"Is that so?" exclaimed Diana eagerly. "Why, those must be the Gray ruins. I didn't realize we were so close to them. Well, you've tempted me and I've fallen. I really must give a day to those remains. Only one or two whites have ever gone through them."
"How long have you and the Judge known each other, Diana?" asked Curly suddenly.
Diana hesitated but Enoch spoke quickly. "The first time I saw Miss Allen she was a baby of five or six on Bright Angel trail."
Curly whistled. "Then you've got it on the rest of us. I first saw her when she was a sassy miss in school at Tucson."
"Nothing on me!" said Mack. "I held her in my arms when she was ten days old, and my wife was with her mother and Na-che when she was born. You were a red-faced, squalling brat, Diana."
"She was a beautiful baby! She never cried," contradicted Na-che flatly.
Diana laughed and rose. "This is getting too personal. I'm going to bed," she said. The men looked at her, admiration in every face.
"Anything any of us can do for your comfort, Diana?" asked Curly. "Na-che seemed satisfied with the place I put your tent in."
"Everything is fine, thank you," Diana held out her hand, "Good night, Curly. I really think you're handsomer than ever."
"Lots of good that'll do me," retorted Curly.
Diana made a little grimace at him and turned to Mack. "Good night, Mack. I'll bet you're homesick for Mrs. Mack this minute."
"She's a pretty darned fine old woman!" Mack nodded soberly.
"Old!" said Diana scornfully. "You ought to have your ears boxed! Good night, Judge!"
The three men watched the tall figure swing out into the moonlight.
"There goes the most beautiful human being I ever hope to see," said Curly, turning to unroll his blankets.
"If I was a painter and wanted to tell what this here country was really like, at its best, I'd paint Diana." Mack's voice was very earnest.
"Shucks!" sniffed Curly, "that isn't saying anything, is it, Judge?"
"It's hard to put her into words," replied Enoch carefully. "Curly, are you too tired to continue our last night's talk?"
"Oh, let's put it over till to-morrow! We've lots of time!" Curly gave a great yawn.
Enoch said nothing more but rolled himself in his blankets, with the full intention of formulating his line of conduct toward Diana before going to sleep. He stretched himself luxuriously in the sand and the next thing he heard was Diana's laugh outside. He opened his eyes in bewilderment. It was dawn without the cave. Jonas was hobbling down toward the river.