Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 12
Whiletheywereawayothermen,strangers,inhabitantsofdesertNephi,cameintocampandstalkedabout.Theywerewhitemen,likeus,buttheywerehard-faced,stern-faced,sombre,andtheyseemedangrywithallourcompany.Badfeelingwasintheair,andtheysaidthingscalculatedtorousethetempersofourmen.Butthewarningwentoutfromthewomen,andwaspassedoneverywheretoourmenandyouths,thattheremustbenowords.
Oneofthestrangerscametoourfire,wheremymotherwasalone,cooking.Ihadjustcomeupwithanarmfulofsage-brush,andIstoppedtolistenandtostareattheintruder,whomIhated,becauseitwasintheairtohate,becauseIknewthateverylastpersoninourcompanyhatedthesestrangerswhowerewhite-skinnedlikeusandbecauseofwhomwehadbeencompelledtomakeourcampinacircle.
Thisstrangeratourfirehadblueeyes,hardandcoldandpiercing.Hishairwassandy.Hisfacewasshaventothechin,andfromunderthechin,coveringtheneckandextendingtotheears,sproutedasandyfringeofwhiskerswell-streakedwithgray.Motherdidnotgreethim,nordidhegreether.Hestoodandgloweredatherforsometime,heclearedhisthroatandsaidwithasneer:
“WishtyouwasbackinMissourirightnowIbet.
