LittleLucyFerrierwasbornealongpleasantlyenoughinElderStangerson\'swaggon,aretreatwhichshesharedwiththeMormon\'sthreewivesandwithhisson,aheadstrongforwardboyoftwelve。Havingrallied,withtheelasticityofchildhood,fromtheshockcausedbyhermother\'sdeath,shesoonbecameapetwiththewomen,andreconciledherselftothisnewlifeinhermovingcanvas-coveredhome。InthemeantimeFerrierhavingrecoveredfromhisprivations,distinguishedhimselfasausefulguideandanindefatigablehunter。Sorapidlydidhegaintheesteemofhisnewcompanions,thatwhentheyreachedtheendoftheirwanderings,itwasunanimouslyagreedthatheshouldbeprovidedwithaslargeandasfertileatractoflandasanyofthesettlers,withtheexceptionofYounghimself,andofStangerson,Kemball,Johnston,andDrebber,whowerethefourprincipalElders。
OnthefarmthusacquiredJohnFerrierbuilthimselfasubstantiallog-house,whichreceivedsomanyadditionsinsucceedingyearsthatitgrewintoaroomyvilla。Hewasamanofapracticalturnofmind,keeninhisdealingsandskilfulwithhishands。Hisironconstitutionenabledhimtoworkmorningandeveningatimprovingandtillinghislands。
Henceitcameaboutthathisfarmandallthatbelongedtohimprosperedexceedingly。Inthreeyearshewasbetteroffthanhisneighbours,insixhewaswell-to-do,inninehewasrich,andintwelvetherewerenothalfadozenmeninthewholeofSaltLakeCitywhocouldcomparewithhim。FromthegreatinlandseatothedistantWahsatchMountainstherewasnonamebetterknownthanthatofJohnFerrier。
Therewasonewayandonlyoneinwhichheoffendedthesusceptibilitiesofhisco-religionists。Noargumentorpersuasioncouldeverinducehimtosetupafemaleestablishmentafterthemannerofhiscompanions。Henevergavereasonsforthispersistentrefusal,butcontentedhimselfbyresolutelyandinflexiblyadheringtohisdetermination。Thereweresomewhoaccusedhimoflukewarmnessinhisadoptedreligion,andotherswhoputitdowntogreedofwealthandreluctancetoincurexpense。
Others,again,spokeofsomeearlyloveaffair,andofafair-hairedgirlwhohadpinedawayontheshoresoftheAtlantic。Whateverthereason,Ferrierremainedstrictlycelibate。Ineveryotherrespectheconformedtothereligionoftheyoungsettlement,andgainedthenameofbeinganorthodoxandstraight-walkingman。
LucyFerriergrewupwithinthelog-house,andassistedheradoptedfatherinallhisundertakings。Thekeenairofthemountainsandthebalsamicodourofthepinetreestooktheplaceofnurseandmothertotheyounggirl。Asyearsucceededtoyearshegrewtallerandstronger,hercheekmorerudy,andherstepmoreelastic。ManyawayfareruponthehighroadwhichranbyFerrier\'sfarmfeltlong-forgottenthoughtsreviveintheirmindastheywatchedherlithegirlishfiguretrippingthroughthewheatfields,ormethermounteduponherfather\'smustang,andmanagingitwithalltheeaseandgraceofatruechildoftheWest。Sothebudblossomedintoaflower,andtheyearwhichsawherfathertherichestofthefarmersleftherasfairaspecimenofAmericangirlhoodascouldbefoundinthewholePacificslope。
Itwasnotthefather,however,whofirstdiscoveredthatthechildhaddevelopedintothewoman。Itseldomisinsuchcases。Thatmysteriouschangeistoosubtleandtoogradualtobemeasuredbydates。Leastofalldoesthemaidenherselfknowituntilthetoneofavoiceorthetouchofahandsetsherheartthrillingwithinher,andshelearns,withamixtureofprideandoffear,thatanewandalargernaturehasawokenwithinher。Therearefewwhocannotrecallthatdayandremembertheonelittleincidentwhichheraldedthedawnofanewlife。InthecaseofLucyFerriertheoccasionwasseriousenoughinitself,apartfromitsfutureinfluenceonherdestinyandthatofmanybesides。
