looking　up　at　the　sky。　　The　day　was　already　hot　and　there
  was　no　breeze。　　The　sun　was　shining；　but　heavy　brown
  clouds　were　hanging　in　the　west；　like　the　smoke　of　a　for…
  est　fire。　　She　and　Fred　had　meant　to　ride　to　Flagstaff　that
  morning；　but　Biltmer　advised　against　it；　foretelling　a
  storm。　　After　breakfast　they　lingered　about　the　house；
  waiting　for　the　weather　to　make　up　its　mind。　　Fred　had
  brought　his　guitar；　and　as　they　had　the　dining…room　to
  themselves；　he　made　Thea　go　over　some　songs　with　him。
  They　got　interested　and　kept　it　up　until　Mrs。　Biltmer
  came　to　set　the　table　for　dinner。　　Ottenburg　knew　some　of
  the　Mexican　things　Spanish　Johnny　used　to　sing。　　Thea
  had　never　before　happened　to　tell　him　about　Spanish
  Johnny；　and　he　seemed　more　interested　in　Johnny　than
  in　Dr。　Archie　or　Wunsch。
  After　dinner　they　were　too　restless　to　endure　the　ranch
  house　any　longer；　and　ran　away　to　the　canyon　to　practice
  with　single…sticks。　　Fred　carried　a　slicker　and　a　sweater；　and
  he　made　Thea　wear　one　of　the　rubber　hats　that　hung　in
  Biltmer's　gun…room。　　As　they　crossed　the　pasture　land　the
  clumsy　slicker　kept　catching　in　the　lacings　of　his　leggings。
  〃Why　don't　you　drop　that　thing？〃　Thea　asked。　　〃I
  won't　mind　a　shower。　　I've　been　wet　before。〃
  〃No　use　taking　chances。〃
  From　the　canyon　they　were　unable　to　watch　the　sky；
  since　only　a　strip　of　the　zenith　was　visible。　　The　flat　ledge
  about　the　watch…tower　was　the　only　level　spot　large　enough
  for　single…stick　exercise；　and　they　were　still　practicing　there
  when；　at　about　four　o'clock；　a　tremendous　roll　of　thunder
  echoed　between　the　cliffs　and　the　atmosphere　suddenly
  became　thick。
  Fred　thrust　the　sticks　in　a　cleft　in　the　rock。　　〃We're　in
  for　it；　Thea。　　Better　make　for　your　cave　where　there　are
  blankets。〃　　He　caught　her　elbow　and　hurried　her　along　the
  path　before　the　cliff…houses。　　They　made　the　half…mile　at　a
  quick　trot；　and　as　they　ran　the　rocks　and　the　sky　and　the
  air　between　the　cliffs　turned　a　turbid　green；　like　the　color
  in　a　moss　agate。　　When　they　reached　the　blanketed　rock
  room；　they　looked　at　each　other　and　laughed。　　Their　faces
  had　taken　on　a　greenish　pallor。　　Thea's　hair；　even；　was
  green。
  〃Dark　as　pitch　in　here；〃　Fred　exclaimed　as　they　hurried
  over　the　old　rock　doorstep。　　〃But　it's　warm。　　The　rocks
  hold　the　heat。　　It's　going　to　be　terribly　cold　outside；　all
  right。〃　　He　was　interrupted　by　a　deafening　peal　of　thunder。
  〃Lord；　what　an　echo！　　Lucky　you　don't　mind。　　It's　worth
  watching　out　there。　　We　needn't　come　in　yet。〃
  The　green　light　grew　murkier　and　murkier。　　The　smaller
  vegetation　was　blotted　out。　　The　yuccas；　the　cedars；　and
  PINONS　stood　dark　and　rigid；　like　bronze。　　The　swallows
  flew　up　with　sharp；　terrified　twitterings。　　Even　the　quak…
  ing　asps　were　still。　　While　Fred　and　Thea　watched　from
  the　doorway；　the　light　changed　to　purple。　　Clouds　of　dark
  vapor；　like　chlorine　gas；　began　to　float　down　from　the　head
  of　the　canyon　and　hung　between　them　and　the　cliff…houses
  in　the　opposite　wall。　　Before　they　knew　it；　the　wall　itself
  had　disappeared。　　The　air　was　positively　venomous…looking；
  and　grew　colder　every　minute。　　The　thunder　seemed　to
  crash　against　one　cliff；　then　against　the　other；　and　to　go
  shrieking　off　into　the　inner　canyon。
  The　moment　the　rain　broke；　it　beat　the　vapors　down。
  In　the　gulf　before　them　the　water　fell　in　spouts；　and
  dashed　from　the　high　cliffs　overhead。　　It　tore　aspens　and
  chokecherry　bushes　out　of　the　ground　and　left　the　yuccas
  hanging　by　their　tough　roots。　　Only　the　little　cedars　stood
  black　and　unmoved　in　the　torrents　that　fell　from　so　far
  above。　　The　rock　chamber　was　full　of　fine　spray　from　the
  streams　of　water　that　shot　over　the　doorway。　　Thea　crept
  to　the　back　wall　and　rolled　herself　in　a　blanket；　and　Fred
  threw　the　heavier　blankets　over　her。　　The　wool　of　the
  Navajo　sheep　was　soon　kindled　by　the　warmth　of　her
  body；　and　was　impenetrable　to　dampness。　　Her　hair；
