Dimly I was resigned toward some such goal, first being full of honours won with sword and spur, laden with riches, too, and territories stretching to those sunset hills piled up like sapphires north of Frenchman’s Creek.

Out of the castled glory of the dawn, doubtless, I thought, would step one day my vision — to admire my fame and riches. And her I’d marry — after our good King had knighted me.

Alas! For our good King had proved a bloody knave; my visionary lands and riches all had vanished; instead of silk attire and sword, I wore a rifle-shirt and skinning-knife; and out of the dawn-born glory of the hills had stepped no silken damsel of romance to pause and worship me — only a slender, ragged, grey-eyed waif who came indifferent as the chilly wind in