" I wonder what's holding 'em up." " Don't worry, Father." "We'll be going soon." " John, did you feed them hounds?" " Yes, Grandpa." "Yes." "All right!" "Now, tighten it up, son." "She'll take us where we're goin'." " Yes, but where are we going?" " Ma, they're thrashing that matter out now." "Pa, they made you the leader." "Why aren't you saying where to go?" "I'm only leader of the Missourians, daughter." "There are families here from every state in the Union." " Can't be waitin' on 'em for ever, Dad." " No, son." "They're holdin' a powwow now." "I'll just step over and see what they got to say." "Well, bless our wild hearts, if it ain't Breck Coleman." " How are ya, Zeke?" " Where have you been hidin' yourself, boy?" "Been down Santa Fe way, Zeke." "Just drifted in." "Here's Windy Bill." "Looks like you've wintered through in good shape." "Well, Coleman, most times I winter through in fair shape." "This year, when the first grass showed, I'd only put on 60 lb." "He maybe could tell us of a likely stretch of country." "Could you sight us to a second Missouri anywheres out yonder?" "Sure." "But it's a long, tough pull from here." "2500 mile, the way you'd have to go." " No, it's too far off." " No place is too far if it's what we want." " This is a land beyond Oregon." " There ain't no land beyond Oregon." " West of Oregon comes the ocean." " This stretch is north of Oregon." "How many people are settled on it now?" "It's Injun country." "Except for the trappers, never a white man has left his track there." "There's only one trading post in that country." " Who owns it?" " A Missouri trapper." "Hey, mister, will you tell me this?" "Since you all elected me to head this outfit, let me do the talking." "It's everything a Missourian's heart could crave." "There's two snowcapped mountain ranges, with peaks lost in the sky." "And between them ranges there's a great valley." "Lakes and streams everywhere." "Fish and game." "There's salmon swimming up them rivers thicker than blackbirds in a cane thatch." "Will you undertake to lead us to that valley?" "I'd like nothing better, men." "But our trails fork here." "I got business that calls me back down the road to Santa Fe." " What business you follow?" " I'm a trapper." "Surely there's fur aplenty out in that land beyond Oregon?" "Plenty." "But I gotta kill me a pair of skunks, back apiece on the road to Santa Fe." "Wait, wait." "How do you find that valley?" "Wellmore is sending a bull train clear through to old Tom Williams' trading post." "This is the first time it's ever been tried." "Just string along behind 'em, and ifthey make it through, you'll find your valley." "And tell that great white mountain hello from me." "Goodbye, Zeke." "Maybe he told us a fairy tale." "That's all right." "Now, don't be a pig." "Howdy, Mrs Riggs." "Land sakes!" "Well, you sure look fine, Mother Riggs." "It's a long time since I've seen you." "You know, you always was a great hand to wander." "Yeah, I ramble around." " And how are the little twins?" " Little?" "My lands!" "Them girls has grown since you seen 'em last." "No!" "They in the house?" "Mildred is." "Elise went down to watch the boat come in." " I reckon I'll saunter in and surprise Mildred." " You sure will surprise them!" "Oh, Breck, I sure am glad to see you!" "Well, Mildred, you certainly have doubled in size since last I saw you." "You just must see Elise." "I'll surely see her before I leave." "That's the Peensie Bellwhistling now." "Oh, look at the crowds." "Miss Cameron, we'll be landing in a few minutes." " Got your outfit together?" " Everything's ready, Captain." "Listen, why don't you give up this plan and turn back?" "I guess there's no place to turn back to." "There isn't a home in the South that wouldn't welcome the daughter of Colonel Cameron." "We can hardly become perpetual visitors." "It's a tough proposition, girl, this pioneer life in the savage wilderness." "We realise that, Captain Hollister, but we must keep the family together." "Honey Girl wants to stay with her sister Ruth, doesn't she?" "And our brother Dave is almost a man grown." "Ruth is right, Captain." "The Camerons must stick together." "you look like the fellow I want to see." "I wonder if I can can some more of that shell beans?" "Have you got any more money?" "we have some money how did you get that?" "from my mother-in-law." "she lend it to