Етюд у багряних тонах
A Flight for Life.
JohnFerrierfeltadifferentmannowthatherealizedthathehadadevotedally. Heseizedtheyoungman’sleatheryhandandwrungitcordially. “You’reamantobeproudof,”hesaid. “Therearenotmanywhowouldcometoshareourdangerandourtroubles.”
“You’vehititthere,pard,”theyounghunteranswered. “Ihavearespectforyou,butifyouwerealoneinthisbusinessI’dthinktwicebeforeIputmyheadintosuchahornet’snest. It’sLucythatbringsmehere,andbeforeharmcomesonherIguesstherewillbeonelesso’theHopefamilyinUtah.”
“Whatarewetodo?”
“To-morrowisyourlastday,andunlessyouactto-nightyouarelost. IhaveamuleandtwohorseswaitingintheEagleRavine. Howmuchmoneyhaveyou?”
“Twothousanddollarsingold,andfiveinnotes.”
“Thatwilldo. Ihaveasmuchmoretoaddtoit. WemustpushforCarsonCitythroughthemountains. YouhadbestwakeLucy. Itisaswellthattheservantsdonotsleepinthehouse.”
WhileFerrierwasabsent,preparinghisdaughterfortheapproachingjourney,JeffersonHopepackedalltheeatablesthathecouldfindintoasmallparcel,andfilledastonewarejarwithwater,forheknewbyexperiencethatthemountainwellswerefewandfarbetween. Hehadhardlycompletedhisarrangementsbeforethefarmerreturnedwithhisdaughteralldressedandreadyforastart.
