Межзвёздный скиталец

           Butstrongestofalluponmeiswhatisstronguponallthecompany,namely,asenseofdriftingtodoom.Ourwaywaslikeafuneralmarch.Neverdidalaugharise.NeverdidIhearahappytoneofvoice.Neitherpeacenoreasemarchedwithus.Thefacesofthemenandyouthswhooutrodethetrainweregrim,set,hopeless.AndaswetoiledthroughtheluriddustofsunsetoftenIscannedmyfather’sfaceinvainquestofsomemessageofcheer.Iwillnotsaythatmyfather’sface,inallitsdustyhaggardness,washopeless.Itwasdogged,andoh!sogrimandanxious,mostanxious.

           Athrillseemedtorunalongthetrain.Myfather’sheadwentup.Sodidmine.Andourhorsesraisedtheirwearyheads,scentedtheairwithlong-drawnsnorts,andforthenoncepulledwillingly.Thehorsesoftheoutridersquickenedtheirpace.Andasfortheherdofscarecrowoxen,itbrokeintoaforthrightgallop.Itwasalmostludicrous.Thepoorbrutesweresoclumsyintheirweaknessandhaste.Theyweregallopingskeletonsdrapedinmangyhide,andtheyout-distancedtheboyswhoherdedthem.Butthiswasonlyforatime.Thentheyfellbacktoawalk,aquick,eager,shambling,sore-footedwalk;andtheynolongerwereluredasidebythedrybunch-grass.

           “Whatisit?”mymotheraskedfromwithinthewagon.

           “Water,”wasmyfather’sreply.“ItmustbeNephi.