He Was The Youngest
And Most Vigorous Of The Band, And Though His Countenance Had Something
Of That Dissolute Fierceness Which Seems Natural To This Desperate,
Lawless Mode Of Life, Yet There Were Traits Of Manly Beauty About It.
As An Artist I Could Not But Admire It.
I had remarked in him an air of
abstraction and reverie, and at times a movement of inward suffering
and impatience.
He now sat on the ground; his elbows on his knees, his
head resting between his clenched fists, and his eyes fixed on the
earth with an expression of sad and bitter rumination. I had grown
familiar with him from repeated conversations, and had found him
superior in mind to the rest of the band. I was anxious to seize every
opportunity of sounding the feelings of these singular beings. I
fancied I read in the countenance of this one traces of
self-condemnation and remorse; and the ease with which I had drawn
forth the confidence of the chieftain encouraged me to hope the same
with his followers.
After a little preliminary conversation, I ventured to ask him if he
did not feel regret at having abandoned his family and taken to this
dangerous profession. "I feel," replied he, "but one regret, and that
will end only with my life;" as he said this he pressed his clenched
fists upon his bosom, drew his breath through his set teeth, and added
with deep emotion, "I have something within here that stifles me; it is
like a burning iron consuming my very heart.
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