t, breeches, and mocassins; they
were evidently blood stains. His hunting knife, which was nearly two
feet long, with a rude wooden handle, was now replaced in his girdle,
but in its stead he held a Kentucky rifle in his hand.

Although I did my utmost to assume an indifferent countenance, my
features doubtless expressed something of the repugnance and horror with
which the man inspired me. He looked loweringly at me for a moment from
under his shaggy eyebrows.

"You don't seem to like the company you've got into," said he. "Do I
look so very desperate, then? Is it written so plainly on my face?"

"What should there be written upon your face?"

"What? What? Fools and children ask them questions."

"I will ask you none; but as a Christian, as my countryman, I beseech
you"----

"Christian!" interrupted he, with a hollow laugh. "Countryman!" He
struck the but of his rifle hard upon the ground. "That is my
countryman--my only friend!" he continued, as he examined the flint and
lock of his weapon. "That releases from all troubles; that's a true
friend. Pooh! perhaps it'll release you too--put you to rest."

These last words were uttered aside, and musingly.

"Put him to rest, as well as---- Pooh! One more or less--Perhaps it
would drive away that cursed spectre."

All this seemed to be spoken to his rifle.

"Will you swear not to betray me?" cried he to me. "Else, one touch"----

As he spoke, he brought the gun to his shoulder, the muzzle pointed
full at my breast.

I felt no fear. I am sure my pulse did not give a
throb the more for this menace. So deadly weak and helpless as I lay, it
was unnecessary to shoot me. The slightest blow from the but of the
rifle would have driven the last faint spark of life out of my exhausted
body. I looked calmly, indifferently even, into the muzzle of the piece.

"If you can answer it to your God, to your and my judge and creator, do
your will."

My words, which from faintness I could scarcely render audible, had,
nevertheless, a sudden and startling effect upon the man. He trembled
from head to foot, let the but of his gun fall heavily to the ground,
and gazed at me with open mouth and staring eyes.

"This one, too, comes with his God!" muttered he. "God! and your and my
creator--and--judge."

He seemed hardly able to articulate these words, which were uttered by
gasps and efforts, as though something had been choking him.

"His and my--judge"--groaned he again. "Can t