  where　it　hung　below　the　rubber　hat；　gathered　the　mois…
  ture　like　a　sponge。　　Fred　put　on　the　slicker；　tied　the
  sweater　about　his　neck；　and　settled　himself　cross…legged
  beside　her。　　The　chamber　was　so　dark　that；　although　he
  could　see　the　outline　of　her　head　and　shoulders；　he　could
  not　see　her　face。　　He　struck　a　wax　match　to　light　his
  pipe。　　As　he　sheltered　it　between　his　hands；　it　sizzled　and
  sputtered；　throwing　a　yellow　flicker　over　Thea　and　her
  blankets。
  〃You　look　like　a　gypsy；〃　he　said　as　he　dropped　the
  match。　　〃Any　one　you'd　rather　be　shut　up　with　than　me？
  No？　　Sure　about　that？〃
  〃I　think　I　am。　　Aren't　you　cold？〃
  〃Not　especially。〃　　Fred　smoked　in　silence；　listening　to
  the　roar　of　the　water　outside。　　〃We　may　not　get　away　from
  here　right　away；〃　he　remarked。
  〃I　shan't　mind。　　Shall　you？〃
  He　laughed　grimly　and　pulled　on　his　pipe。　　〃Do　you
  know　where　you're　at；　Miss　Thea　Kronborg？〃　he　said　at
  last。　　〃You've　got　me　going　pretty　hard；　I　suppose　you
  know。　　I've　had　a　lot　of　sweethearts；　but　I've　never　been
  so　muchengrossed　before。　　What　are　you　going　to　do
  about　it？〃　　He　heard　nothing　from　the　blankets。　　〃Are　you
  going　to　play　fair；　or　is　it　about　my　cue　to　cut　away？〃
  〃I'll　play　fair。　　I　don't　see　why　you　want　to　go。〃
  〃What　do　you　want　me　around　for？to　play　with？〃
  Thea　struggled　up　among　the　blankets。　　〃I　want　you　for
  everything。　　I　don't　know　whether　I'm　what　people　call　in
  love　with　you　or　not。　　In　Moonstone　that　meant　sitting　in
  a　hammock　with　somebody。　　I　don't　want　to　sit　in　a　ham…
  mock　with　you；　but　I　want　to　do　almost　everything　else。
  Oh；　hundreds　of　things！〃
  〃If　I　run　away；　will　you　go　with　me？〃
  〃I　don't　know。　　I'll　have　to　think　about　that。　　Maybe　I
  would。〃　　She　freed　herself　from　her　wrappings　and　stood
  up。　　〃It's　not　raining　so　hard　now。　　Hadn't　we　better
  start　this　minute？　　It　will　be　night　before　we　get　to
  Biltmer's。〃
  Fred　struck　another　match。　　〃It's　seven。　　I　don't　know
  how　much　of　the　path　may　be　washed　away。　　I　don't　even
  know　whether　I　ought　to　let　you　try　it　without　a　lantern。〃
  Thea　went　to　the　doorway　and　looked　out。　　〃There's
  nothing　else　to　do。　　The　sweater　and　the　slicker　will　keep
  me　dry；　and　this　will　be　my　chance　to　find　out　whether
  these　shoes　are　really　water…tight。　　They　cost　a　week's　sal…
  ary。〃　　She　retreated　to　the　back　of　the　cave。　　〃It's　getting
  blacker　every　minute。〃
  Ottenburg　took　a　brandy　flask　from　his　coat　pocket。
  〃Better　have　some　of　this　before　we　start。　　Can　you　take
  it　without　water？〃
  Thea　lifted　it　obediently　to　her　lips。　　She　put　on　the
  sweater　and　Fred　helped　her　to　get　the　clumsy　slicker　on
  over　it。　　He　buttoned　it　and　fastened　the　high　collar。　　She
  could　feel　that　his　hands　were　hurried　and　clumsy。　　The
  coat　was　too　big；　and　he　took　off　his　necktie　and　belted　it
  in　at　the　waist。　　While　she　tucked　her　hair　more　securely
  under　the　rubber　hat　he　stood　in　front　of　her；　between　her
  and　the　gray　doorway；　without　moving。
  〃Are　you　ready　to　go？〃　she　asked　carelessly。
  〃If　you　are；〃　he　spoke　quietly；　without　moving；　except
  to　bend　his　head　forward　a　little。
  Thea　laughed　and　put　her　hands　on　his　shoulders。　　〃You
  know　how　to　handle　me；　don't　you？〃　she　whispered。　　For
  the　first　time；　she　kissed　him　without　constraint　or　embar…
  rassment。
  〃Thea；　Thea；　Thea！〃　　Fred　whispered　her　name　three
  times；　shaking　her　a　little　as　if　to　waken　her。　　It　was　too
  dark　to　see；　but　he　could　feel　that　she　was　smiling。
  When　she　kissed　him　she　had　not　hidden　her　face　on　his
  shoulder；she　had　risen　a　little　on　her　toes；　and　stood
  straight　and　free。　　In　that　moment　when　he　came　close　to
  her　actual　personality；　he　felt　in　her　the　same　expansion
  that　he　had　noticed　at　Mrs。　Nathanmeyer's。　　She　became
  freer　and　stronger　under　impulses。　　When　she　rose　to　meet
  him　like　that；　he　felt　her　flash　into　everything　that　she　had
  ever　suggested　to　him；　as　if　she　filled　out　her　own　shadow。
  She　pushed　him　away　and　shot　past　him　out　into　the　rain。