One could find peace here--surely, sir, one could find it here--peace and strength." The mountaineer puffed hard at his pipe for a while, then said gruffly, "Seems that way, Mister, to them that don't know.

But many's the time I've wished to God I'd never seen these here Ozarks.

I used to feel like you do, but I can't no more.

They 'mind me now of him that blackened my life; he used to take on powerful about the beauty of the country and all the time he was a turnin' it into a hell for them that had to stay here after he was gone." As he spoke, anger and hatred grew dark in the giant's face, and the stranger saw the big hands clench and the huge frame grow tense with passion.

Then, as if striving to be not ungracious, the woodsman said in a somewhat softer tone, "You can't see much of it, this evening, though, 'count of the mists.