herewastheplankbridgewithitsonerottenboard；andheretheflatovergrownwithmanzanita，whereheoncehadshotthreequail。
Atnoon，afterhehadbeentrampingforsometwohours，hehaltedatapointwheretheroaddippedsuddenly。Alittletotherightofhim，andflankingtheroad，anenormousyellowgravel-pitlikeanemptiedlakegapedtoheaven。
Fartheron，inthedistance，acanyonzigzaggedtowardthehorizon，ruggedwithpine-cladmountaincrests。Nearerathand，anddirectlyinthelineoftheroad，wasanirregularclusterofunpaintedcabins。Adull，prolongedroarvibratedintheair。McTeaguenoddedhisheadasifsatisfied。
“That’stheplace，“hemuttered。
Hereshoulderedhisblanketrollanddescendedtheroad。Atlasthehaltedagain。Hestoodbeforealowone-storybuilding，differingfromtheothersinthatitwaspainted。