ItwasawarmJunemorning,andtheLatterDaySaintswereasbusyasthebeeswhosehivetheyhavechosenfortheiremblem。Inthefieldsandinthestreetsrosethesamehumofhumanindustry。Downthedustyhighroadsdefiledlongstreamsofheavily-ladenmules,allheadingtothewest,forthegoldfeverhadbrokenoutinCalifornia,andtheOverlandRoutelaythroughtheCityoftheElect。There,too,weredrovesofsheepandbullockscominginfromtheoutlyingpasturelands,andtrainsoftiredimmigrants,menandhorsesequallywearyoftheirinterminablejourney。Throughallthismotleyassemblage,threadingherwaywiththeskillofanaccomplishedrider,theregallopedLucyFerrier,herfairfaceflushedwiththeexerciseandherlongchestnuthairfloatingoutbehindher。ShehadacommissionfromherfatherintheCity,andwasdashinginasshehaddonemanyatimebefore,withallthefearlessnessofyouth,thinkingonlyofhertaskandhowitwastobeperformed。
Thetravel-stainedadventurersgazedafterherinastonishment,andeventheunemotionalIndians,journeyinginwiththeirpelties,relaxedtheiraccustomedstoicismastheymarvelledatthebeautyofthepale-facedmaiden。
Shehadreachedtheoutskirtsofthecitywhenshefoundtheroadblockedbyagreatdroveofcattle,drivenbyahalf-dozenwild-lookingherdsmenfromtheplains。Inherimpatiencesheendeavouredtopassthisobstaclebypushingherhorseintowhatappearedtobeagap。Scarcelyhadshegotfairlyintoit,however,beforethebeastsclosedinbehindher,andshefoundherselfcompletelyimbeddedinthemovingstreamoffierce-eyed,long-hornedbullocks。
Accustomedasshewastodealwithcattle,shewasnotalarmedathersituation,buttookadvantageofeveryopportunitytourgeherhorseoninthehopesofpushingherwaythroughthecavalcade。Unfortunatelythehornsofoneofthecreatures,eitherbyaccidentordesign,cameinviolentcontactwiththeflankofthemustang,andexcitedittomadness。Inaninstantitrearedupuponitshindlegswithasnortofrage,andprancedandtossedinawaythatwouldhaveunseatedanybutamostskilfulrider。Thesituationwasfullofperil。Everyplungeoftheexcitedhorsebroughtitagainstthehornsagain,andgoadedittofreshmadness。
Itwasallthatthegirlcoulddotokeepherselfinthesaddle,yetaslipwouldmeanaterribledeathunderthehoofsoftheunwieldyandterrifiedanimals。Unaccustomedtosuddenemergencies,herheadbegantoswim,andhergripuponthebridletorelax。Chokedbytherisingcloudofdustandbythesteamfromthestrugglingcreatures,shemighthaveabandonedhereffortsindespair,butforakindlyvoiceatherelbowwhichassuredherofassistance。Atthesamemomentasinewybrownhandcaughtthefrightenedhorsebythecurb,andforcingawaythroughthedrove,soonbroughthertotheoutskirts。
\"You\'renothurt,Ihope,miss,\"saidherpreserver,respectfully。
Shelookedupathisdark,fierceface,andlaughedsaucily。
\"I\'mawfulfrightened,\"shesaid,naively;\"whoeverwouldhavethoughtthatPonchowouldhavebeensoscaredbyalotofcows?\"
\"ThankGodyoukeptyourseat,\"theothersaidearnestly。
Hewasatall,savage-lookingyoungfellow,mountedonapowerfulroanhorse,andcladintheroughdressofahunter,withalongrifleslungoverhisshoulders。\"IguessyouarethedaughterofJohnFerrier,\"heremarked,\"Isawyouridedownfromhishouse。Whenyouseehim,askhimifherememberstheJeffersonHopesofSt。Louis。Ifhe\'sthesameFerrier,myfatherandhewereprettythick。\"
\"Hadn\'tyoubettercomeandaskyourself?\"sheasked,demurely。
Theyoungfellowseemedpleasedatthesuggestion,andhisdarkeyessparkledwithpleasure。\"I\'lldoso,\"hesaid,\"we\'vebeeninthemountainsfortwomonths,andarenotoverandaboveinvisitingcondition。Hemusttakeusashefindsus。\"
\"Hehasagooddealtothankyoufor,andsohaveI,\"sheanswered,\"he\'sawfulfondofme。Ifthosecowshadjumpedonmehe\'dhavenevergotoverit。\"
\"NeitherwouldI,\"saidhercompanion。
\"You!Well,Idon\'tseethatitwouldmakemuchmattertoyou,anyhow。Youain\'tevenafriendofours。\"
Theyounghunter\'sdarkfacegrewsogloomyoverthisremarkthatLucyFerrierlaughedaloud。
\"There,Ididn\'tmeanthat,\"shesaid;\"ofcourse,youareafriendnow。Youmustcomeandseeus。NowImustpushalong,orfatherwon\'ttrustmewithhisbusinessanymore。Good-bye!\"
