For
that land is God's land, and its people are my people, and I care not
who knows it, whatever here I be.'
"I worked my way across the sea, and stayed awhile in the East earning
money to carry me over the land and into the Pipi Valley. I joined a
party of emigrants that were goin' westward, and travelled far with them.
But they quarrelled and separated, I goin' with these that I liked best.
One night though, I took my horse and left; for I knew there was evil in
the heart of a man who sought me continually, and the thing drove me mad.
I rode until my horse could stumble no farther, and then I took the
saddle for a pillow and slept on the bare ground. And in the morning I
got up and rode on, seein' no house nor human being for manny and manny a
mile. When everything seemed hopeless I came suddenly upon a camp. But
I saw that there was only one man there, and I should have turned back,
but that I was worn and ill, and, moreover, I had ridden almost upon him.
But he was kind. He shared his food with me, and asked me where I was
goin'. I told him, and also that I had quarrelled with those of my party
and had left them nothing more. He seemed to wonder that I was goin' to
Pipi Valley; and when I had finished my tale he said: 'Well, I must tell
you that I am not good company for you.
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