I do not think
that it is introduced for the sake of local color, or to give an air of
truthful seeming, because the Indian simply believes the whole, as it
is. I think the reason may be that, owing to their love of adventure,
they enjoy the mere recitation of topographical details.] And there he
hunted many a day alone, and met none, till one morning in midwinter he
found the track of snow-shoes. So he returned to his camp; but the next
day he met with it again in a far-distant place. And thus it was that,
wherever he went, this track came to him every day. Then noting this,
as a sign to be observed, he followed it, and it went up the mountain,
Katahdin, which, being interpreted, means "the great mountain," until
at last it was lost in a hard snow-shoe road made by many travelers.
And since it was hard and even, he took off his _agahmook_ (P.),
or snow-shoes, and went ever on and up with the road; and it was a
strange path and strange was its ending, for it stopped just before a
high ledge, like an immense wall, on a platform at its foot. And there
were many signs there, as of many people, yet he saw no one. And as he
stayed it seemed to grow stranger and stranger. At last he heard a
sound as of footsteps coming, yet within the wall, when lo! a girl
stepped directly out of the precipice upon the platform. But though she
was beautiful beyond belief, he was afraid.
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