me, but she don't know it here, I'll meet you at the low jerks." "get along one to get any fair for you" "Are you still determined to be a sturdy pioneer?" "Quite determined, Mr Thorpe." "I've told you about my plantation in Louisiana." "It must be wonderful." "Miss Cameron, those lands and servants are yours... if you'll take me with them." "I do thank you but, as I've said before, it's quite impossible." "Goodbye, Mr Thorpe." "Davey, I think I better go find Mrs Riggs, that lady Captain Hollister told us about." "No, I wanna stay here with Davey and watch them unload." "You take good care of her, Davey." "I'll be right back, Honey Girl." " It's a nice place, ain't it, Mama?" " It's terrible!" "Look at the mud!" "Listen, Mama." "I'm gonna go see if I can buy a horse." "I carry you over there." "I don't want you to get your feet wet." "That's it." "Here we go." "Come on." "I don't want you to get your shoes all muddy." "Oh, stop laughing." "Come on, Mama." "I take you over, Mama." "Come on, Mama." "Come on, Mama." "Gus!" "What are you trying to do?" "Come on, Mama." "Come on, Mama." "Gus!" "What are you trying to do?" "Mama, I want to carry you across so you won't get your feet wet." "I'll cross my own mud!" "All right, then, Mama, but let me help you." "Step right forward, Mama." "That's it." "I come right back!" " Mrs Riggs?" " Yes, miss." "That's me." "Well, I'm Miss Cameron." "Captain Hollister told me to see you." "Friend of Captain Hollister?" "Come right on in." "Don't tear your pretty dress on them logs." "Oh, it's nice and cool in here, out of the sun." "You sit down, make yourself easy and I'll draw you a cup of tea." "That's awfully nice of you." "Thank you." "What do you mean by..." "Oh!" "I thought..." "It was this way." "I thought you were someone else." "Wait!" " It was this way." "I thought you were Elise." " Elise?" " Yes." "Just thought I'd surprise her." " Did you indeed!" "Let me tell you." "If you'll alight someplace, I'll tell ya." " What is it?" "You're as pale as a ghost." " It's nothing, Mr Thorpe." " There must be something wrong." " Just an unpleasant occurrence." " I'm gonna explain." " There's nothing to explain." " I'm gonna tell you anyhow." " You're forcing yourself on this lady." " Is that how it seems to you?" " How else can I take it?" "It's nothing to me how you take it." "It matters to me, ma'am, how you understand." "Perhaps not." "But if it concerns Miss Cameron, I'll demand an explanation." "You will?" "Then speak your piece." "Mr Thorpe, will you please take me to my brother?" "With pleasure." " I'll be looking for you shortly." " I won't be hard to locate." "Hello, Honey Girl." "Thank you so much, Mr Thorpe." "It's a great pleasure." "Just think, this wagon'll be your home for the next six months." "And after that, the cabin in the wilderness." "My mind is made up, Mr Thorpe." "We're going with the settlers." " Howdy, boy!" " Hello, Zeke." "Howdy, Bill." "Hey, Tex." "I been telling you about this here boy, Coleman." "He can heave a knife into a mark so big every time." "I bet you a buffalo hide he can't heave into that post back of you." "Call the bet!" "Show him, boy." "Bless our wild heart!" "I've seen him do it a hundred times, eh, Bill?" "That's another buffalo hide you owe me, Tex." "You remember, Bill, that time up on the Snake River?" "Say, boy, I wanna know about old Ben Griswell." "I hear the Indians downed him." "Only it wasn't lnjuns downed him." " Renegade whites done it." " How come?" " He'd been wolfing all winter." " Yeah?" "Must have had $2-3,000 worth of wolf pelts." "Oh, easy, that." "He was hacked up and stuck full of arrows." "Looked like lnjun work all right." "The wolf pelts was gone." "If ever I find them hellhounds, I'll sure make 'em hunt their holes." "López." "Who's that young buck over there with no hair on his face?" "Him?" "That's Breck Coleman." " He very quick with his knife." " Where does he come from?" "He come from the plains." "The mountains." "He live with the Indians." "He can throw a knife through the heart at 20 feet." "He's the best shot in all this country." "He knows everything." "He'll know too much for his own good someday." "Hasta México." "Vamos a comer." "Tomamos un trago, ?" "eh?" "All right." "If old Ben had lived, he'd be goin' on about 72 now, wouldn't he?" "Injuns never done this... but renegade whites." "And they left their