. 9 
friend. As we shot over the surface of the 
swiftly rushing river, from the impetus given 
by his strong, steady strokes, I decided that 
my companion was a foreigner. I noticed that 
he was a strongly built, well proportioned gen- 
tleman, whose life had experienced the vicissi- 
tudes of quite a half century. His face was a 
study ; soft, full, smooth cheeks; a firm, sensi- 
tive mouth, with well preserved teeth ; a strong 
square chin, and high intellectual forehead ; 
deep set, piercing gray eyes, well shaded by 
shaggy eyebrows; a shapely head crowned 
with a full growth of almost silky white hair. 
His hands were white with tapering fingers; 
his feet were neat and shapely, while his gen- 
eral bearing impressed a casual observer with 
the fancy that he was a military character. 
This quick scrutiny, which I made while my 
companion was propelling the boat rapidly 
towards shore, convinced me that my new asso- 
ciate was a gentleman born, used to the con- 
ventionalities of the best society, and, withal, a 
man of education and refinement. Doubtless 
some strangeand powerful influence had caused 
him to flee the associations of his fellowmen 
and seek relief, and perhaps forgetfulness, in a 
hermit’s cheerless, lonely life. 
We had hardly reached shore, when Petro, 
with eyes moist with joyous yet anxious tears, 
rushed into the water to seize the boat’s bow 
and draw us ashore, so solicitous was he for his 
master’s welfare. As soon as my companion 
