“It was safer travelling on that side of the river.”
“Then the people on that side of the river are your friends?”
“No. They are not. But, as they are all of a color there, they would let me pass, and ask no questions, as long as I travelled due west. On this side, if you are one man’s friend, you are the next man’s enemy; and I had no mind to answer questions.”
“You seem to answer them now mighty freely.”
“That is true. I am like a letter that tells all it knows as soon as it gets to the right hand; but it does not want to be opened before that.”
“And how do you know that you have got to the right hand now?”
“Because I know where I am.”
“And where are you?”
“Just at the foot of the Devil’s-Backbone,” replied the youth.
“Were you ever here before?”