mark." "Say, Zeke." "Who was that he-grizzly that just went by?" "That's Red Flack." "He's gonna whack Wellmore's train clear through to Oregon." "You reckon you'll ever find out who downed old Ben?" "It's just possible that a certain low-down coyote left his sign there." " Hello, Coleman." " Howdy, Wellmore." "I changed my mind." "I'll scout for that bull train after all." "Well, that's a ray of sunshine." "Shake hands before you change your mind again." "Got a good wagon boss for the trip?" "Red Flack." "A burly ruffian, and can maul the toughest trader on the plains into a pulp without even working up a sweat." " He can do that, eh?" " Flack?" "Huh, he likes to do it." "But leave him at a bull train." "Here he is now." " All ready to start?" " Likely you two have met before." " No." " I reckon not." "Coleman's gonna scout for the train." "you understand Flack that he's to have final say in all my dealing with the Indians." "Yes?" "Who's got final say about bustin' the bull train?" "He understands that you're the wagon-boss." "Yeah." "Another thing." "Another thing." "Am I supposed to wet-nurse them wooden-head pilgrims crossing the plains?" "Well, the more that goes along, the better for them and for you, in case the Indians jump you." "All right." "All right!" "Make it clear to him that I'm wagon boss." "he understands that, Flack." "He seems to be a right pleasant cuss!" "he's a ruffian, but he's a real wagon boss." "likely he is" "Must have done a big trade in wolf pelts this year." "Yes, we had a big trade with the wolfers." " Flack sell you any of these?" " Flack?" "No, he didn't do any wolfing last winter, I guess." "What outfit did you buy the biggest bunch from?" "Fella named López." "Came in about a month ago with pelts around $5,000 worth." "López, eh?" "Guess I don't know him." "I signed him up as a bullwhacker on the train." "You did, eh?" " I'll see you next year." " Bring your scalp along back home." "All right." "Goodbye." "Yes, sir." "This is the first time that any outfit ever tried to go clean across to Oregon." " Is that so?" " Windy." " Hello." " I'm gonna scout for that bull train." "Good!" " Mr Cameron, this is Mr Coleman." " How do you do, sir." "He can tell you more about that country where you're going and what kind of an outfit you need than any man around here." "Thank you, sir." "Windy, throw my bags in with yours and Zeke's, will you?" " I sure will." " Tell Zeke I'm going along." "All right, boy." "Would you mind looking over our outfit?" "Certainly not." "We'll go have a peek at it." "Where is it?" "Right over there, sir." "Honey Girl, we must have your history lesson." " How many stars in the flag?" " 26." " How many stripes?" " 13." "And what do they stand for?" "the 13 original colonies." "now remember that." "Now, who..." "Mr Coleman, this is my sister Ruth." "Honey Girl, it isn't safe to sit in a rocking chair when there's certain persons present." "I think you'll find we have everything." " plenty of guns?" " a rifle and a fowling piece." " how about ammunition?" " Plenty." " one thing, I don't see any barrels." " A barrel?" "you'll need a water barrel." "There'll be long stretches without water." " I knew we'd forget something." "I'll go get one." " All right." "What I was aiming to tell you was this." "When I came into the..." "The folks right next to us had an extra one." "Quick work." "Say, it wouldn't be a bad idea to take two barrels." " Suppose you go rustle another one." " I'll do that." " When I came romping in, Miss Cameron..." " How's this?" "Oh, fine." "Looks like barrels grow on trees around here." "Mr Cameron?" "Better tell your sister to change that pretty dress." "She won't get very far in that." "She oughta put on some travelling clothes." " I like him better than Mr Thorpe." " honey girl, we'll finish your history lesson." "Thorpe." "Get back on the Peensie Bell and make yourself scarce." "If you're here when the boat pulls out, the boys'll certainly lead your pony out from under you." "I had no intention of staying." "I'll be on the Peensie Bell when she leaves." "See that you are." "That rum's for you and me, eh?" "Well, if it ain't Bill Thorpe, eh?" "I always thought you was hung and planted years back." "No, my time ain't arrived yet, Flack." "Though it looks as though it might be drawing close." "How come?" "Well, they promised me a hanging bee if I don't