lk together quietly as we went
along. I saw that he had got his rifle over his shoulder, and his
baggage at his back; and thought it odd--but he stopped me from asking
any questions, by telling me from beginning to end, all that you and he
knew about my father, before we left England. I was at first so shocked
and amazed by what I heard, and then had so much to say to him about
it, that our half day's march, by the time we had got to the end of it,
seemed to me to have hardly lasted as long as an hour.

"He stopped, though, at the place he had fixed on; and held out his hand
to me, and said these words: 'I've done my duty by you, Zack, as brother
should by brother. The time's come at last for us two to say Good-bye.
You're going back over the sea to your friends, and I'm going inland by
myself on the tramp.' I had heard him talk of our parting in this way
before, but had never thought it would really take place; and I tried
hard, as you may imagine, to make him change his mind, and sail for
England with me. But it was useless.

"'No, Zack,' he said, 'I doubt if I'm fit for the life you're going back
to lead. I've given it a trial, and a hard and bitter one it's been
to me. I began life on the tramp; and on the tramp I shall end it.
Good-bye, Zack. I shall think of you, when I light my fire and cook my
bit of victuals without you, in the lonesome places to-night.'

"I tried to control myself, Valentine; but my eyes got dim, and I caught
fast hold of him by the arm. 'Mat,' I said, 'I can't part with you in
this dreary, hopeless way. Don't shut the future up from both of us for
ever. We have been eighteen months together, let another year and-a-half
pass if you like; and then give yourself; and give me, another chance.
Say you'll meet me, when that time is past, in New York; or say at
least, you'll let me hear where you are?' His face worked and quivered,
and he only shook his head. 'Come, Mat,' I said, as cheerfully as I
could, 'if I am ready to cross the sea again, for your sake, you can't
refuse to do what I ask you, for mine?' 'Will it make the parting easier
to you, my lad?' he asked kindly. 'Yes, indeed it will,' I answered.
'Well, then, Zack,' he said, 'you shall have your way. Don't let's say
no more, now. Come, let's cut it as short as we can, or we shan't part
as men should. God bless you, lad, and all of them you're going back to
see.' Those were his last words.

"After he had walked a few yards inland, he tu