re, which was insignificant compared to this
greater one, and as suddenly as the mists had melted, the uncertainty
in his own mind concerning Savine's plan vanished too, and he saw that
the contractor was wrong. What he had done for Bransome on a minute
scale must be done here on a gigantic one. A bold man, backed with
capital, might blast a pathway for the waters through the converging
rocks of the canyon, and, without the need of costly dykes, both swamp
and the wide blue lake at the end of the valley would be left dry land.
He stood rigidly still for ten minutes while his heart beat fast. Then
he strode hurriedly towards the gap in the ranges. There was much to
do before he could obey Savine's summons.

It was towards the close of that afternoon when Julius Savine lounged
on the veranda of a wooden hotel for tourists, which was built in a
gorge of savage beauty. In spite of all that modern art could do, the
building looked raw and new, out of place among the immemorial pines
climbing towards snowy heights unsullied by the presence of man.
Helen, who sat near her father, glanced at him keenly before she said:

"You have not looked well all day. Is it the hot weather, or are you
troubled about the conference to-night?"

Savine at first made no reply. The furrows deepened on his forehead,
and Helen felt a thrill of anxiety as she watched him. She had noticed
that his shoulders were losing their squareness, and that his face had
grown thin.

"I must look worse than I feel," he declared after a little while,
"but, though there is nothing to worry about, the reclamation scheme is
a big one, and some of my rancher friends seem to have grown lukewarm
latterly. If they went over to the opposition, the plea that my
workings might damage their property, if encouraged by meddlesome
politicians, would seriously hamper me. Still, I shall certainly
convince them, and that is why I am receiving the deputation to-night.
I wish Thurston had come in earlier; I want to consult with him."

"What has happened to you?" asked Helen, laying her hand affectionately
upon his arm. "You never used to listen to anybody's opinions, and now
you are always consulting Thurston. Sometimes I fancy you ought to
give up your business before it wears you out. After all, you have not
known Thurston long."

"Perhaps so," Savine admitted, and when he looked at her Helen became
interested in an eagle, which hung poised on broad wings above