Forty years ain't very long, Johnny! It ain't very long!" Joanne had turned from them, and Aldous knew that she was crying.
"An' we've beat 'em to it, Johnny--we've beat 'em to it!" exulted MacDonald.

"There ain't a sign of life in the valley, and we sure could make it out from here if there was!" He climbed into his saddle, and started down the slope of the mountain.
Aldous went to Joanne.

She was sobbing.

Her eyes were blinded by tears.
"It's terrible, terrible," she whispered brokenly.

"And it--it's beautiful, John.