And, by God! sooner or later I'll kill the man who hid her and kept her in Deception Pass!" As he spoke the west wind softly blew in his face.

It seemed to soothe his passion.

That west wind was fresh, cool, fragrant, and it carried a sweet, strange burden of far-off things--tidings of life in other climes, of sunshine asleep on other walls--of other places where reigned peace.

It carried, too, sad truth of human hearts and mystery--of promise and hope unquenchable.

Surprise Valley was only a little niche in the wide world whence blew that burdened wind.