\"Good-bye,\"heanswered,raisinghisbroadsombrero,andbendingoverherlittlehand。Shewheeledhermustanground,gaveitacutwithherriding-whip,anddartedawaydownthebroadroadinarollingcloudofdust。
YoungJeffersonHoperodeonwithhiscompanions,gloomyandtaciturn。HeandtheyhadbeenamongtheNevadaMountainsprospectingforsilver,andwerereturningtoSaltLakeCityinthehopeofraisingcapitalenoughtoworksomelodeswhichtheyhaddiscovered。Hehadbeenaskeenasanyofthemuponthebusinessuntilthissuddenincidenthaddrawnhisthoughtsintoanotherchannel。Thesightofthefairyounggirl,asfrankandwholesomeastheSierrabreezes,hadstirredhisvolcanic,untamedhearttoitsverydepths。
Whenshehadvanishedfromhissight,herealizedthatacrisishadcomeinhislife,andthatneithersilverspeculationsnoranyotherquestionscouldeverbeofsuchimportancetohimasthisnewandall-absorbingone。Thelovewhichhadsprungupinhisheartwasnotthesudden,changeablefancyofaboy,butratherthewild,fiercepassionofamanofstrongwillandimperioustemper。Hehadbeenaccustomedtosucceedinallthatheundertook。Hesworeinhisheartthathewouldnotfailinthisifhumaneffortandhumanperseverancecouldrenderhimsuccessful。
HecalledonJohnFerrierthatnight,andmanytimesagain,untilhisfacewasafamiliaroneatthefarm-house。
John,coopedupinthevalley,andabsorbedinhiswork,hadhadlittlechanceoflearningthenewsoftheoutsideworldduringthelasttwelveyears。AllthisJeffersonHopewasabletotellhim,andinastylewhichinterestedLucyaswellasherfather。HehadbeenapioneerinCalifornia,andcouldnarratemanyastrangetaleoffortunesmadeandfortuneslostinthosewild,halcyondays。Hehadbeenascouttoo,andatrapper,asilverexplorer,andaranchman。
Whereverstirringadventuresweretobehad,JeffersonHopehadbeenthereinsearchofthem。Hesoonbecameafavouritewiththeoldfarmer,whospokeeloquentlyofhisvirtues。
Onsuchoccasions,Lucywassilent,butherblushingcheekandherbright,happyeyes,showedonlytooclearlythatheryoungheartwasnolongerherown。Herhonestfathermaynothaveobservedthesesymptoms,buttheywereassuredlynotthrownawayuponthemanwhohadwonheraffections。
Itwasasummereveningwhenhecamegallopingdowntheroadandpulledupatthegate。Shewasatthedoorway,andcamedowntomeethim。Hethrewthebridleoverthefenceandstrodeupthepathway。
\"Iamoff,Lucy,\"hesaid,takinghertwohandsinhis,andgazingtenderlydownintoherface;\"Iwon\'taskyoutocomewithmenow,butwillyoubereadytocomewhenIamhereagain?\"
\"Andwhenwillthatbe?\"sheasked,blushingandlaughing。
\"Acoupleofmonthsattheoutside。Iwillcomeandclaimyouthen,mydarling。There\'snoonewhocanstandbetweenus。\"
\"Andhowaboutfather?\"sheasked。
\"Hehasgivenhisconsent,providedwegettheseminesworkingallright。Ihavenofearonthathead。\"
\"Oh,well;ofcourse,ifyouandfatherhavearrangeditall,there\'snomoretobesaid,\"shewhispered,withhercheekagainsthisbroadbreast。
\"ThankGod!\"hesaid,hoarsely,stoopingandkissingher。
\"Itissettled,then。ThelongerIstay,theharderitwillbetogo。Theyarewaitingformeatthecanon。Good-bye,myowndarling——good-bye。Intwomonthsyoushallseeme。\"
Hetorehimselffromherashespoke,and,flinginghimselfuponhishorse,gallopedfuriouslyaway,neverevenlookinground,asthoughafraidthathisresolutionmightfailhimifhetookoneglanceatwhathewasleaving。Shestoodatthegate,gazingafterhimuntilhevanishedfromhersight。Thenshewalkedbackintothehouse,thehappiestgirlinallUtah。
CHAPTERIII。
JOHNFERRIERTALKSWITHTHEPROPHET。
THREEweekshadpassedsinceJeffersonHopeandhiscomradeshaddepartedfromSaltLakeCity。JohnFerrier\'sheartwassorewithinhimwhenhethoughtoftheyoungman\'sreturn,andoftheimpendinglossofhisadoptedchild。Yetherbrightandhappyfacereconciledhimtothearrangementmorethananyargumentcouldhavedone。Hehadalwaysdetermined,deepdowninhisresoluteheart,thatnothingwouldeverinducehimtoallowhisdaughtertowedaMormon。Suchamarriageheregardedasnomarriageatall,butasashameandadisgrace。WhateverhemightthinkoftheMormondoctrines,uponthatonepointhewasinflexible。Hehadtosealhismouthonthesubject,however,fortoexpressanunorthodoxopinionwasadangerousmatterinthosedaysintheLandoftheSaints。