get out on the Peensie Bell." "The captain promised me a necktie party if I set foot the boat." "It's a case of nowhere to go." "It appears to me you do your shooting by daylight, with too many people looking on." "Well, as long as you can't go and you can't stay, just what do you figure to do about it, eh?" "Well, I've always been able to wiggle out." "It appears to me as if you was born to be drowned." "Come on, Zeke." "Get rid of that moonshine and let's go." "That's all, folks." "See you next year." "Are you just as handy with a gun... as you was?" "I can drive a nail at 30 paces." "Well, as long as you can't go, and you can't stay," "it wouldn't be a bad idea if you was to go along with me." "That sounds reasonable." "Where do you happen to be headed for?" "Well, anyways, it's out there." "Where there ain't no noose a-waiting for you, eh?" "Here he is, Windy." "I tracked him with a jug down at Joe's." "Hey, Windy!" "Here's the last you'll see of civilisation for a long time." "Hey!" "Back up here!" "I wanna finish that with... with Windy." "That's what you get for not drinking with me." "I'll dance at your next wedding." "Say, Windy." "Give me one of that musical things you put in your mouth." "Nah, it's old stuff." "No, no, the coyote." "Yeah." "The Indian." "That's the stuff." " Hey, did you ever kill a dead Indian?" " No, I never killed a dead one." "Before they was dead, did you?" "No." "You see, the Indians are my friends." "They taught me all I know about the woods." "They taught me how to follow a trail by watching the leaves." "How to cut your mark on the trees so you won't get lost in the forest." "They taught me how to bury in in the snow so you won't freeze to death in the storms." "And they taught me how to make a fire without even a flint." "And how to make the best bow and arrows, too." "Did they teach you how to make papooses?" "No, that's one of their own secrets." "Well, boys, I guess we better get going." "O God, our Father, as you sit on high and look down on us poor mortals, forgive our frailties." "I am about to lead these people into a wild and dangerous country." "Give me strength and wisdom, o God, to lead them through." " Where's my steps?" " I got everything packed up in the wagon." " How can I get into the wagon, you idiot?" " Look, I show you." "Put your feet up on there." "That's it." "Now wait." "Up you go, Mama." "One more foot up." "Now up, Mama." "Up, Mama, that's it." "Up." "Wait, Mama." "You're sitting on my head, Mama." "There you go." "Pull out!" "Pull out!" " Give us a song." " We're off, folks." "# Sam's got a wooden leg" "Never mind." "I walk there, Useless." " Howdy, Dave." " Hello, Coleman." "Oh, Miss Cameron." "Glad to see you took my advice about saving that pretty dress." "You looked so nice in it, it'd have been a shame to spoil it." "Looking for anyone in particular?" "Honey Girl, a gentleman never comes to a lady's home when he isn't wanted." "Out here, this wagon's our only home." "Pony, that means us." "Come on, you..." "This way." "Come on." "I'm still mystified, Mr Thorpe, why you came here instead of returning to your plantation." "I've told you why I came." "I induced Captain Hollister, an old friend of mine, to put back to shore, and I followed you." "Yes, I know that's what you told me, but I'm afraid you're a flatterer." "Face your partners and promenade back!" "First couple off to the right!" "Maybe she won't talk with him... but she'll dance with him, eh?" "lovely dance." "Lovely night." "Lovely girl." "Now's your chance." "bowl in and snag her away from him." " I claim the favour." " A pleasure, Mr Thorpe." " Well, Zeke." " Hello, boy." "Thorpe just stole my partner and left me dancing with myself." "Say, boy, it just come to me a minute ago where I seen that man Thorpe before." "Where?" "Camped on the Cimarron with Flack and López." " They're old friends." " Are you sure of that?" "Dead certain." "So keep your eye peeled on him, son." "I'm tired." "I think I'll go to my wagon." "Why, certainly." "I'll take you there." "And to think this same moon is shining on my old plantation in Louisiana." "All it needs is a lovely woman to preside there." " Someday you'll find her." " I have found her, Ruth." "Please, Mr Thorpe." "I told you before, there can be no happiness without love." "But love will come." " Ruth." " I'm really tired, Mr Thorpe." "Do you mind