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In a few days； it seemed； Altar Valley was a bright and green expanse； where dust clouds did not rise。 Forlorn River ran； a slow； heavy； turgid torrent。 Belding never saw the river in flood that it did not give him joy； yet now； desert man as he was； he suffered a regret when he thought of the great Chase reservoir full and overflowing。 The dull thunder of the spillway was not pleasant。 It was the first time in his life that the sound of falling water jarred upon him。
Belding noticed workmen once more engaged in the fields bounding his land。 The Chases had extended a main irrigation ditch down to Belding's farm； skipped the width of his ground； then had gone on down through Altar Valley。 They had exerted every influence to obtain right to connect these ditches by digging through his land； but Belding had remained obdurate。 He refused to have any dealings with them。 It was therefore with some curiosity and suspicion that he was a gang of Mexicans once more at work upon these ditches。
At daylight next morning a tremendous blast almost threw Belding out of his bed。 It cracked the adobe walls of his house and broke windows and sent pans and crockery to the floor with a crash。 Belding's idea was that the store of dynamite kept by the Chases for blasting had blown up。 Hurriedly getting into his clothes； he went to Nell's room to reassure her； and； telling her to have a thought for their guests； he went out to see what had happened。
The villagers were pretty badly frightened。 Many of the poorly constructed adobe huts had crumbled almost into dust。 A great yellow cloud； like smoke； hung over the river。 This appeared to be at the upper end of Belding's plot； and close to the river。 When he reached his fence the smoke and dust were so thick he could scarcely breathe； and for a little while he was unable to see what had happened。 Presently he made out a huge hole in the sand just abut where the irrigation ditch had stopped near his line。 For some reason or other； not clear to Belding； the Mexicans had set off an extraordinarily heavy blast at that point。
Belding pondered。 He did not now for a moment consider an accidental discharge of dynamite。 But why had this blast been set off？ The loose sandy soil had yielded readily to shovel； there were no rocks； as far as construction of a ditch was concerned such a blast would have odne more harm than good。
Slowly； with reluctant feet； Belding walked toward a green hollow； where in a cluster of willows lay the never…failing spring that his horses loved so well； and； indeed； which he loved no less。 He was actually afraid to part the drooping willows to enter the little cool； shady path that led to the spring。 Then； suddenly seized by suspense； he ran the rest of the way。
He was just in time to see the last of the water。 It seemed to sink as in quicksand。 The shape of the hole had changed。 The tremendous force of the blast in the adjoining field had obstructed or diverted the underground stream of water。
Belding's never…failing spring had been ruined。 What had made this little plot of ground green and sweet and fragrant was now no more。 Belding's first feeling was for the pity of it。 The pale Ajo lilies would bloom no more under those willows。 The willows themselves would soon wither and die。 He thought how many times in the middle of hot summer nights he had come down to the spring to drink。 Never again！
Suddenly he thought of Blanco Diablo。 How the great white thoroughbred had loved this spring！ Belding straightened up and looked with tear…blurred eyes out over the waste of desert to the west。 Never a day passed that he had not thought of the splendid horse； but this moment； with its significant memory； was doubly keen； and there came a dull pang in his breast。
〃Diablo will never drink here again！〃 muttered Belding。
The loss of Blanco Diablo； though admitted and mourned by Belding； had never seemed quite real until this moment。
The pall of dust drifting over him； the din of the falling water up at the dam； diverted Belding's mind to the Chases。 All at once he was in the harsh grip of a cold certainty。 The blast had been set off intentionally to ruin his spring。 What a hellish trick！ No Westerner； no Indian or Mexican； no desert man could have been guilty of such a crime。 To ruin a beautiful； clear； cool； never…failing stream of water in the desert！