Yes,adangerousmatter——sodangerousthateventhemostsaintlydaredonlywhispertheirreligiousopinionswithbatedbreath,lestsomethingwhichfellfromtheirlipsmightbemisconstrued,andbringdownaswiftretributionuponthem。Thevictimsofpersecutionhadnowturnedpersecutorsontheirownaccount,andpersecutorsofthemostterribledescription。NottheInquisitionofSeville,northeGermanVehm-gericht,northeSecretSocietiesofItaly,wereeverabletoputamoreformidablemachineryinmotionthanthatwhichcastacloudovertheStateofUtah。
Itsinvisibility,andthemysterywhichwasattachedtoit,madethisorganizationdoublyterrible。Itappearedtobeomniscientandomnipotent,andyetwasneitherseennorheard。ThemanwhoheldoutagainsttheChurchvanishedaway,andnoneknewwhitherhehadgoneorwhathadbefallenhim。Hiswifeandhischildrenawaitedhimathome,butnofathereverreturnedtotellthemhowhehadfaredatthehandsofhissecretjudges。Arashwordorahastyactwasfollowedbyannihilation,andyetnoneknewwhatthenaturemightbeofthisterriblepowerwhichwassuspendedoverthem。
Nowonderthatmenwentaboutinfearandtrembling,andthatevenintheheartofthewildernesstheydarednotwhisperthedoubtswhichoppressedthem。
Atfirstthisvagueandterriblepowerwasexercisedonlyupontherecalcitrantswho,havingembracedtheMormonfaith,wishedafterwardstopervertortoabandonit。Soon,however,ittookawiderrange。Thesupplyofadultwomenwasrunningshort,andpolygamywithoutafemalepopulationonwhichtodrawwasabarrendoctrineindeed。Strangerumoursbegantobebandiedabout——rumoursofmurderedimmigrantsandrifledcampsinregionswhereIndianshadneverbeenseen。FreshwomenappearedintheharemsoftheElders——womenwhopinedandwept,andboreupontheirfacesthetracesofanunextinguishablehorror。Belatedwanderersuponthemountainsspokeofgangsofarmedmen,masked,stealthy,andnoiseless,whoflittedbytheminthedarkness。
Thesetalesandrumourstooksubstanceandshape,andwerecorroboratedandre-corroborated,untiltheyresolvedthemselvesintoadefinitename。Tothisday,inthelonelyranchesoftheWest,thenameoftheDaniteBand,ortheAvengingAngels,isasinisterandanill-omenedone。
Fullerknowledgeoftheorganizationwhichproducedsuchterribleresultsservedtoincreaseratherthantolessenthehorrorwhichitinspiredinthemindsofmen。Noneknewwhobelongedtothisruthlesssociety。Thenamesoftheparticipatorsinthedeedsofbloodandviolencedoneunderthenameofreligionwerekeptprofoundlysecret。TheveryfriendtowhomyoucommunicatedyourmisgivingsastotheProphetandhismission,mightbeoneofthosewhowouldcomeforthatnightwithfireandswordtoexactaterriblereparation。Henceeverymanfearedhisneighbour,andnonespokeofthethingswhichwerenearesthisheart。
Onefinemorning,JohnFerrierwasabouttosetouttohiswheatfields,whenheheardtheclickofthelatch,and,lookingthroughthewindow,sawastout,sandy-haired,middle-agedmancomingupthepathway。Hisheartleapttohismouth,forthiswasnoneotherthanthegreatBrighamYounghimself。Fulloftrepidation——forheknewthatsuchavisitbodedhimlittlegood——FerrierrantothedoortogreettheMormonchief。Thelatter,however,receivedhissalutationscoldly,andfollowedhimwithasternfaceintothesitting-room。
\"BrotherFerrier,\"hesaid,takingaseat,andeyeingthefarmerkeenlyfromunderhislight-colouredeyelashes,\"thetruebelievershavebeengoodfriendstoyou。Wepickedyouupwhenyouwerestarvinginthedesert,wesharedourfoodwithyou,ledyousafetotheChosenValley,gaveyouagoodlyshareofland,andallowedyoutowaxrichunderourprotection。Isnotthisso?\"
