Міжзірковий мандрівник

           Iranacrosstoseewhatwashappening.IncameLeehimself,followedbytwoemptywagons,eachdrivenbyoneman.EverybodycrowdedaroundLee.HesaidthattheyhadhadahardtimewiththeIndianskeepingthemoffofus,andthatMajorHigbee,withfiftyoftheMormonmilitia,werereadytotakeusundertheircharge.

           ButwhatmadefatherandLabanandsomeofthemensuspiciouswaswhenLeesaidthatwemustputallourriflesintooneofthewagonssoasnottoarousetheanimosityoftheIndians.BysodoingwewouldappeartobetheprisonersoftheMormonmilitia.

           FatherstraightenedupandwasabouttorefusewhenheglancedtoLaban,whorepliedinanundertone.“Theyain’tnomoreuseinourhandsthaninthewagon,seein’asthepowder’sgone.”

           Twoofourwoundedmenwhocouldnotwalkwereputintothewagons,andalongwiththemwereputallthelittlechildren.Leeseemedtobepickingthemoutovereightandundereight.JedandIwerelargeforourage,andwewereninebesides;soLeeputuswiththeolderbunchandtoldusweweretomarchwiththewomenonfoot.

           Whenhetookourbabyfrommotherandputitinawagonshestartedtoobject.ThenIsawherlipsdrawtightlytogether,andshegavein.Shewasagray-eyed,strong-featured,middle-agedwoman,large-bonedandfairlystout.