Этюд в багровых тонах
On the great Alkali Plain.
Thiswasevidentlynoordinarypartyofimmigrants,butrathersomenomadpeoplewhohadbeencompelledfromstressofcircumstancestoseekthemselvesanewcountry. Thererosethroughtheclearairaconfusedclatteringandrumblingfromthisgreatmassofhumanity,withthecreakingofwheelsandtheneighingofhorses. Loudasitwas,itwasnotsufficienttorousethetwotiredwayfarersabovethem.
Attheheadofthecolumnthererodeascoreormoreofgraveironfacedmen,cladinsombrehomespungarmentsandarmedwithrifles. Onreachingthebaseoftheblufftheyhalted,andheldashortcouncilamongthemselves.
“Thewellsaretotheright,mybrothers,”saidone,ahard-lipped,clean-shavenmanwithgrizzlyhair.
“TotherightoftheSierraBlanco—soweshallreachtheRioGrande,”saidanother.
“Fearnotforwater,”criedathird. “HewhocoulddrawitfromtherockswillnotnowabandonHisownchosenpeople.”
“Amen!Amen!”respondedthewholeparty.
Theywereabouttoresumetheirjourneywhenoneoftheyoungestandkeenest-eyedutteredanexclamationandpointedupattheruggedcragabovethem. Fromitssummitthereflutteredalittlewispofpink,showinguphardandbrightagainstthegreyrocksbehind. Atthesighttherewasageneralreiningupofhorsesandunslingingofguns,whilefreshhorsemencamegallopinguptoreinforcethevanguard. Theword‘Redskins’wasoneverylip.
