"Afraid I can't say, as yet," he replied. "We've covered the ground pretty thoroughly for miles along High Mesa and Deep Cañon. If the annual precipitation here is what I estimate it from what your father tells me, it would be possible to put in a drainage and reservoir system that would store four thousand acre feet. Except as an auxiliary system, however, it would cost too much to be practicable. As for Deep Cañon--" He turned to his wife. "Jenny, whatever else happens, I must get you up to see that cañon. It's almost as grand and in some ways even more wonderful than the Cañon of the Colorado."
"Then I must see it, by all means," responded Mrs. Blake. "I shall soon be able to ride up to it, Isobel assures me."
"Within a few days," said the girl. "But, Mr. Blake, pardon me--How about the water in the cañon? You surely see no way to lift it out over the top of High Mesa?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't even guess what can be done until I have run a line of levels and found the depth of the cañon. I tried to estimate it by dropping in rocks and timing them, but we couldn't see them strike bottom."
"A line of levels? Will it take you long?"
"Maybe a week; possibly more. If I had a transit as well as my level, it would save time. However, I can make out with the chain and compass I brought."
"Mr. Blake is to start running his levels in the morning," said Knowles. "Lafe, I'd like you to help him as his rodman, if you have no objections. As you've been an engineer, you can help him along faster than Kid.--You said one would do, Mr. Blake; but if you need more, take all the men you want. The sooner this thing is settled, the better it will suit me."
"The sooner the better, Daddy!" agreed Isobel, "that is, if our guests promise to not hurry away."
"We shall stay at least a month, if you wish us to," said Mrs. Blake.
"Two months would be too short!--And the sooner we are over with this uncertainty--Lafe, you'll do your utmost to help Mr. Blake, won't you?"
"Yes, indeed; anything I can," eagerly responded Ashton.
Gowan's face darkened at sight of the smile with which the girl rewarded the tenderfoot. Yet instead of sulking, he joined in the evening's entertainment of the guests with a zeal that agreeably surprised everyone. His guitar playing won genuine praise from the Blakes, though both were sophisticated and critical music lovers.