if I say go to bed?" "Good night." "We're getting into dangerous country, Flack, so I'll ride to the Pawnee villages to pick up some lnjun scouts." "Yes, well, you're likely to lose your scalp out there." "I'll bet you a couple of wolf pelts I bring it back with me." "How long'll you be gone, Coleman?" "Three or four days." "A week, maybe." "Back so soon?" "I thought maybe you wouldn't be coming back at all." "And just why did you think that?" "Well, after I sort of took the dark-eyed beauty away from you," "I thought you might be decamping." "Listen, Thorpe." "I never quit a job in the middle of the road." "Oh, quite so." "But after the girl quit you in the middle of the road..." "Say that again, Mr Thorpe." "I know who you are now." "And I know why you quit the Cimarron country, too." "Oh, well." "No necessity to have quarrels among friends." "Friends?" "You threw too wide a loop." "Remember this." "There are three of you." "I'm not your friend." "Well, you let him scare you stiff!" "Not at all." "Only an idiot presses a quarrel when the other man has a knife pressed against him." "Good excuse." "Wolf pelts, eh?" " What does that mean?" " Don't mean nothin'." " It doesn't to me, but it does to you." " Yeah?" "Where'd you get that notion?" "When he mentioned wolf pelts, you looked as though he'd rammed a knife in you." "Not exactly what I'd call a poker face." "Aye, well." "What of it?" "Oh, nothing." "Only I'm beginning to understand why you don't like..." "Coleman." "Bye, Windy, Zeke." "I'll be seeing you in the happy hunting grounds, if not before." " Good luck, boy!" " Bye." "Well, Miss Ruth, I got some good news for you." " What?" " I'm gonna be away for a while." "I'm goin' scouting'." "Isn't that dangerous in the open country?" "Lord, no." "I love it." "Especially now that it's spring and everything's so happy." "Why, there's trees out there." "Big, tall pines, just a-reachin' and a-reachin', as if they wanted to climb right through the gates of heaven." "And there's brooks, too, where the water's smiling all day long." "But the part I like best is the night." "Lyin' out there beneath a blanket of stars, with that old moon smiling' down on you." "And every time you look up, there she is, sort of guarding' over you, like a mother minding' her young." "Sometimes it's so beautiful that I just lie there, listening." "Birds singin'." "Brooks laughing'." "And the wind sort of crooning' through the forest like some great organ." "Oh, I've always loved it." "But I reckon I'm gonna be lonely this time." "You know, you can get sort of used to..." "having somebody not like you." "But when they're not around, you miss 'em... not likin' you." "That's why I reckon I'm gonna be lonesome." "But I'll be thinkin' of you." "Goodbye." "And you just take care you don't lose your scalp!" " Zeke, is he leaving the train?" " Yes, he's ridin' out to the Pawnee villages." " How far are they?" " Oh, nigh on 100 mile." "Isn't that dangerous?" "He's likely to lose his scalp before he gets there." "But once in the villages he's safe, so don't you worry about him, miss." "Wha..." "Why should I worry about him?" "I don't know, miss." "I don't know." "But it seemed like as if maybe you was." " Not at all." "He means nothin' to me." " No, course not." " Good night." " Good night, Zeke." "Well, you got back here at last, eh?" "Yeah." "Plenty of buffalo signs out here, so I'll be ridin' out to tak up fresh meat." " Well, who's keepin' you?" " I'll see you at the river crossing." "López!" "López!" "Thorpe!" "Here!" "Come here." "You two have been waitin' for your chance." "Here it is." "Go out on a buffalo hunt." "Me?" "I kill hundreds of buffalo." "Why should I go?" "Get them cobwebs out of your brain!" "He means, López, we might find better game." "Watch him till he leaves the Pawnees." "And then give it to him in the back." "Hey!" "You pilgrims!" "Come here!" "Here!" "Bascom!" " Bascom!" " Yes." "I'll shove the horses and the cattle right on through." "Leave only wheelers hooked to wagons." "Once you take to the water, it's every man and critter for hisself." "Get outta here." "Go on!" "Mr Flack." "How can I get my mule Useless across?" "Get your mother-in-law to ride him, eh?" " Mr Bascom." " Yes." "You know, I don't like that fella." "He's the kind who will pat you on your back to your face and then laugh in your face behind your back." "And