Gold Gulch"-- he pointed with the butt of his quirt--"is about eighteen or nineteen miles along here to the north of us.

Those hills way over yonder to the northeast are the Telescope hills." "What do you call the desert out yonder ?" McTeague's eyes wandered over the illimitable stretch of alkali that stretched out forever and forever to the east, to the north, and to the south.
"That," said Cribbens, "that's Death Valley." There was a long pause.

The horses panted irregularly, the sweat dripping from their heaving bellies.

Cribbens and the dentist sat motionless in their saddles, looking out over that abominable desolation, silent, troubled.
"God!" ejaculated Cribbens at length, under his breath, with a shake of his head.

Then he seemed to rouse himself.