"Dad. Lucy. Look," replied Pan, pointing across the valley. "See that first big notch in the wall? Thick with bright green? There's water. And see the open canyon with the cedars scattered? What a place for a ranch! It has been waiting for us all these years ...

That's where we'll homestead."

"Wal, pard, an' you, Louie--look over heah aways," drawled Blinky, with long arm outstretched. "See the red circle wall, with the brook s.h.i.+nin' down like a ribbon. Lookin' to the south! Warm in winter--cool in summer. Sh.o.r.e's I was born in the West thet's the homestead fer me."

The wagons rolled on behind wild horses that needed little driving.

Down the long winding open road across the valley! And so on into the rich gra.s.s where no wheel track showed--on into the sage toward the lonely beckoning walls.