David's
were a very good pair. Any woman with a tale of trouble would have
found him a champion. How much more a fresh-faced young creature with
a melodious voice and anxious eyes.
"A good many trains have gone on," he said. And then, by way of
consolation for her manner demanded, that, "But they'll be stalled at
the fords with this rain. They'll have to wait till the rivers fall.
All the men who know say that."
"So we've heard," said the father, "but we hoped that we'd catch them
up. Our outfit is very light, only one wagon, and our driver is a
thoroughly capable and experienced man. What we want are some
companions with whom we can travel till we overhaul the others. I'd
start alone, but with my daughter----"
She cut in at once, giving his arm a little, irritated shake:
"Of course you couldn't do that." Then to the young men: "My father's
been sick for quite a long time, all last winter. It's for his health
we're going to California, and, of course, he couldn't start without
some other men in the party. Indians might attack us, and at the hotel
they said the Mormons were scattered all along the road and thought
nothing of shooting a Gentile.
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