You see, it is a sad and yet a beautiful story, stranger, and it begins on the wild prairie—
goes on in the city of Vera Cruz—winds up in Philadelphia. A sad story,
and I'm loath to tell it; but as we're here alone by the camp fire, and may never
see one another again, I'll tell it to you. But first, your word, stranger, that you'll
never tell it again, until I am dead!'