Their heads sometimes brushed ever so lightly, their hands
perforce touched. Always the dry sand flowed from the edges
partially to fill in the result their efforts. Faster and faster
they scooped it out again. The excavation thus took on the shape of
a funnel. Her cheeks glowed pink, her eyes shone like stars.
Entirely was she absorbed in the task. At last a tiny commotion
manifested itself in the bottom of the funnel. Impulsively she laid
her hand on Orde's, to stop them. Fascinated, they watched. After
incredible though lilliputian upheavals, at length appeared a tiny
black insect, struggling against the rolling, overwhelming sands.
With great care the girl scooped this newcomer out and set him on
the level ground. She looked up happily at Orde, thrusting the
loose hair from in front of her eyes.
"I was convinced we ought to dig a hole," said she gravely. "Now,
let's go somewhere else."
She arose to her feet, shaking the sand free from her skirts.
"I think, through these woods," she decided. "Can we get back to
town this way?"
Receiving Orde's assurance, she turned at once down the slope
through the fringe of scrub spruces and junipers into the tall
woods. Here the air fell still.
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