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at a time； and being everlasting slow about doing that。〃
Fastening the rope…ladder about his waist； he scaled the boards； and on
reaching the top； cast them down。 First； he looked all about； but no living
creature was in sight。 〃This is just to my hand；〃 he said aloud； seeking a
suitable hiding…place for the rope…ladder； 〃I always did despise company。〃
Stowing away the rope…ladder in a secure fissure between two giant
blocks of granite； each the size of a large two…story house； he crossed to
the first ridge； and looked out over the prairie； to triumph over the vacant
spot where the covered wagon had stood fifteen hours before。 〃No telling
what a man can do；〃 he exclaimed admiringly； 〃that is to say； if his name
is Brick Willock。〃
His eyes wandered to the mound of stones built over the woman's
grave。 His prayer recurred to his mind。 〃Well； God；〃 he said； looking up at
the cloudless sky； 〃I guess you're doing it！〃 After this expression of faith；
he turned about and set forth to traverse the mountain range。 Passing the
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ridge which he already looked upon as home； he crossed other ridges of
varying height； and at the end of a mile reached the southern limit of the
mountain。 Like the northern side the southern elevation was nearly four
hundred feet； as if the granite sea had dashed upward in fiercest waves； in
a last futile attempt to inundate the plain。 The southern wall was
precipitous； and Willock； looking down the cedar…studded declivity； could
gaze directly on the verdant levels that came to the very foot。
He stood at the center of an enormous horseshoe formed on the
southwest by the range curving farther toward the south； and on his left
hand； by the same range sweeping in a quarter…circle toward the southeast。
The mouth of this granite half…circle was opened to the south； at least a
quarter…mile in width； but on his left； a jutting spur almost at right angles
to the main range； and some hundreds of yards closer to his position； shot
across the space within the horseshoe bend； in such fashion that an
observer； standing on the plain； would have half his view of the inner
concave expanse shut off； except that part of the high north wall that
towered above the spur。
Nor was this all。 Behind the perpendicular arm； or spur； that ran out
into the sea of mesquit； rose a low hill that was itself in the nature of an
inner spur although； since it failed to reach the mountain； it might he
regarded as a long flat island； surrounded by the calm green tide。 This
innermost arm； or island； was so near the mountain； that the entrance to it
opened into a curved inner world of green； was narrow and strongly
protected。 The cove thus formed presented a level floor of ten or twelve
acres； and it was directly down into this cove that Willock gazed。 It looked
so peaceful and secure； and its openness to the sunshine was so alluring；
that Willock resolved to descend the steep wall。 To do so at that point was
impractical； but the ridge was unequal and not far to the right； sank to a
low divide； while to the left； a deep gully thickly set with cedars； elms；
scrub…oaks and thorn trees invited him with its steep but not difficult
channel； to the ground。
〃Here's a choice；〃 observed Willock； as he turned toward the divide；
〃guess I'll go by the front； and save the back stairs for an emergency。〃 The
gully was his back stairs。 He was beginning to feel himself rich in
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architectural possibilities。 When he reached the plain he was outside of a
line of hummocks that effectually hid the cove from sight； more
effectually because of a dense grove of pecans that stood on either side of
the grass…grown dunes。 Instead of crossing the barrier； he started due south
for the outer prairie； and when at last he stood midway between the wide
jaws of the mountain horseshoe； he turned and looked intently toward the
cove。
It was invisible； and his highest hopes were realized。 From this
extended mouth he could clearly see where the first spur shot out into the
sand； and beyond that； he could see how； at a distance； the sheer wall of
granite rose to the sky； but there was nothing to suggest that behind that
scarred arm another projection parallel to it might be discovered。 He
walked toward the spur； always watching for a possible glimpse of the
cove。 When he stood on the inner side； his spirits rose higher。 The long flat
island that he had discerned from the mountain…top was here not to be
defined because； on account of its lowness and of the abrupt wall beyond；
it was mingled indistinguishably with the perspective of the range。
Concealment was made easier from the fact that the ground of the cove
was lower than all the surrounding land。 Willock now advanced on the
cove and found himself presently in a snug retreat that would have filled
with delight the heart of the most desperate highwayman； or the most
timid settler。 On the north was； of course； the towering mountain…wall；
broken by the gully in the protection of whose trees one might creep up or
down without detection。 On the east； the same mountain…wall curved in
high protection。 In front was the wide irregular island； low； indeed； but
happily high enough to shut out a view of the outside world。 At the end of
this barricade there was a gap； no wider than a wagon…road； along the side
of which ran the dry channel of a mountain streamthe continuation of the
gully that cut the mountain…wall from top to basebut even this gap was
high enough to prevent observation from the plain。
No horsemen could enter the cove save by means of that low trench；
cut as by the hand of man in the granite hill； and as Indian horsemen were
the only enemies to be dreaded； his watchfulness need be concentrated
only on that one point。 〃Nothing like variety；〃 observed Willock
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cheerfully。
〃This will do capital for my summer home！ I'm going to live like a
lordwhile I'm living。〃
He examined the ground and found that it was rich and could be
penetrated easily； even to the very foot of the mountain。 〃I'll just get my
spade；〃 he remarked； 〃as I ain't got nothing else to do。〃 In deliberate
slowness he returned up the divide； and got the spade from his retreat； then
brought it to the cove。 Selecting a spot near the channel of the dried…up
torrent； he began to dig； relieved to find that he did not strike rock。
〃I guess；〃 he said； stopping to lean on his spade as he stared at the
mountain； 〃the earth just got too full of granite and biled over； but was
keerful to spew it upwards； so's to save as much ground as it could； while
relieving its feelings。〃
Presently the earth on his blade began to cling from dampness。 〃When
I digs a well；〃 he remarked boastingly； 〃what I want is water； and that's
what I gets。 As soon as it's deep enough I'll wall her up with rocks and take
the longest drink that man ever pulled off； that is to say； when it was
nothing but common water。 They ain't nothing about water to incite you to
keep swallowing when you have enough。 Of a sudden you just naturally
leggo and could drown in it without wanting another drop。 That's because
it's nature。 Art is different。 I reckon a nice clean drinking…joint and a full…
stocked bar is about the highest art that can stimulate a man。 But in nature；
you know when you've got enough。〃
After further digging he added； 〃And I got about enough of THIS！ I
mean the mountains and the plains and the sand and the wind and the cave
and the cove〃 he wiped away the dripping sweat and looked at the sun。
〃Yes； and of you； too！〃 He dropped the spade； and sat down on the heap of
dirt。 〃Oh； Lord； but I'm lonesome！ I got plenty to s