nd afoot, across the country from the Gulf
to the Pacific. But in my sleep I traversed it, and, lying on my back
in the morning, puffing at my first pipe, I lived again my experience
with the half-witted tramp whom I had entertained in my camp and who
changed his soul in my presence.

I was a line-rider for a cattle company, and as it was before the days
of wire fences, my work was to ride out each day along my boundary and
separate the company's cattle from those of its neighbor, a rival
company. It was near the end of the day, when I was almost back to
camp, that I saw him coming along the road, with the peculiar swing to
his shoulders and arms that, once acquired, never leaves the deep-water
sailor; so I had no hesitancy in greeting him after the manner of
seamen.

"Well, mate, how are you heading?" I inquired, as I leaned over the
saddle.

"Say, pardner," he said, in a soft, whining voice, "kin you tell me
where a feller might git a bite to eat around here?"

"Well," I answered, "yes and no. I thought you were a sailorman." Only
his seamanly roll had appealed to me. His face, though bearded, tanned,
and of strong, hard lines, seemed weak and crafty. He was tall, and
strongly built--the kind of man who impresses you at first sight as
accustomed to sudden effort of mind and body; yet he cringed under my
stare, even as I added, "Yes, I'll feed you." I had noticed a blue foul
anchor tattooed on his wrist.

"Come along, old man," I said, kindly. "You're traveling for your
health. I'll ask no fool questions and say nothing about you. My camp
is just around that hill."

He walked beside my horse, and we soon reached the camp, a log house of
one room, with an adobe fireplace and chimney, a rough table, and a
couple of boxes for seats. Also, there was a plank floor, a novelty and
a luxury in that country at that time. Under this floor was a family of
huge rats that I had been unable to exterminate, and I had found it
easier and cheaper to feed them than to have them gnawing into my
stores in my absence. So they had become quite tame, and in the
evenings, keeping at a safe distance, however, they would visit me. I
had no fear of them, and rather enjoyed their company.

I fed and hobbled my horse, then cooked our supper, of which my guest
ate voraciously. After supper I filled my pipe and offered him another,
but he refused it; he did not smoke. Then I talked with him and found
him weak-minded. He knew nothing of cons