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slightest。 I was prepared for I knew not what violent visitation
from this terrible stranger； and I watched him warily while he
considered me with the utmost gravity。
At last he spoke； and he spoke solemnly； with solemn shaking of the
head； as if delivering a judgment。
〃Like fathers like sons；〃 he said。 〃The young generation is as bad
as the elder。 The whole breed is unregenerate and damned。 There is
no saving it； the young or the old。 There is no atonement。 Not
even the blood of Christ can wipe out its iniquities。〃
〃Damned Mormon！〃 was all I could sob at him。 〃Damned Mormon！
Damned Mormon！ Damned Mormon！〃
And I continued to damn him and to dance around the fire before my
mother's avenging hand； until he strode away。
When my father； and the men who had accompanied him； returned； camp…
work ceased； while all crowded anxiously about him。 He shook his
head。
〃They will not sell？〃 some woman demanded。
Again he shook his head。
A man spoke up； a blue…eyed； blond…whiskered giant of thirty； who
abruptly pressed his way into the centre of the crowd。
〃They say they have flour and provisions for three years； Captain；〃
he said。 〃They have always sold to the immigration before。 And now
they won't sell。 And it ain't our quarrel。 Their quarrel's with
the government； an' they're takin' it out on us。 It ain't right；
Captain。 It ain't right； I say； us with our women an' children； an'
California months away； winter comin' on； an' nothin' but desert in
between。 We ain't got the grub to face the desert。〃
He broke off for a moment to address the whole crowd。
〃Why； you…all don't know what desert is。 This around here ain't
desert。 I tell you it's paradise； and heavenly pasture； an' flowin'
with milk an' honey alongside what we're goin' to face。〃
〃I tell you； Captain； we got to get flour first。 If they won't sell
it； then we must just up an' take it。〃
Many of the men and women began crying out in approval； but my
father hushed them by holding up his hand。
〃I agree with everything you say； Hamilton；〃 he began。
But the cries now drowned his voice； and he again held up his hand。
〃Except one thing you forgot to take into account； Hamiltona thing
that you and all of us must take into account。 Brigham Young has
declared martial law； and Brigham Young has an army。 We could wipe
out Nephi in the shake of a lamb's tail and take all the provisions
we can carry。 But we wouldn't carry them very far。 Brigham's
Saints would be down upon us and we would be wiped out in another
shake of a lamb's tail。 You know it。 I know it。 We all know it。〃
His words carried conviction to listeners already convinced。 What
he had told them was old news。 They had merely forgotten it in a
flurry of excitement and desperate need。
〃Nobody will fight quicker for what is right than I will；〃 father
continued。 〃But it just happens we can't afford to fight now。 If
ever a ruction starts we haven't a chance。 And we've all got our
women and children to recollect。 We've got to be peaceable at any
price； and put up with whatever dirt is heaped on us。〃
〃But what will we do with the desert coming？〃 cried a woman who
nursed a babe at her breast。
〃There's several settlements before we come to the desert；〃 father
answered。 〃Fillmore's sixty miles south。 Then comes Corn Creek。
And Beaver's another fifty miles。 Next is Parowan。 Then it's
twenty miles to Cedar City。 The farther we get away from Salt Lake
the more likely they'll sell us provisions。〃
〃And if they won't？〃 the same woman persisted。
〃Then we're quit of them；〃 said my father。 〃Cedar City is the last
settlement。 We'll have to go on； that's all； and thank our stars we
are quit of them。 Two days' journey beyond is good pasture； and
water。 They call it Mountain Meadows。 Nobody lives there； and
that's the place we'll rest our cattle and feed them up before we
tackle the desert。 Maybe we can shoot some meat。 And if the worst
comes to the worst； we'll keep going as long as we can； then abandon
the wagons； pack what we can on our animals； and make the last
stages on foot。 We can eat our cattle as we go along。 It would be
better to arrive in California without a rag to our backs than to
leave our bones here； and leave them we will if we start a ruction。〃
With final reiterated warnings against violence of speech or act；
the impromptu meeting broke up。 I was slow in falling asleep that
night。 My rage against the Mormon had left my brain in such a
tingle that I was still awake when my father crawled into the wagon
after a last round of the night…watch。 They thought I slept； but I
heard mother ask him if he thought that the Mormons would let us
depart peacefully from their land。 His face was turned aside from
her as he busied himself with pulling off a boot； while he answered
her with hearty confidence that he was sure the Mormons would let us
go if none of our own company started trouble。
But I saw his face at that moment in the light of a small tallow
dip； and in it was none of the confidence that was in his voice。 So
it was that I fell asleep； oppressed by the dire fate that seemed to
overhang us； and pondering upon Brigham Young who bulked in my child
imagination as a fearful； malignant being； a very devil with horns
and tail and all。
And I awoke to the old pain of the jacket in solitary。 About me
were the customary four： Warden Atherton； Captain Jamie； Doctor
Jackson； and Al Hutchins。 I cracked my face with my willed smile；
and struggled not to lose control under the exquisite torment of
returning circulation。 I drank the water they held to me； waved
aside the proffered bread； and refused to speak。 I closed my eyes
and strove to win back to the chain…locked wagon…circle at Nephi。
But so long as my visitors stood about me and talked I could not
escape。
One snatch of conversation I could not tear myself away from
hearing。
〃Just as yesterday；〃 Doctor Jackson said。 〃No change one way or the
other。〃
〃Then he can go on standing it？〃 Warden Atherton queried。
〃Without a quiver。 The next twenty…four hours as easy as the last。
He's a wooz； I tell you； a perfect wooz。 If I didn't know it was
impossible； I'd say he was doped。〃
〃I know his dope；〃 said the Warden。 〃It's that cursed will of his。
I'd bet； if he made up his mind； that he could walk barefoot across
red…hot stones； like those Kanaka priests from the South Seas。〃
Now perhaps it was the word 〃priests〃 that I carried away with me
through the darkness of another flight in time。 Perhaps it was the
cue。 More probably it was a mere coincidence。 At any rate I awoke；
lying upon a rough rocky floor； and found myself on my back； my arms
crossed in such fashion that each elbow rested in the palm of the
opposite hand。 As I lay there； eyes closed； half awake； I rubbed my
elbows with my palms and found