150 With Feet to the Earth 



lance, " That fellow's still got the Injun on 

 his mind. He's doing his best to get his 

 neck stretched by the time he gets back 

 among folks.'* 



The man's deed was self-proclaimed. In 

 quarrel, possibly, but as likely with intent, 

 he had killed an Indian, taken his effects, 

 and hurried from the scene of his crime, 

 perhaps to avoid pursuit, perhaps to avoid 

 himself. Alone in the wilderness day after 

 day he had brooded on his act until it was 

 named to him in the whisper of leaves 

 and gurgle of waters, written on mountain 

 snows, painted in the sunset, re-enacted in 

 moving shadows of the forest ; when he 

 met his fellow-men again nature had told 

 them of it; so, men and nature he sus- 

 pected. The brand of Cain was stamped 

 upon his heart : with his own unwitting 

 hand he bared his breast and showed it 

 to us. I never saw him after. Was our 

 guide's prophecy fulfilled, I wonder ? 



