“I thought the West hadn’t bred you.  I know your kind.  You’d last a long time on the Texas border; now, wouldn’t you?  You’re one of the land and water hogs that has come to root in the West.  You’re like the timber sharks—­take it all and leave none for those who follow.  Mr. Chase, the West would fare better and last longer if men like you were driven out.”

“You can’t drive me out.”

“I’m not so sure of that.  Wait till my rangers come back.  I wouldn’t be in your boots.  Don’t mistake me.  I don’t suppose you could be accused of stealing another man’s ideas or plan, but sure you’ve stolen these four claims.  Maybe the law might uphold you.  But the spirit, not the letter, counts with us bordermen.”

“See here, Belding, I think you’re taking the wrong view of the matter.  I’m going to develop this valley.  You’d do better to get in with me.  I’ve a proposition to make you about that strip of land of yours facing the river.”

“You can’t make any deals with me.  I won’t have anything to do with you.”

Belding abruptly left the camp and went home.  Nell met him, probably intended to question him, but one look into his face confirmed her fears.  She silently turned away.  Belding realized he was powerless to stop Chase, and he was sick with disappointment for the ruin of Dick’s hopes and his own.

XIV

A LOST SON

Time passed.  The population of Forlorn River grew apace.  Belding, who had once been the head of the community, found himself a person of little consequence.  Even had he desired it he would not have had any voice in the selection of postmaster, sheriff, and a few other officials.  The Chases divided their labors between Forlorn River and their Mexican gold mine, which had been restored to them.  The desert trips between these two places were taken in automobiles.  A month’s time made the motor cars almost as familiar a sight in Forlorn River as they had been in Casita before the revolution.

Belding was not so busy as he had been formerly.  As he lost ambition he began to find less work to do.  His wrath at the usurping Chases increased as he slowly realized his powerlessness to cope with such men.  They were promoters, men of big interests and wide influence in the Southwest.  The more they did for Forlorn River the less reason there seemed to be for his own grievance.  He had to admit that it was personal; that he and Gale and the rangers would never have been able to develop the resources of the valley as these men were doing it.

All day long he heard the heavy booming blasts and the rumble of avalanches up in the gorge.  Chase’s men were dynamiting the cliffs in the narrow box canyon.  They were making the dam just as Gale had planned to make it.  When this work of blasting was over Belding experienced a relief.  He would not now be continually reminded of his and Gale’s loss.  Resignation finally came to him.  But he could not reconcile himself to misfortune for Gale.