I never seed one afore I kem here," and then, with the inconsistency of a reserved man, and without a word of further preliminary, he launched into a confidential disclosure of his late experiences.

The stranger listened with a singular interest and a quietly searching eye.
"Then you were watching the boat very closely just now when you saw me.
What else did you see?
Anything before that--before you saw me in the water ?" "No--the boat had got well off before I saw you at all." "Ah," said the stranger.

"Well, I'm going to turn in." He walked to the wagon, mounted it, and by the time that Morse had reached it with his wet clothes he was already wrapped in the blankets.

A moment later he seemed to be in a profound slumber.
It was only then, when his guest was lying helplessly at his mercy, that he began to realize his strange experiences.

The domination of this man had been so complete that Morse, although by nature independent and self-reliant, had not permitted himself to question his right or to resent his rudeness.