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Exactly ten days after Nucky's first trip down Bright Angel trail, John Seaton descended somewhat wearily from the Pullman that had landed him once more at the Canyon's rim. He had telegraphed the time of his arrival and Nucky ran up to meet him. "Hello, Mr. Seaton!" he said. Seaton's jaw dropped. "What on earth ?" Then he grinned.
"Oh, you're the kid!" exclaimed a bell boy. "Say, there was an old lady here once that used to go out every morning and pray to the Lord to close the earth's gap, it made her so nervous! Why don't you try that, kid? Maybe the Lord would take a suggestion from a New Yorker." Nucky rushed to the dining room. He was too angry and resentful to eat much.
At any rate, I wouldn't take the oath on his deathbed of a fellow who ran a joint like Luigi's and taught a kid what he's taught you. He told you that, of course, to keep a hold on you." "But she lived with him. I remember that myself." "I can't help that. I'll bet you my next year's pay, she wasn't your mother!" "Not my mother?" Nucky drew himself up with a long breath.
"You guys always preachin' to me!" Nucky went on, his boyish voice breaking with weariness and excitement. "Why don't you look out for your own kids and let me alone?" "My only boy is beyond my care. He was killed three years ago," returned Seaton. "I've had nothing to do with boys since. And I don't give a hang about you. It's your name I'm interested in.
Said to tell you he thought you needed the sleep more than you did to say good-by to him." "He told me last night," exclaimed Nucky; "that I didn't have to go down the Canyon." "And you don't, you poor sissy! You aren't afraid to get up and dress, are you?" Allen's grin took away part of the sting of his speech. "Meet me in the lobby in twenty minutes, Enoch," and he turned on his heel.
Nucky half scrambled, half fell off his mule. "Must be spring down here," he cried, staring about at grass and cottonwood. "Just about. And it'll be summer when we reach the river." "That was some trail, wasn't it, Frank! Do many kids take it?" "Lots of 'em, but only with guides, and you were the worst case of scared boy I've ever seen." Nucky flushed.
Seaton seemed kind of nice, but I suppose she is like the rest of 'em." "Don't you think it! And did you know that Seaton thinks you were kidnapped?" Nucky drew a quick breath and the guide went on, "I think so too. You never belonged to an Italian. I can't tell you just why I feel so certain. But I'd take my oath you are of New England stock. John Seaton is a first-class lawyer.
Now put this foot in the stirrup, seize the pommel, and swing the other leg over as you spring. That's the idea!" Nucky was awkward, but he landed in the saddle and found the other stirrup, the mule standing fast as a mountain while he did so. Spoons moved off at Allen's bidding, and Nucky grasped at the pommel. But only for a moment. "Don't he shake any worse than this?" he cried.
"I'll bet you don't know what kind of stone that is yonder where the giant dripped blood." "There isn't any giant's blood!" exclaimed Diana scornfully. "That is just red quartz!" "Oh, and what's the layer next to it?" demanded Nucky skeptically. "That's black basalt," answered the little girl. Then, leaning far out of the saddle to point to the depths below, "and that " "Frank!" shouted Nucky.
This is the Grand Canyon!" Frank grinned as he lifted the coffee pot from the fire. Nucky grinned in response. Shortly after, when he sat down to his breakfast the grin had disappeared, but with it had gone the look of sullenness that had seemed habitual. "Frank," said Nucky, when breakfast was over, "do you care if I talk to you some more about you know you know what you said last night?
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