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could hear near and distant explosions of rifles； shouts and curses
of men； women screaming； and children bawling。 Then I could make
out the thuds and squeals of bullets that hit wood and iron in the
wheels and under…construction of the wagon。 Whoever it was that was
shooting； the aim was too low。 When I started to rise； my mother；
evidently just in the act of dressing； pressed me down with her
hand。 Father； already up and about； at this stage erupted into the
wagon。
〃Out of it！〃 he shouted。 〃Quick！ To the ground！〃
He wasted no time。 With a hook…like clutch that was almost a blow；
so swift was it； he flung me bodily out of the rear end of the
wagon。 I had barely time to crawl out from under when father；
mother； and the baby came down pell…mell where I had been。
〃Here； Jesse！〃 father shouted to me； and I joined him in scooping
out sand behind the shelter of a wagon…wheel。 We worked bare…handed
and wildly。 Mother joined in。
〃Go ahead and make it deeper； Jesse；〃 father ordered；
He stood up and rushed away in the gray light； shouting commands as
he ran。 （I had learned by now my surname。 I was Jesse Fancher。 My
father was Captain Fancher）。
〃Lie down！〃 I could hear him。 〃Get behind the wagon wheels and
burrow in the sand！ Family men； get the women and children out of
the wagons！ Hold your fire！ No more shooting！ Hold your fire and
be ready for the rush when it comes！ Single men； join Laban at the
right； Cochrane at the left； and me in the centre！ Don't stand up！
Crawl for it！〃
But no rush came。 For a quarter of an hour the heavy and irregular
firing continued。 Our damage had come in the first moments of
surprise when a number of the early…rising men were caught exposed
in the light of the campfires they were building。 The Indiansfor
Indians Laban declared them to behad attacked us from the open；
and were lying down and firing at us。 In the growing light father
made ready for them。 His position was near to where I lay in the
burrow with mother so that I heard him when he cried out：
〃Now！ all together！〃
From left； right； and centre our rifles loosed in a volley。 I had
popped my head up to see； and I could make out more than one
stricken Indian。 Their fire immediately ceased； and I could see
them scampering back on foot across the open； dragging their dead
and wounded with them。
All was work with us on the instant。 While the wagons were being
dragged and chained into the circle with tongues insideI saw women
and little boys and girls flinging their strength on the wheel
spokes to helpwe took toll of our losses。 First； and gravest of
all； our last animal had been run off。 Next； lying about the fires
they had been building； were seven of our men。 Four were dead； and
three were dying。 Other men； wounded； were being cared for by the
women。 Little Rish Hardacre had been struck in the arm by a heavy
ball。 He was no more than six； and I remember looking on with mouth
agape while his mother held him on her lap and his father set about
bandaging the wound。 Little Rish had stopped crying。 I could see
the tears on his cheeks while he stared wonderingly at a sliver of
broken bone sticking out of his forearm。
Granny White was found dead in the Foxwell wagon。 She was a fat and
helpless old woman who never did anything but sit down all the time
and smoke a pipe。 She was the mother of Abby Foxwell。 And Mrs。
Grant had been killed。 Her husband sat beside her body。 He was
very quiet。 There were no tears in his eyes。 He just sat there；
his rifle across his knees； and everybody left him alone。
Under father's directions the company was working like so many
beavers。 The men dug a big rifle pit in the centre of the corral；
forming a breastwork out of the displaced sand。 Into this pit the
women dragged bedding； food； and all sorts of necessaries from the
wagons。 All the children helped。 There was no whimpering； and
little or no excitement。 There was work to be done； and all of us
were folks born to work。
The big rifle pit was for the women and children。 Under the wagons；
completely around the circle； a shallow trench was dug and an
earthwork thrown up。 This was for the fighting men。
Laban returned from a scout。 He reported that the Indians had
withdrawn the matter of half a mile； and were holding a powwow。
Also he had seen them carry six of their number off the field； three
of which； he said； were deaders。
From time to time； during the morning of that first day； we observed
clouds of dust that advertised the movements of considerable bodies
of mounted men。 These clouds of dust came toward us； hemming us in
on all sides。 But we saw no living creature。 One cloud of dirt
only moved away from us。 It was a large cloud； and everybody said
it was our cattle being driven off。 And our forty great wagons that
had rolled over the Rockies and half across the continent stood in a
helpless circle。 Without cattle they could roll no farther。
At noon Laban came in from another scout。 He had seen fresh Indians
arriving from the south； showing that we were being closed in。 It
was at this time that we saw a dozen white men ride out on the crest
of a low hill to the east and look down on us。
〃That settles it；〃 Laban said to father。 〃The Indians have been put
up to it。〃
〃They're white like us；〃 I heard Abby Foxwell complain to mother。
〃Why don't they come in to us？〃
〃They ain't whites；〃 I piped up； with a wary eye for the swoop of
mother's hand。 〃They're Mormons。〃
That night； after dark； three of our young men stole out of camp。 I
saw them go。 They were Will Aden； Abel Milliken； and Timothy Grant。
〃They are heading for Cedar City to get help；〃 father told mother
while he was snatching a hasty bite of supper。
Mother shook her head。
〃There's plenty of Mormons within calling distance of camp；〃 she
said。 〃If they won't help； and they haven't shown any signs； then
the Cedar City ones won't either。〃
〃But there are good Mormons and bad Mormons〃 father began。
〃We haven't found any good ones so far；〃 she shut him off。
Not until morning did I hear of the return of Abel Milliken and
Timothy Grant； but I was not long in learning。 The whole camp was
downcast by reason of their report。 The three had gone only a few
miles when they were challenged by white men。 As soon as Will Aden
spoke up； telling that they were from the Fancher Company； going to
Cedar City for help； he was shot down。 Milliken and Grant escaped
back with the news； and the news settled the last hope in the hearts
of our company。 The whites were behind the Indians； and the doom so
long apprehended was upon us。
This morning of the second day our men； going for water； were fired
upon。 The spring was only a hundred feet outside our circle； but
the way to it was commanded by the Indians who now occupied the low
hill to the east。