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〃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 water？〃
〃Nothe boat had got well off before I saw you at all。〃
〃Ah；〃 said the stranger。 〃Well； I'm going to turn in。〃 He walked
to the wagon； mounted it； and by the time that Morse had reached it
with his wet clothes he was already wrapped in the blankets。 A
moment later he seemed to be in a profound slumber。
It was only then； when his guest was lying helplessly at his mercy；
that he began to realize his strange experiences。 The domination
of this man had been so complete that Morse； although by nature
independent and self…reliant； had not permitted himself to question
his right or to resent his rudeness。 He had accepted his guest's
careless or premeditated silence regarding the particulars of his
accident as a matter of course； and had never dreamed of
questioning him。 That it was a natural accident of that great
world so apart from his own experiences he did not doubt； and
thought no more about it。 The advent of the man himself was
greater to him than the causes which brought him there。 He was as
yet quite unconscious of the complete fascination this mysterious
stranger held over him； but he found himself shyly pleased with
even the slight interest he had displayed in his affairs； and his
hand felt yet warm and tingling from his sudden soft but expressive
grasp； as if it had been a woman's。 There is a simple intuition of
friendship in some lonely； self…abstracted natures that is nearly
akin to love at first sight。 Even the audacities and insolence of
this stranger affected Morse as he might have been touched and
captivated by the coquetries or imperiousness of some bucolic
virgin。 And this reserved and shy frontiersman found himself that
night sleepless； and hovering with an abashed timidity and
consciousness around the wagon that sheltered his guest； as if he
had been a very Corydon watching the moonlit couch of some
slumbering Amaryllis。
He was off by daylightafter having placed a rude breakfast by the
side of the still sleeping guestand before midday he had returned
with a horse。 When he handed the stranger his pouch； less the
amount he had paid for the horse； the man said curtly：
〃What's that for？〃
〃Your change。 I paid only fifty dollars for the horse。〃
The stranger regarded him with his peculiar smile。 Then； replacing
the pouch in his belt； he shook Morse's hand again and mounted the
horse。
〃So your name's Martin Morse！ Wellgoodby； Morsey！〃
Morse hesitated。 A blush rose to his dark check。 〃You didn't tell
me your name；〃 he said。 〃In case〃
〃In case I'm WANTED？ Well； you can call me Captain Jack。〃 He
smiled； and； nodding his head； put spurs to his mustang and
cantered away。
Morse did not do much work that day； falling into abstracted moods
and living over his experiences of the previous night； until he
fancied he could almost see his strange guest again。 The narrow
strip of meadow was haunted by him。 There was the tree under which
he had first placed him； and that was where he had seen him sitting
up in his dripping but well…fitting clothes。 In the rough garments
he had worn and returned lingered a new scent of some delicate
soap； overpowering the strong alkali flavor of his own。 He was
early by the river side； having a vague hope； he knew not why； that
he should again see him and recognize him among the passengers。 He
was wading out among the reeds； in the faint light of the rising
moon； recalling the exact spot where he had first seen the
stranger； when he was suddenly startled by the rolling over in the
water of some black object that had caught against the bank； but
had been dislodged by his movements。 To his horror it bore a faint
resemblance to his first vision of the preceding night。 But a
second glance at the helplessly floating hair and bloated outline
showed him that it was a DEAD man； and of a type and build far
different from his former companion。 There was a bruise upon his
matted forehead and an enormous wound in his throat already washed
bloodless； white； and waxen。 An inexplicable fear came upon him；
not at the sight of the corpse； for he had been in Indian massacres
and had rescued bodies mutilated beyond recognition； but from some
moral dread that； strangely enough； quickened and deepened with the
far…off pant of the advancing steamboat。 Scarcely knowing why； he
dragged the body hurriedly ashore； concealing it in the reeds； as
if he were disposing of the evidence of his own crime。 Then； to
his preposterous terror； he noticed that the panting of the
steamboat and the beat of its paddles were 〃slowing〃 as the vague
bulk came in sight； until a huge wave from the suddenly arrested
wheels sent a surge like an enormous heartbeat pulsating through
the sedge that half submerged him。 The flashing of three or four
lanterns on deck and the motionless line of lights abreast of him
dazzled his eyes； but he knew that the low fringe of willows hid
his house and wagon completely from view。 A vague murmur of voices
from the deck was suddenly overridden by a sharp order； and to his
relief the slowly revolving wheels again sent a pulsation through
the water； and the great fabric moved solemnly away。 A sense of
relief came over him； he knew not why； and he was conscious that
for the first time he had not cared to look at the boat。
When the moon arose he again examined the body； and took from its
clothing a few articles of identification and some papers of
formality and precision； which he vaguely conjectured to be some
law papers from their resemblance to the phrasing of sheriffs' and
electors' notices which he had seen in the papers。 He then buried
the corpse in a shallow trench； which he dug by the light of the
moon。 He had no question of responsibility； his pioneer training
had not included coroners' inquests in its experience； in giving
the body a speedy and secure burial from predatory animals he did
what one frontiersman would do for anotherwhat he hoped might be
done for him。 If his previous unaccountable feelings returned
occasionally； it was not from that； but rather from some uneasiness
in regard to his late guest's possible feelings； and a regret that
he had not been here at the finding of the body。 That it would in
some way have explained his own accident he did not doubt。
The boat did not 〃slow up〃 the next night； but passed as usual； yet
three or four days elapsed before he could look forward to its
coming with his old extravagant and half…exalted curiositywhich
was his nearest approach to imagination。 He was then able to
examine it more closely； for the appearance of the stranger whom he
now began to call 〃his friend〃 in his verbal communings with
himselfbut whom he did not seem destined to again discover； until
one day； to his astonishment； a couple of f