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one day； to his astonishment； a couple of fine horses were brought
to his clearing by a stock…drover。 They had been 〃ordered〃 to be
left there。 in vain Morse expostulated and questioned。
〃Your name's Martin Morse； ain't it？〃 said the drover； with
business brusqueness； 〃and I reckon there ain't no other man o'
that name around here？〃
〃No；〃 said Morse。
〃Well； then； they're YOURS。〃
〃But who sent them？〃 insisted Morse。 〃What was his name； and where
does he live？〃
〃I didn't know ez I was called upon to give the pedigree o'
buyers；〃 said the drover dryly； 〃but the horses is 'Morgan；' you
can bet your life。〃 He grinned as he rode away。
That Captain Jack sent them； and that it was a natural prelude to
his again visiting him； Morse did not doubt； and for a few days he
lived in that dream。 But Captain Jack did not come。 The animals
were of great service to him in 〃rounding up〃 the stock he now
easily took in for pasturage； and saved him the necessity of having
a partner or a hired man。 The idea that this superior gentleman in
fine clothes might ever appear to him in the former capacity had
even flitted through his brain； but he had rejected it with a sigh。
But the thought that； with luck and industry； he himself might； in
course of time； approximate to Captain Jack's evident station； DID
occur to him； and was an incentive to energy。 Yet it was quite
distinct from the ordinary working man's ambition of wealth and
state。 It was only that it might make him more worthy of his
friend。 The great world was still as it had appeared to him in the
passing boata thing to wonder atto be aboveand to criticize。
For all that； he prospered in his occupation。 But one day he woke
with listless limbs and feet that scarcely carried him through his
daily labors。 At night his listlessness changed to active pain and
a feverishness that seemed to impel him toward the fateful river；
as if his one aim in life was to drink up its waters and bathe in
its yellow stream。 But whenever he seemed to attempt it； strange
dreams assailed him of dead bodies arising with swollen and
distorted lips to touch his own as he strove to drink； or of his
mysterious guest battling with him in its current； and driving him
ashore。 Again； when he essayed to bathe his parched and crackling
limbs in its flood； he would be confronted with the dazzling lights
of the motionless steamboat and the glare of stony eyesuntil he
fled in aimless terror。 How long this lasted he knew not； until
one morning he awoke in his new cabin with a strange man sitting by
his bed and a Negress in the doorway。
〃You've had a sharp attack of 'tule fever；'〃 said the stranger；
dropping Morse's listless wrist and answering his questioning eyes；
〃but you're all right now； and will pull through。〃
〃Who are you？〃 stammered Morse feebly。
〃Dr。 Duchesne； of Sacramento。〃
〃How did you come here？〃
〃I was ordered to come to you and bring a nurse； as you were alone。
There she is。〃 He pointed to the smiling Negress。
〃WHO ordered you？〃
The doctor smiled with professional tolerance。 〃One of your
friends； of course。〃
〃But what was his name？〃
〃Really； I don't remember。 But don't distress yourself。 He has
settled for everything right royally。 You have only to get strong
now。 My duty is ended； and I can safely leave you with the nurse。
Only when you are strong again； I sayand HE sayskeep back
farther from the river。〃
And that was all he knew。 For even the nurse who attended him
through the first days of his brief convalescence would tell him
nothing more。 He quickly got rid of her and resumed his work； for
a new and strange phase of his simple； childish affection for his
benefactor； partly superinduced by his illness； was affecting him。
He was beginning to feel the pain of an unequal friendship； he was
dimly conscious that his mysterious guest was only coldly returning
his hospitality and benefits； while holding aloof from any
association with himand indicating the immeasurable distance that
separated their future intercourse。 He had withheld any kind
message or sympathetic greeting； he had kept back even his NAME。
The shy； proud； ignorant heart of the frontiersman swelled beneath
the fancied slight； which left him helpless alike of reproach or
resentment。 He could not return the horses； although in a fit of
childish indignation he had resolved not to use them； he could not
reimburse him for the doctor's bill； although he had sent away the
nurse。
He took a foolish satisfaction in not moving back from the river；
with a faint hope that his ignoring of Captain Jack's advice might
mysteriously be conveyed to him。 He even thought of selling out
his location and abandoning it； that he might escape the cold
surveillance of his heartless friend。 All this was undoubtedly
childishbut there is an irrepressible simplicity of youth in all
deep feeling； and the worldly inexperience of the frontiersman left
him as innocent as a child。 In this phase of his unrequited
affection he even went so far as to seek some news of Captain Jack
at Sacramento； and； following out his foolish quest； even to take
the steamboat from thence to Stockton。
What happened to him then was perhaps the common experience of such
natures。 Once upon the boat the illusion of the great world it
contained for him utterly vanished。 He found it noisy； formal；
insincere； andhad he ever understood or used the word in his
limited vocabularyVULGAR。 Rather； perhaps； it seemed to him that
the prevailing sentiment and action of those who frequented itand
for whom it was builtwere of a lower grade than his own。 And；
strangely enough； this gave him none of his former sense of
critical superiority； but only of his own utter and complete
isolation。 He wandered in his rough frontiersman's clothes from
deck to cabin； from airy galleries to long saloons； alone；
unchallenged； unrecognized； as if he were again haunting it only in
spirit； as he had so often done in his dreams。
His presence on the fringe of some voluble crowd caused no
interruption； to him their speech was almost foreign in its
allusions to things he did not understand； or； worse； seemed
inconsistent with their eagerness and excitement。 How different
from all this were his old recollections of slowly oncoming teams；
uplifted above the level horizon of the plains in his former
wanderings； the few sauntering figures that met him as man to man；
and exchanged the chronicle of the road； the record of Indian
tracks； the finding of a spring； the discovery of pasturage； with
the lazy； restful hospitality of the night！ And how fierce here
this continual struggle for dominance and existence； even in this
lull of passage。 For above all and through all he was conscious of
the feverish haste of speed and exertion。
The boat trembled； vibrated； and shook with every stroke of the
ponderous piston