\"Itisso,\"answeredJohnFerrier。
\"Inreturnforallthisweaskedbutonecondition:thatwas,thatyoushouldembracethetruefaith,andconformineverywaytoitsusages。Thisyoupromisedtodo,andthis,ifcommonreportsaystruly,youhaveneglected。\"
\"AndhowhaveIneglectedit?\"askedFerrier,throwingouthishandsinexpostulation。\"HaveInotgiventothecommonfund?HaveInotattendedattheTemple?HaveInot——?\"
\"Whereareyourwives?\"askedYoung,lookingroundhim。
\"Callthemin,thatImaygreetthem。\"
\"ItistruethatIhavenotmarried,\"Ferrieranswered。
\"Butwomenwerefew,andthereweremanywhohadbetterclaimsthanI。Iwasnotalonelyman:Ihadmydaughtertoattendtomywants。\"
\"ItisofthatdaughterthatIwouldspeaktoyou,\"saidtheleaderoftheMormons。\"ShehasgrowntobetheflowerofUtah,andhasfoundfavourintheeyesofmanywhoarehighintheland。\"
JohnFerriergroanedinternally。
\"TherearestoriesofherwhichIwouldfaindisbelieve——
storiesthatsheissealedtosomeGentile。Thismustbethegossipofidletongues。WhatisthethirteenthruleinthecodeofthesaintedJosephSmith?`Leteverymaidenofthetruefaithmarryoneoftheelect;forifshewedaGentile,shecommitsagrievoussin。\'Thisbeingso,itisimpossiblethatyou,whoprofesstheholycreed,shouldsufferyourdaughtertoviolateit。\"
JohnFerriermadenoanswer,butheplayednervouslywithhisriding-whip。
\"Uponthisonepointyourwholefaithshallbetested——soithasbeendecidedintheSacredCouncilofFour。Thegirlisyoung,andwewouldnothaveherwedgreyhairs,neitherwouldwedepriveherofallchoice。WeEldershavemanyheifers,*butourchildrenmustalsobeprovided。Stangersonhasason,andDrebberhasason,andeitherofthemwouldgladlywelcomeyourdaughtertotheirhouse。Letherchoosebetweenthem。Theyareyoungandrich,andofthetruefaith。
Whatsayyoutothat?\"
Ferrierremainedsilentforsomelittletimewithhisbrowsknitted。
\"Youwillgiveustime,\"hesaidatlast。\"Mydaughterisveryyoung——sheisscarceofanagetomarry。\"
\"Sheshallhaveamonthtochoose,\"saidYoung,risingfromhisseat。\"Attheendofthattimesheshallgiveheranswer。\"
Hewaspassingthroughthedoor,whenheturned,withflushedfaceandflashingeyes。\"Itwerebetterforyou,JohnFerrier,\"
hethundered,\"thatyouandshewerenowlyingblanchedskeletonsupontheSierraBlanco,thanthatyoushouldputyourweakwillsagainsttheordersoftheHolyFour!\"
Withathreateninggestureofhishand,heturnedfromthedoor,andFerrierheardhisheavystepscrunchingalongtheshinglypath。
Hewasstillsittingwithhiselbowsuponhisknees,consideringhowheshouldbroachthemattertohisdaughterwhenasofthandwaslaiduponhis,andlookingup,hesawherstandingbesidehim。Oneglanceatherpale,frightenedfaceshowedhimthatshehadheardwhathadpassed。
\"Icouldnothelpit,\"shesaid,inanswertohislook。
\"Hisvoicerangthroughthehouse。Oh,father,father,whatshallwedo?\"
\"Don\'tyouscareyourself,\"heanswered,drawinghertohim,andpassinghisbroad,roughhandcaressinglyoverherchestnuthair。\"We\'llfixitupsomehoworanother。
Youdon\'tfindyourfancykindo\'lesseningforthischap,doyou?\"
Asobandasqueezeofhishandwasheronlyanswer。
\"No;ofcoursenot。Ishouldn\'tcaretohearyousayyoudid。He\'salikelylad,andhe\'saChristian,whichismorethanthesefolkhere,inspiteo\'alltheirprayingandpreaching。There\'sapartystartingforNevadato-morrow,andI\'llmanagetosendhimamessagelettinghimknowtheholewearein。IfIknowanythingo\'thatyoungman,he\'llbebackherewithaspeedthatwouldwhipelectro-telegraphs。\"
Lucylaughedthroughhertearsatherfather\'sdescription。
\"Whenhecomes,hewilladviseusforthebest。ButitisforyouthatIamfrightened,dear。Onehears——onehearssuchdreadfulstoriesaboutthosewhoopposetheProphet:
somethingterriblealwayshappenstothem。\"
\"Butwehaven\'topposedhimyet,\"herfatheranswered。
\"Itwillbetimetolookoutforsquallswhenwedo。
