r.

"Years ago when I was searching for my father I learned many things
about this country," said Mrs. Belding. "You can never tell how long a
man may live in the desert. The fiercest, most terrible and
inaccessible places often have their hidden oasis. In his later years
my father became a prospector. That was strange to me, for he never
cared for gold or money. I learned that he was often gone in the
desert for weeks, once for months. Then the time came when he never
came back. That was years before I reached the southwest border and
heard of him. Even then I did not for long give up hope of his coming
back, I know now--something tells me--indeed, it seems his spirit
tells me--he was lost. But I don't have that feeling for Yaqui and his
party. Yaqui has given Rojas the slip or has ambushed him in some
trap. Probably that took time and a long journey into Sonora. The
Indian is too wise to start back now over dry trails. He'll curb the
rangers; he'll wait. I seem to know this, dear Nell, so be brave,
patient. Dick Gale will come back to you."

"Oh, mother!" cried Nell. "I can't give up hope while I have you."

That talk with the strong mother worked a change in Nell and Belding.
Nell, who had done little but brood and watch the west and take violent
rides, seemed to settle into a waiting patience that was sad, yet
serene. She helped her mother more than ever; she was a comfort to
Belding; she began to take active interest in the affairs of the
growing village. Belding, who had been breaking under the strain of
worry, recovered himself so that to outward appearance he was his old
self. He alone knew, however, that his humor was forced, and that the
slow burning wrath he felt for the Chases was flaming into hate.

Belding argued with himself that if Ben Chase and his son, Radford, had
turned out to be big men in other ways than in the power to carry on
great enterprises he might have become reconciled to them. But the
father was greedy, grasping, hard, cold; the son added to those traits
an overbearing disposition to rule, and he showed a fondness for drink
and cards. These men were developing the valley, to be sure, and a
horde of poor Mexicans and many Americans were benefiting from that
development; nevertheless, these Chases were operating in a way which
proved they cared only for themselves.

Belding shook off a lethargic spell and decided he had better set about
several by no means small tas