Outside the winds were drawing up the cañons. All day they had walked in this wind. It drew constantly up and down the cuts, this way and that, like contrary currents that met and fought each other, swung in together, went a little way in 251 peace, to again split and surge away through other channels. The echoes were alive with every sound, both of their own making and that of the wind’s. A constant sighing droned through the depths, a mournful, whispering sound that sent the shivers down Tharon’s spine, made her think sadly of all the tragedies she had ever known.
Billy, lying full length beside her, his hands beneath his head, looked up to the narrow blue spot of sky so far away, and thought his own thoughts, and they were not wholly sad.
They fell to talking, softly, in low tones, as if in all the mysterious solitude there might be one to hear, and it was mostly speech of long ago––when Billy had first come into Lost Valley.
After a long and quiet hour the man insisted that she should sleep––that after the hard day and in view of the coming hard morrow, she needed rest.
“But I’m not tired, Billy,” Tharon protested, “no more’n as if I’d been ridin’ all day after th’ cattle.”
But Billy shook his head and hollowed a little place in the soft slide stuff at the Wall’s foot. In this he spread the blanket, folding it half back.
“Lie down,” he commanded, “an’ you’ll be asleep so quick you won’t know when it happens.”
Tharon slipped off her daddy’s belt and 252 stretched her slim young form in the hollow, which fitted it like a cradle. Not for nothing had Billy slept out many a night with nothing save the earth and stars for bed and blanket. The hollow was craftily deepened at hip and shoulder, making a restful couch. As she settled herself therein he lapped the loose half of the blanket over her and tucked it in. Then he took his hat, folded it sharply and placed it under the tawny head.
In its place he would fain have laid his heart.
His fingers, settling the improvised pillow, tangled themselves wistfully in the sun-bright hair, and the boy groaned aloud.