Wehaveaclearmonthbeforeus;attheendofthat,IguesswehadbestshinoutofUtah。\"
\"LeaveUtah!\"
\"That\'saboutthesizeofit。\"
\"Butthefarm?\"
\"Wewillraiseasmuchaswecaninmoney,andlettherestgo。
Totellthetruth,Lucy,itisn\'tthefirsttimeIhavethoughtofdoingit。Idon\'tcareaboutknucklingundertoanyman,asthesefolkdototheirdarnedprophet。I\'mafree-bornAmerican,andit\'sallnewtome。GuessI\'mtoooldtolearn。Ifhecomesbrowsingaboutthisfarm,hemightchancetorunupagainstachargeofbuckshottravellingintheoppositedirection。\"
\"Buttheywon\'tletusleave,\"hisdaughterobjected。
\"WaittillJeffersoncomes,andwe\'llsoonmanagethat。
Inthemeantime,don\'tyoufretyourself,mydearie,anddon\'tgetyoureyesswelledup,elsehe\'llbewalkingintomewhenheseesyou。There\'snothingtobeafearedabout,andthere\'snodangeratall。\"
JohnFerrierutteredtheseconsolingremarksinaveryconfidenttone,butshecouldnothelpobservingthathepaidunusualcaretothefasteningofthedoorsthatnight,andthathecarefullycleanedandloadedtherustyoldshotgunwhichhunguponthewallofhisbedroom。
CHAPTERIV。
AFLIGHTFORLIFE。
ONthemorningwhichfollowedhisinterviewwiththeMormonProphet,JohnFerrierwentintoSaltLakeCity,andhavingfoundhisacquaintance,whowasboundfortheNevadaMountains,heentrustedhimwithhismessagetoJeffersonHope。Inithetoldtheyoungmanoftheimminentdangerwhichthreatenedthem,andhownecessaryitwasthatheshouldreturn。Havingdonethushefelteasierinhismind,andreturnedhomewithalighterheart。
Asheapproachedhisfarm,hewassurprisedtoseeahorsehitchedtoeachofthepostsofthegate。Stillmoresurprisedwasheonenteringtofindtwoyoungmeninpossessionofhissitting-room。One,withalongpaleface,wasleaningbackintherocking-chair,withhisfeetcockedupuponthestove。Theother,abull-neckedyouthwithcoarsebloatedfeatures,wasstandinginfrontofthewindowwithhishandsinhispocket,whistlingapopularhymn。
BothofthemnoddedtoFerrierasheentered,andtheoneintherocking-chaircommencedtheconversation。
\"Maybeyoudon\'tknowus,\"hesaid。\"ThishereisthesonofElderDrebber,andI\'mJosephStangerson,whotravelledwithyouinthedesertwhentheLordstretchedoutHishandandgatheredyouintothetruefold。\"
\"AsHewillallthenationsinHisowngoodtime,\"saidtheotherinanasalvoice;\"Hegrindethslowlybutexceedingsmall。\"
JohnFerrierbowedcoldly。Hehadguessedwhohisvisitorswere。
\"Wehavecome,\"continuedStangerson,\"attheadviceofourfatherstosolicitthehandofyourdaughterforwhicheverofusmayseemgoodtoyouandtoher。AsIhavebutfourwivesandBrotherDrebberherehasseven,itappearstomethatmyclaimisthestrongerone。\"
\"Nay,nay,BrotherStangerson,\"criedtheother;\"thequestionisnothowmanywiveswehave,buthowmanywecankeep。
Myfatherhasnowgivenoverhismillstome,andIamthericherman。\"
\"Butmyprospectsarebetter,\"saidtheother,warmly。
\"WhentheLordremovesmyfather,Ishallhavehistanningyardandhisleatherfactory。ThenIamyourelder,andamhigherintheChurch。\"
\"Itwillbeforthemaidentodecide,\"rejoinedyoungDrebber,smirkingathisownreflectionintheglass。\"Wewillleaveitalltoherdecision。\"
Duringthisdialogue,JohnFerrierhadstoodfuminginthedoorway,hardlyabletokeephisriding-whipfromthebacksofhistwovisitors。
\"Lookhere,\"hesaidatlast,stridinguptothem,\"whenmydaughtersummonsyou,youcancome,butuntilthenIdon\'twanttoseeyourfacesagain。\"
ThetwoyoungMormonsstaredathiminamazement。
Intheireyesthiscompetitionbetweenthemforthemaiden\'shandwasthehighestofhonoursbothtoherandherfather。
\"Therearetwowaysoutoftheroom,\"criedFerrier;\"thereisthedoor,andthereisthewindow。Whichdoyoucaretouse?\"
Hisbrownfacelookedsosavage,andhisgaunthandssothreatening,thathisvisitorssprangtotheirfeetandbeatahurriedretreat。Theoldfarmerfollowedthemtothedoor。
\"Letmeknowwhenyouhavesettledwhichitistobe,\"
