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his efforts。 Without a moment's hesitation； clad as he was in only
his shirt and trousers； Morse strode into the reeds； and the next
moment； with a call of warning； was swimming toward the now wildly
struggling figure。 But； from some unknown reason； as Morse
approached him nearer the man uttered some incoherent protest and
desperately turned away； throwing off Morse's extended arm。
Attributing this only to the vague convulsions of a drowning man；
Morse； a skilled swimmer； managed to clutch his shoulder； and
propelled him at arm's length； still struggling； apparently with as
much reluctance as incapacity； toward the bank。 As their feet
touched the reeds and slimy bottom the man's resistance ceased； and
he lapsed quite listlessly in Morse's arms。 Half lifting； half
dragging his burden； he succeeded at last in gaining the strip of
meadow； and deposited the unconscious man beneath the willow tree。
Then he ran to his wagon for whisky。
But； to his surprise； on his return the man was already sitting up
and wringing the water from his clothes。 He then saw for the first
time； by the clear moonlight； that the stranger was elegantly
dressed and of striking appearance； and was clearly a part of that
bright and fascinating world which Morse had been contemplating in
his solitude。 He eagerly took the proffered tin cup and drank the
whisky。 Then he rose to his feet； staggered a few steps forward；
and glanced curiously around him at the still motionless wagon； the
few felled trees and evidence of 〃clearing；〃 and even at the rude
cabin of logs and canvas just beginning to rise from the ground a
few paces distant； and said； impatiently：
〃Where the devil am I？〃
Morse hesitated。 He was unable to name the locality of his
dwelling…place。 He answered briefly：
〃On the right bank of the Sacramento。〃
The stranger turned upon him a look of suspicion not unmingled with
resentment。 〃Oh！ 〃 he said； with ironical gravity； 〃and I suppose
that this water you picked me out of was the Sacramento River。
Thank you！〃
Morse； with slow Western patience； explained that he had only
settled there three weeks ago； and the place had no name。
〃What's your nearest town； then？〃
〃Thar ain't any。 Thar's a blacksmith's shop and grocery at the
crossroads； twenty miles further on； but it's got no name as I've
heard on。〃
The stranger's look of suspicion passed。 〃Well he said； in an
imperative fashion； which； however； seemed as much the result of
habit as the occasion； 〃I want a horse； and mighty quick； too。〃
〃H'ain't got any。〃
〃No horse？ How did you get to this place？〃
Morse pointed to the slumbering oxen。
The stranger again stared curiously at him。 After a pause he said；
with a half…pitying； half…humorous smile： 〃Pikearen't you？〃
Whether Morse did or did not know that this current California
slang for a denizen of the bucolic West implied a certain contempt；
he replied simply：
〃I'm from Pike County； Mizzouri。〃
〃Well；〃 said the stranger； resuming his impatient manner； 〃you must
beg or steal a horse from your neighbors。〃
〃Thar ain't any neighbor nearer than fifteen miles。〃
〃Then send fifteen miles！ Stop。〃 He opened his still clinging
shirt and drew out a belt pouch； which he threw to Morse。 〃There！
there's two hundred and fifty dollars in that。 Now； I want a
horse。 Sabe？〃
〃Thar ain't anyone to send；〃 said Morse； quietly。
〃Do you mean to say you are all alone here？〃
〃Yes。
〃And you fished me outall by yourself？〃
〃Yes。
The stranger again examined him curiously。 Then he suddenly
stretched out his hand and grasped his companion's。
〃All right； if you can't send； I reckon I can manage to walk over
there tomorrow。〃
〃I was goin' on to say；〃 said Morse； simply； 〃that if you'll lie by
tonight； I'll start over sunup； after puttin' out the cattle； and
fetch you back a horse afore noon。〃
〃That's enough。〃 He； however； remained looking curiously at Morse。
〃Did you never hear；〃 he said； with a singular smile； 〃that it was
about the meanest kind of luck that could happen to you to save a
drowning man？〃
〃No；〃 said Morse； simply。 〃I reckon it orter be the meanest if you
DIDN'T。〃
〃That depends upon the man you save；〃 said the stranger； with the
same ambiguous smile； 〃and whether the SAVING him is only putting
things off。 Look here；〃 he added； with an abrupt return to his
imperative style； 〃can't you give me some dry clothes？〃
Morse brought him a pair of overalls and a 〃hickory shirt；〃 well
worn； but smelling strongly of a recent wash with coarse soap。 The
stranger put them on while his companion busied himself in
collecting a pile of sticks and dry leaves。
〃What's that for？〃 said the stranger； suddenly。
〃A fire to dry your clothes。〃
The stranger calmly kicked the pile aside。
〃Not any fire tonight if I know it；〃 he said； brusquely。 Before
Morse could resent his quickly changing moods he continued； in
another tone； dropping to an easy reclining position beneath the
tree； 〃Now； tell me all about yourself； and what you are doing
here。〃
Thus commanded； Morse patiently repeated his story from the time he
had left his backwoods cabin to his selection of the river bank for
a 〃location。〃 He pointed out the rich quality of this alluvial
bottom and its adaptability for the raising of stock； which he
hoped soon to acquire。 The stranger smiled grimly； raised himself
to a sitting position； and； taking a penknife from his damp
clothes； began to clean his nails in the bright moonlightan
occupation which made the simple Morse wander vaguely in his
narration。
〃And you don't know that this hole will give you chills and fever
till you'll shake yourself out of your boots？〃
Morse had lived before in aguish districts； and had no fear。
〃And you never heard that some night the whole river will rise up
and walk over you and your cabin and your stock？〃
〃No。 For I reckon to move my shanty farther back。〃
The man shut up his penknife with a click and rose。
〃If you've got to get up at sunrise； we'd better be turning in。 I
suppose you can give me a pair of blankets？〃
Morse pointed to the wagon。 〃Thar's a shakedown in the wagon bed；
you kin lie there。〃 Nevertheless he hesitated； and； with the
inconsequence and abruptness of a shy man； continued the previous
conversation。
〃I shouldn't like to move far away； for them steamboats is pow'ful
kempany o' nights。 I never seed one afore I kem here；〃 and then；
with the inconsistency of a reserved man； and without a word of
further preliminary； he launched into a confidential disclosure of
his late experiences。 The stranger listened with a singular
interest and a quietly searching eye。
〃Then you were watching the boat very closely just now when you saw
me。 What else did you see？ Anything before thatbefore you saw
me in the