In that region, he who travelled at all, at the time of which we write,
must do so on horseback. It were a doubtful progress which any vehicle
would make over the blind and broken paths of that uncultivated realm.
Either thus, or on foot, as was the common practice with the mountain
hunters; men who, at seventy years of age, might be found as lithe and
active, in clambering up the lofty summit as if in full possession of
the winged vigor and impulse of twenty-five.

Our traveller, on the present occasion, was apparently a mere youth. He
had probably seen twenty summers--scarcely more. Yet his person was tall
and well developed; symmetrical and manly; rather slight, perhaps, as
was proper to his immaturity; but not wanting in what the backwoodsmen
call _heft_. He was evidently no milksop, though slight; carried himself
with ease and grace; and was certainly not only well endowed with bone
and muscle, but bore the appearance, somehow, of a person not
unpractised in the use of it. His face was manly like his person; not so
round as full, it presented a perfect oval to the eye; the forehead was
broad, high, and intellectual--purely white, probably because so well
shadowed by the masses of his dark brown hair. His eyes were rather
small, but dark and expressive, and derived additional expression from
their large, bushy, overhanging brows, which gave a commanding, and, at
times, a somewhat fierce expression to his countenance. But his mouth
was small, sweet, exquisitely chiselled, and the lips of a ripe, rich
color. His chin, full and decided, was in character with the nobility of
his forehead. The _tout ensemble_ constituted a fine specimen of
masculine beauty, significant at once of character and intelligence.

Our traveller rode a steed, which might be considered, even in the
South, where the passion for fine horses is universal, of the choicest
parentage. He was blooded, and of Arabian, through English, stocks. You