hesaid,sardonically。
\"Youshallsmartforthis!\"Stangersoncried,whitewithrage。
\"YouhavedefiedtheProphetandtheCouncilofFour。
Youshallrueittotheendofyourdays。\"
\"ThehandoftheLordshallbeheavyuponyou,\"criedyoungDrebber;\"Hewillariseandsmiteyou!\"
\"ThenI\'llstartthesmiting,\"exclaimedFerrierfuriously,andwouldhaverushedupstairsforhisgunhadnotLucyseizedhimbythearmandrestrainedhim。Beforehecouldescapefromher,theclatterofhorses\'hoofstoldhimthattheywerebeyondhisreach。
\"Theyoungcantingrascals!\"heexclaimed,wipingtheperspirationfromhisforehead;\"Iwouldsoonerseeyouinyourgrave,mygirl,thanthewifeofeitherofthem。\"
\"AndsoshouldI,father,\"sheanswered,withspirit;
\"butJeffersonwillsoonbehere。\"
\"Yes。Itwillnotbelongbeforehecomes。Thesoonerthebetter,forwedonotknowwhattheirnextmovemaybe。\"
Itwas,indeed,hightimethatsomeonecapableofgivingadviceandhelpshouldcometotheaidofthesturdyoldfarmerandhisadopteddaughter。InthewholehistoryofthesettlementtherehadneverbeensuchacaseofrankdisobediencetotheauthorityoftheElders。Ifminorerrorswerepunishedsosternly,whatwouldbethefateofthisarchrebel。Ferrierknewthathiswealthandpositionwouldbeofnoavailtohim。Othersaswellknownandasrichashimselfhadbeenspiritedawaybeforenow,andtheirgoodsgivenovertotheChurch。Hewasabraveman,buthetrembledatthevague,shadowyterrorswhichhungoverhim。Anyknowndangerhecouldfacewithafirmlip,butthissuspensewasunnerving。Heconcealedhisfearsfromhisdaughter,however,andaffectedtomakelightofthewholematter,thoughshe,withthekeeneyeoflove,sawplainlythathewasillatease。
HeexpectedthathewouldreceivesomemessageorremonstrancefromYoungastohisconduct,andhewasnotmistaken,thoughitcameinanunlooked-formanner。Uponrisingnextmorninghefound,tohissurprise,asmallsquareofpaperpinnedontothecoverletofhisbedjustoverhischest。Onitwasprinted,inboldstragglingletters:——
\"Twenty-ninedaysaregivenyouforamendment,andthen——\"
Thedashwasmorefear-inspiringthananythreatcouldhavebeen。HowthiswarningcameintohisroompuzzledJohnFerriersorely,forhisservantssleptinanouthouse,andthedoorsandwindowshadallbeensecured。Hecrumpledthepaperupandsaidnothingtohisdaughter,buttheincidentstruckachillintohisheart。Thetwenty-ninedayswereevidentlythebalanceofthemonthwhichYounghadpromised。
Whatstrengthorcouragecouldavailagainstanenemyarmedwithsuchmysteriouspowers?Thehandwhichfastenedthatpinmighthavestruckhimtotheheart,andhecouldneverhaveknownwhohadslainhim。
Stillmoreshakenwashenextmorning。TheyhadsatdowntotheirbreakfastwhenLucywithacryofsurprisepointedupwards。Inthecentreoftheceilingwasscrawled,withaburnedstickapparently,thenumber28。Tohisdaughteritwasunintelligible,andhedidnotenlightenher。Thatnighthesatupwithhisgunandkeptwatchandward。Hesawandheheardnothing,andyetinthemorningagreat27hadbeenpaintedupontheoutsideofhisdoor。
Thusdayfollowedday;andassureasmorningcamehefoundthathisunseenenemieshadkepttheirregister,andhadmarkedupinsomeconspicuouspositionhowmanydayswerestilllefttohimoutofthemonthofgrace。Sometimesthefatalnumbersappeareduponthewalls,sometimesuponthefloors,occasionallytheywereonsmallplacardsstuckuponthegardengateortherailings。WithallhisvigilanceJohnFerriercouldnotdiscoverwhencethesedailywarningsproceeded。Ahorrorwhichwasalmostsuperstitiouscameuponhimatthesightofthem。Hebecamehaggardandrestless,andhiseyeshadthetroubledlookofsomehuntedcreature。
Hehadbutonehopeinlifenow,andthatwasforthearrivaloftheyounghunterfromNevada。
