Міжзірковий мандрівник
Chapter 13
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.
