Етюд у багряних тонах

On the great Alkali Plain.

           Manywerethecriesofastonishmentandofcommiserationwhicharosefromthemwhentheyperceivedtheyouthofoneofthestrangersandthedestitutionoftheother. Theirescortdidnothalt,however,butpushedon,followedbyagreatcrowdofMormons,untiltheyreachedawaggon,whichwasconspicuousforitsgreatsizeandforthegaudinessandsmartnessofitsappearance. Sixhorseswereyokedtoit,whereastheotherswerefurnishedwithtwo,or,atmost,foura-piece. Besidethedrivertheresatamanwhocouldnothavebeenmorethanthirtyyearsofage,butwhosemassiveheadandresoluteexpressionmarkedhimasaleader. Hewasreadingabrown-backedvolume,butasthecrowdapproachedhelaiditaside,andlistenedattentivelytoanaccountoftheepisode. Thenheturnedtothetwocastaways. 

           “Ifwetakeyouwithus,”hesaid,insolemnwords,“itcanonlybeasbelieversinourowncreed. Weshallhavenowolvesinourfold. Betterfarthatyourbonesshouldbleachinthiswildernessthanthatyoushouldprovetobethatlittlespeckofdecaywhichintimecorruptsthewholefruit. Willyoucomewithusontheseterms?” 

           “GuessI’llcomewithyouonanyterms,”saidFerrier,withsuchemphasisthatthegraveElderscouldnotrestrainasmile. Theleaderaloneretainedhisstern,impressiveexpression. 

           “Takehim,BrotherStangerson,”hesaid,“givehimfoodanddrink,andthechildlikewise. Letitbeyourtaskalsototeachhimourholycreed. Wehavedelayedlongenough. Forward! On,ontoZion!” 

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Roboto Lora
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