Этюд в багровых тонах
On the great Alkali Plain.
Manywerethecriesofastonishmentandofcommiserationwhicharosefromthemwhentheyperceivedtheyouthofoneofthestrangersandthedestitutionoftheother. Theirescortdidnothalt,however,butpushedon,followedbyagreatcrowdofMormons,untiltheyreachedawaggon,whichwasconspicuousforitsgreatsizeandforthegaudinessandsmartnessofitsappearance. Sixhorseswereyokedtoit,whereastheotherswerefurnishedwithtwo,or,atmost,foura-piece. Besidethedrivertheresatamanwhocouldnothavebeenmorethanthirtyyearsofage,butwhosemassiveheadandresoluteexpressionmarkedhimasaleader. Hewasreadingabrown-backedvolume,butasthecrowdapproachedhelaiditaside,andlistenedattentivelytoanaccountoftheepisode. Thenheturnedtothetwocastaways.
“Ifwetakeyouwithus,”hesaid,insolemnwords,“itcanonlybeasbelieversinourowncreed. Weshallhavenowolvesinourfold. Betterfarthatyourbonesshouldbleachinthiswildernessthanthatyoushouldprovetobethatlittlespeckofdecaywhichintimecorruptsthewholefruit. Willyoucomewithusontheseterms?”
“GuessI’llcomewithyouonanyterms,”saidFerrier,withsuchemphasisthatthegraveElderscouldnotrestrainasmile. Theleaderaloneretainedhisstern,impressiveexpression.
“Takehim,BrotherStangerson,”hesaid,“givehimfoodanddrink,andthechildlikewise. Letitbeyourtaskalsototeachhimourholycreed. Wehavedelayedlongenough. Forward! On,ontoZion!”
