line of levels and found the depth 169 of the cañon. I tried to estimate it by dropping in rocks and timing them, but we couldn’t see them strike bottom.”
“A line of levels? Will it take you long?”
“Maybe a week; possibly more. If I had a transit as well as my level, it would save time. However, I can make out with the chain and compass I brought.”
“Mr. Blake is to start running his levels in the morning,” said Knowles. “Lafe, I’d like you to help him as his rodman, if you have no objections. As you’ve been an engineer, you can help him along faster than Kid.––You said one would do, Mr. Blake; but if you need more, take all the men you want. The sooner this thing is settled, the better it will suit me.”
“The sooner the better, Daddy!” agreed Isobel, “that is, if our guests promise to not hurry away.”