It was then that Belding's worry and indecision and brooding were as if they had never existed。 As he strode swiftly back to the house； his head； which had long been bent thoughtfully and sadly； was held erect。 He went directly to his room； and with an air that was now final he buckled on his gun belt。 He looked the gun over and tried the action。 He squared himself and walked a little more erect。 Some long…lost individuality had returned to Belding。
〃Let's see；〃 he was saying。 〃I can get Carter to send the horses I've left back to Waco to my brother。 I'll make Nell take what money there is and go hunt up her mother。 The Gales are ready to goto…day； if I say the word。 Nell can travel with them part way East。 That's your game； Tom Belding； don't mistake me。〃
As he went out he encountered Mr。 Gale coming up the walk。 The long sojourn at Forlorn River； despite the fact that it had been laden with a suspense which was gradually changing to a sad certainty； had been of great benefit to Dick's father。 The dry air； the heat； and the quiet had made him； if not entirely a well man； certainly stronger than he had been in many years。
〃Belding； what was that terrible roar？〃 asked Mr。 Gale。 〃We were badly frightened until Miss Nell came to us。 We feared it was an earthquake。〃
〃Well； I'll tell you； Mr。 Gale； we've had some quakes here； but none of them could hold a candle to this jar we just had。〃
Then Belding explained what had caused the explosion； and why it had been set off so close to his property。
〃It's an outrage； sir； an unspeakable outrage；〃 declared Mr。 Gale； hotly。 〃Such a thing would not be tolerated in the East。 Mr。 Belding； I'm amazed at your attitude in the face of all this trickery。〃
〃You seethere was mother and Nell；〃 began Belding； as if apologizing。 He dropped his head a little and made marks in the sand with the toe of his boot。 〃Mr。 Gale； I've been sort of half hitched； as Laddy used to say。 I'm planning to have a little more elbow room round this ranch。 I'm going to send Nell East to her mother。 Then I'll See here； Mr。 Gale； would you mind having Nell with you part way when you go home？〃
〃We'd all be delighted to have her go all the way and make us a visit；〃 replied Mr。 Gale。
〃That's fine。 And you'll be going soon？ Don't take that as if I wanted to〃 Belding paused； for the truth was that he did want to hurry them off。
〃We would have been gone before this； but for you；〃 said Mr。 Gale。 〃Long ago we gave up hope ofof Richard ever returning。 And I believe； now we're sure he was lost； that we'd do well to go home at once。 You wished us to remain until the heat was brokentill the rains came to make traveling easier for us。 Now I see no need for further delay。 My stay here has greatly benefited my health。 I shall never forget your hospitality。 This Western trip would have made me a new man ifonlyRichard〃
〃Sure。 I understand；〃 said Belding； gruffly。 〃Let's go in and tell the women to pack up。〃
Nell was busy with the servants preparing breakfast。 Belding took her into the sitting…room while Mr。 Gale called his wife and daughter。
〃My girl； I've some news for you；〃 began Belding。 〃Mr。 Gale is leaving to…day with his family。 I'm going to send you with thempart way； anyhow。 You're invited to visit them。 I think that 'd be great for youhelp you to forget。 But the main thing isyou're going East to join mother。〃
Nell gazed at him； white…faced； without uttering a word。
〃You see； Nell； I'm about done in Forlorn River；〃 went on Belding。 〃That blast this morning sank my spring。 There's no water now。 It was the last straw。 So we'll shake the dust of Forlorn River。 I'll come on a little laterthat's all。〃
〃Dad； you're packing your gun！〃 exclaimed Nell； suddenly pointing with a trembling finger。 She ran to him； and for the first time in his life Belding put her away from him。 His movements had lost the old slow gentleness。
〃Why； so I am；〃 replied Belding； coolly； as his hand moved down to the sheath swinging at his hip。 〃Nell； I'm that absent…minded these days！〃
〃Dad！〃 she cried。
〃That'll do from you；〃 he replied； in a voice he had never used to her。 〃Get breakfast now； then pack to leave Forlorn River。〃
〃Leave Forlorn River！〃 whispered Nell； with a thin white hand stealing up to her breast。 How changed the girl was！ Belding reproached himself for his hardness； but did not speak his thought aloud。 Nell was fading here； just as Mercedes had faded before the coming of Thorne。
Nell turned away to the west window and looked out across the desert toward the dim blue peaks in the distance。 Belding watched her； likewise the Gales； and no one spoke。 There ensued a long silence。 Belding felt a lump rise in his throat。 Nell laid her arm against the window frame； but gradually it dropped； and she was leaning w