made his heart beat thick and fast.

He saw lofty crags and cathedral spires, and a wonderful canyon winding
between huge beetling red walk. He heard the murmur of flowing water.
The trail led down to the canyon floor, which appeared to be level and
green and cut by deep washes in red earth. Could this canyon be the
mouth of Deception Pass? It bore no resemblance to any place Shefford
had heard described, yet somehow he felt rather than saw that it was
the portal to the wild fastness he had traveled so far to enter.

Not till he had descended the trail and had dropped his pack did he
realize how weary and footsore he was. Then he rested. But his eyes
roved to and fro, and his mind was active. What a wild and lonesome
spot! The low murmur of shallow water came up to him from a deep,
narrow cleft. Shadows were already making the canyon seem full of blue
haze. He saw a bare slope of stone out of which cedar-trees were
growing. And as he looked about him he became aware of a singular and
very perceptible change in the lights and shades. The sun was setting;
the crags were gold-tipped; the shadows crept upward; the sky seemed
to darken swiftly; then the gold changed to red, slowly dulled, and
the grays and purples stood out. Shefford was entranced with the
beautiful changing effects, and watched till the walls turned black
and the sky grew steely and a faint star peeped out. Then he set
about the necessary camp tasks.

Dead cedars right at hand assured him a comfortable night with steady
fire; and when he had satisfied his hunger he arranged an easy seat
before the blazing logs, and gave his mind over to thought of his
weird, lonely environment.