another thing." "If he had a mother-in-law like mine, he would never laugh." "The hunt was a great success." "We bagged our buffalo." "You got your meat, eh?" "Este es elmejor tiro que yo he visto." "Well, we better be shovin' off." "I see you took a bath." "Yeah, yeah." "Got a slug of whisky?" "No, I left my jug." "I hid it in the Camerons' wagon." " By the way, where is my little beauty?" " She's somewhere around." "Well, now that you've got her all to yourself, what do you aim to do with her?" "I think I'll take her back and settle on my plantation." "Your..." "Your plantation, eh?" "López, he's hollered so much about that plantation of his, he believes it hisself." "What?" "The señor Thorpe, he has no plantation?" "Plantation!" "All you've got in the world is a dirty deck of cards, and a crooked one at that." "Zeke, Coleman's been gone two days." "Yeah, I've been kinda worried about that myself." "Eagle says last time he seen him, he was headed for the train." "Another thing." "The Camerons haven't crossed yet." "No." "I better saunter on down there and see what's holding 'em." "Yes." "We'd better help 'em across." "I think we can..." "We were just wonderin' what had become of you." "Where's your horse?" "He stepped in a prairie-dog hole and broke his neck." " Come near breaking mine, too." " Are you hurt?" "No." "I was knocked out for a spell." "Here, I'll put these in your wagon and help you across." "Flack said we could only use the wheelers." "Flack said?" "What does he know about water?" "He never took a bath in his life." "There's the Cameron wagon." " I'll go greet the little filly." " Greet, eh?" "While López and me go greet the jug." "Seguro." "You take 'em from here on in, Dave." "Shallow water." "I'll go back and get my saddle." "Come on, Shorty!" " I was just coming over to help you." " Thank you, we had the best of help." "Help?" "Who?" " What's the matter?" "Seein' a few ghosts?" " Me?" "No, no." " Drive on into the corral, Dave." " All right." "I'll be seeing you three later about matters and things." " Hello, boy." " Howdy, Zeke." " What happened?" " Pony stepped in a dog hole." "Yeah?" "I suppose a prairie dog shot that hole through your saddle and into your horse." "Natchie!" "Who was gone from camp, Zeke?" "Thorpe and López come in during the night, and early morning sent a wagon out for the meat." "Well, a nice mess you made of things." "Not at all!" "200 yards running is considerable of a handicap." "Besides, other days are coming." "Don't you fool yourself." "Here he is." "Flack, the lnjuns been sending up smoke signals for several days." "Yes, well, I seen 'em." "I'll skirmish around with the Pawnees for a few miles." "Go on." "There ain't no one keeping you." "No." "But you'd better keep Thorpe and López here." "Why?" "I got a feeling that if either one of 'em leaves camp, they'll never come back." " What do you mean by that?" " Just the way it sounded." "Hey, look out." "López, try a long shot at 'em." "No fire!" "They're Cheyennes." "They wanna palaver." "They look to me as if they're out for hides." "They will be if we take a shot at 'em." "That'll mean war." "I'll go out and palaver with 'em." " Look how queerly his horse is acting." " Yeah." "He's riding zigzag." "That's Indian sign that he wants to palaver." "There's the chief riding out to meet him now for a powwow." "Zeke!" "Bascom!" "This is Black Elk, an old friend of mine." "Do they mean peace or war?" "Peace, as long as we march straight through the Cheyenne country without stopping to settle." "Now that we're going to be friends, they'll probably bring their families over here to beg." "Feed 'em well and feed 'em right and we'll have no trouble." "Yeah, yeah." "Zeke, what's he saying about me?" "He says that Coleman wants you for his squaw." "And he says Flack or Thorpe'll get you." " Flack or Thorpe?" "Why?" " Flack's got a lot of horsepower." "Miss Ruth, you shouldn't be ridin' out here alone like this, away from the train." "Why not?" "Because this is dangerous country, and anything might happen." " You wouldn't care." " Care?" "Me?" "Why should you care?" "Listen, girl." "If anything happened to you, it'd be like throwing..." "Don't worry." "It's Black Elk and some of his braves." "Coleman squaw." " He's saying that I'm your squaw!" " Seems like that's what he's driving at." "Tell him that you don't want me for your