Межзвёздный скиталец

           ShewasthemotherofAbbyFoxwell.AndMrs.Granthadbeenkilled.Herhusbandsatbesideherbody.Hewasveryquiet.Therewerenotearsinhiseyes.Hejustsatthere,hisrifleacrosshisknees,andeverybodylefthimalone.

           Underfather’sdirectionsthecompanywasworkinglikesomanybeavers.Themendugabigriflepitinthecentreofthecorral,formingabreastworkoutofthedisplacedsand.Intothispitthewomendraggedbedding,food,andallsortsofnecessariesfromthewagons.Allthechildrenhelped.Therewasnowhimpering,andlittleornoexcitement.Therewasworktobedone,andallofuswerefolksborntowork.

           Thebigriflepitwasforthewomenandchildren.Underthewagons,completelyaroundthecircle,ashallowtrenchwasdugandanearthworkthrownup.Thiswasforthefightingmen.

           Labanreturnedfromascout.HereportedthattheIndianshadwithdrawnthematterofhalfamile,andwereholdingapowwow.Alsohehadseenthemcarrysixoftheirnumberoffthefield,threeofwhich,hesaid,weredeaders.

           Fromtimetotime,duringthemorningofthatfirstday,weobservedcloudsofdustthatadvertisedthemovementsofconsiderablebodiesofmountedmen.Thesecloudsofdustcametowardus,hemmingusinonallsides.Butwesawnolivingcreature.Onecloudofdirtonlymovedawayfromus.Itwasalargecloud,andeverybodysaiditwasourcattlebeingdrivenoff.