ly, when something younger, and have passed, twice,
journeying between Carolina and Tennessee, at no great distance from
this very spot. But your service to me, and your Carolina birth,
deserves that I should be more free in my disclosures; and to account
for the sullenness of my temper, which you may regard as something
inconsistent with our relationship, let me say, that whatever my
prospects might have been, and whatever my history may be, I am at this
moment altogether indifferent as to the course which I shall pursue. It
matters not very greatly to me whether I take up my abode among the
neighboring Cherokees, or, farther on, along with them, pursue my
fortunes upon the shores of the Red river or the Missouri. I have
become, during the last few days of my life, rather reckless of human
circumstance, and, perhaps, more criminally indifferent to the
necessities of my nature, and my responsibilities to society and myself,
than might well beseem one so youthful, and, as you say, with prospects
like those which you conjecture, and not erroneously, to have been mine.
All I can say is, that, when I lost my way last evening, my first
feeling was one of a melancholy satisfaction; for it seemed to me that
destiny itself had determined to contribute towards my aim and desire,
and to forward me freely in the erratic progress, which, in a gloomy
mood, I had most desperately and, perhaps, childishly undertaken."

There was a stern melancholy in the deep and low utterance--the close
compression of lip--the steady, calm eye of the youth, that somewhat
tended to confirm the almost savage sentiment of despairing indifference
to life, which his sentiments conveyed; and had the effect of eliciting
a larger degree of respectful consideration from the somewhat uncouth
but really well-meaning and kind companion who stood beside him.
Forrester had good sense enough to perceive that Ralph had been gently
nurtured and deferentially treated--that his pride or vanity, or perhaps
some nobler emotion, had suffered slight or rebuke; and that it was more
than probable this emotion would, before long, give place to others, if
not of a more manly and spirited, at least of a more subdued and
reasonable character. Accordingly, without appearing to attach any
importance to, or even to perceive the melancholy defiance contained in
the speech of the young man, he confined himself entirely to a passing
comment upon the facility with which, having his eyes