Межзвёздный скиталец

           Theremusthavebeenatleastfiftychildren,anditseemedIknewthemalloflongtime;andtherewereatleasttwoscoreofwomen.Thesewentaboutthepreparationsforcookingsupper.

           Whilesomeofthemenchoppedsage-brushandwechildrencarriedittothefiresthatwerekindling,othermenunyokedtheoxenandletthemstampedeforwater.Nextthemen,inbigsquads,movedthewagonssnuglyintoplace.Thetongueofeachwagonwasontheinsideofthecircle,and,frontandrear,eachwagonwasinsolidcontactwiththenextwagonbeforeandbehind.Thegreatbrakeswerelockedfast;but,notcontentwiththis,thewheelsofallthewagonswereconnectedwithchains.Thiswasnothingnewtouschildren.Itwasthetroublesignofacampinhostilecountry.Onewagononlywasleftoutofthecircle,soastoformagatetothecorral.Lateron,asweknew,erethecampslept,theanimalswouldbedriveninside,andthegate-wagonwouldbechainedliketheothersinplace.Inthemeanwhile,andforhours,theanimalswouldbeherdedbymenandboystowhatscantgrasstheycouldfind.

           Whilethecamp-makingwentonmyfather,withseveralothersofthemen,includingtheoldmanwiththelong,sunburnthair,wentawayonfootinthedirectionofthemill.Irememberthatallofus,men,women,andeventhechildren,pausedtowatchthemdepart;anditseemedtheirerrandwasofgraveimport.