It changed form; it swayed it nodded darkly; and at last, in his heightened fancy, he saw it heave and roll.

As in a dream when he felt himself falling yet knew he would never fall, so he saw this long-standing thunderbolt of the little stone-men plunge down to close forever the outlet to Deception Pass.
And while he was giving way to unaccountable dread imaginations the descent was accomplished without mishap.
"I'm glad that's over," he said, breathing more freely.

"I hope I'm by that hanging rock for good and all.

Since almost the moment I first saw it I've had an idea that it was waiting for me.

Now, when it does fall, if I'm thousands of miles away, I'll hear it." With the first glimpses of the smooth slope leading down to the grotesque cedars and out to the Pass, Venters's cool nerve returned.