Twentyhadchangedtofifteenandfifteentoten,buttherewasnonewsoftheabsentee。Onebyonethenumbersdwindleddown,andstilltherecamenosignofhim。Wheneverahorsemanclattereddowntheroad,oradrivershoutedathisteam,theoldfarmerhurriedtothegatethinkingthathelphadarrivedatlast。Atlast,whenhesawfivegivewaytofourandthatagaintothree,helostheart,andabandonedallhopeofescape。Single-handed,andwithhislimitedknowledgeofthemountainswhichsurroundedthesettlement,heknewthathewaspowerless。Themore-frequentedroadswerestrictlywatchedandguarded,andnonecouldpassalongthemwithoutanorderfromtheCouncil。Turnwhichwayhewould,thereappearedtobenoavoidingtheblowwhichhungoverhim。Yettheoldmanneverwaveredinhisresolutiontopartwithlifeitselfbeforeheconsentedtowhatheregardedashisdaughter\'sdishonour。
Hewassittingaloneoneeveningponderingdeeplyoverhistroubles,andsearchingvainlyforsomewayoutofthem。
Thatmorninghadshownthefigure2uponthewallofhishouse,andthenextdaywouldbethelastoftheallottedtime。Whatwastohappenthen?Allmannerofvagueandterriblefanciesfilledhisimagination。Andhisdaughter——
whatwastobecomeofherafterhewasgone?Wastherenoescapefromtheinvisiblenetworkwhichwasdrawnallroundthem。Hesankhisheaduponthetableandsobbedatthethoughtofhisownimpotence。
Whatwasthat?Inthesilenceheheardagentlescratchingsound——low,butverydistinctinthequietofthenight。
Itcamefromthedoorofthehouse。Ferriercreptintothehallandlistenedintently。Therewasapauseforafewmoments,andthenthelowinsidioussoundwasrepeated。
Someonewasevidentlytappingverygentlyupononeofthepanelsofthedoor。Wasitsomemidnightassassinwhohadcometocarryoutthemurderousordersofthesecrettribunal?Orwasitsomeagentwhowasmarkingupthatthelastdayofgracehadarrived。JohnFerrierfeltthatinstantdeathwouldbebetterthanthesuspensewhichshookhisnervesandchilledhisheart。Springingforwardhedrewtheboltandthrewthedooropen。
Outsideallwascalmandquiet。Thenightwasfine,andthestarsweretwinklingbrightlyoverhead。Thelittlefrontgardenlaybeforethefarmer\'seyesboundedbythefenceandgate,butneithertherenorontheroadwasanyhumanbeingtobeseen。Withasighofrelief,Ferrierlookedtorightandtoleft,untilhappeningtoglancestraightdownathisownfeethesawtohisastonishmentamanlyingflatuponhisfaceupontheground,witharmsandlegsallasprawl。
Sounnervedwasheatthesightthatheleanedupagainstthewallwithhishandtohisthroattostiflehisinclinationtocallout。Hisfirstthoughtwasthattheprostratefigurewasthatofsomewoundedordyingman,butashewatchedithesawitwrithealongthegroundandintothehallwiththerapidityandnoiselessnessofaserpent。Oncewithinthehousethemansprangtohisfeet,closedthedoor,andrevealedtotheastonishedfarmerthefiercefaceandresoluteexpressionofJeffersonHope。
\"GoodGod!\"gaspedJohnFerrier。\"Howyouscaredme!
Whatevermadeyoucomeinlikethat。\"
\"Givemefood,\"theothersaid,hoarsely。\"Ihavehadnotimeforbiteorsupforeight-and-fortyhours。\"Heflunghimselfuponthe{21}coldmeatandbreadwhichwerestilllyinguponthetablefromhishost\'ssupper,anddevoureditvoraciously。\"DoesLucybearupwell?\"heasked,whenhehadsatisfiedhishunger。
\"Yes。Shedoesnotknowthedanger,\"herfatheranswered。
\"Thatiswell。Thehouseiswatchedoneveryside。
ThatiswhyIcrawledmywayuptoit。Theymaybedarnedsharp,butthey\'renotquitesharpenoughtocatchaWashoehunter。\"
JohnFerrierfeltadifferentmannowthatherealizedthathehadadevotedally。Heseizedtheyoungman\'sleatheryhandandwrungitcordially。\"You\'reamantobeproudof,\"
hesaid。\"Therearenotmanywhowouldcometoshareourdangerandourtroubles。\"
\"You\'vehititthere,pard,\"theyounghunteranswered。
\"Ihavearespectforyou,butifyouwerealoneinthisbusinessI\'dthinktwicebeforeIputmyheadintosuchahornet\'snest。It\'sLucythatbringsmehere,andbeforeharmcomesonherIguesstherewillbeonelesso\'theHopefamilyinUtah。\"
\"Whatarewetodo?\"
\"To-morrowisyourlastday,andunlessyouactto-nightyouarelost。IhaveamuleandtwohorseswaitingintheEagleRavine。Howmuchmoneyhaveyou?\"