squaw." "I've never told Black Elk a lie yet." "It wouldn't be true if I told him I didn't want you." "It happens I do." "And you've no better taste than to tell me that before all these savages?" "I'd tell you that in front of the whole world." "This silly joke has gone far enough." "You take Honey Girl from here on down there." "It's a little easier going." "Now then, you cling on to me." "A little tighter." "Are you all right, Honey Girl?" "It was a pretty bad place, wasn't it, Breck?" "Yeah, but I sort of liked it." "Davey, let's see if our wagon's down yet." "Thank you, Breck." "Well, well, well, well!" "So I've seen that gal with her arms around your neck at last." "Yeah, but she sure unwrapped 'em when she got on safe footing'." "She don't care nothin' about me, Zeke." "Man, you can never tell how a woman feels by the way she acts." "They's all riddles, all of 'em, and you just gotta guess 'em." "No matter which way you guess, you're wrong." "Looks like as if the way they're puttin' some of them outfits over there, they're gonna lose them." "Ha-ha!" "What did I tell ya?" "Let's get outta here before they get a lead on us." " Zeke, did you hear that terrible crash?" " Hear it?" "I seen it." "That was your wagon." " Oh." "But was my mother-in-law in it?" " No, she wasn't." "Oh, that's too bad." " What'd you say?" " I said I am glad." "It's lucky for you that I wasn't, you loafing hound." "What you mean?" "I was with your wife Sarah and she gave birth to twins." " Twins?" "Are they both mine?" " Both." " Oh, Mama." "Are they boys or girls?" " One of each." "Oh, Zeke, I'm a papa." "Mama, I'm a papa!" "Papa, I'm a mama!" "I got two for one." " Let's drink to the happy event." " There's two of them." "I have two drinks." "Here, give me that jug." "I'll take a pull oft hat myself." "Well, who'd have guessed it?" " If it ain't Breck Coleman!" " Howdy, Jim." " Where'd you blow in from, boy?" " All the way from the big river." "how long are we going to camp here." "Just as long as it takes to fix up the outfit." "Snap me off a snack." "I've just been talking with some trappers who've come out of the Southwest." "They say the country they call California is wonderful." "Yes, so I've heard." "Why won't you come with me to a land like that?" " Are you going there?" " If you'll come with me." "But what about your plantation in Louisiana?" "Well, if we like California better, we could sell my holdings and buy vast lands out there." "It's a compliment to offer me all that, but it can't be." "I must join Davey." "Dave!" "Dave!" "Come over here." "Black Elk here says that you and your sister were so good to him when he came to visit, and now he wants to give you all them there ponies." "That's kind of them, Zeke, but we couldn't take their horses." "Course you could." "They got hundreds of ponies." "He wants you to show him where to put 'em." "You go and throw them ponies in with your herd." "Why, Zeke, you lying old coot." "That Indian's buying Cameron's sister for Coleman's squaw!" "Well?" "Well, why not?" "So, Coleman's buying himself a squaw, eh?" "Zeke, you old whiskered cupid, you." "I loathe the very sight of you." " What have I done now?" " You've made me the joke of the plains." " Me?" " Who else?" "Tried to buy me like an Indian squaw." "You've put me to shame before them all." "Girl, you're imagining things." "Zeke always told me women were damn funny." "Mr. Thorpe." "I've changed my mind." "I will go with you to California if you'll go at once." "At once?" "Yes, yes." "Uh..." "I'll make preparations immediately." "This is a fine state of affairs." "This man Thorpe isn't all he claims to be." "My mind is made up, Davey." "We're going to California." "Where's Flack?" "I just came in to tell you goodbye." "Goodbye?" "Where are you going?" "I'm gonna take my outfit and leave you here." "Your outfit?" "All you got is one horse and two guns." "No, the Cameron outfit's mine now." "Oh, it is, eh?" "Yes." "We're going to California." "So I'll bid you a fond farewell." "No, you ain't." " No?" " Nah!" "What do you suppose I grubstaked you for, eh?" "So far, you've been a fiddle." "One try, one miss." " Oh, he's no longer in my way." " Well, he's in mine." " Well, tear him down yourself." " I'd like to kick him into pulp!" "I'd like to break him in two..." "like that!" "Well, why not?" "I don't mind the fist or feet, or even a gun, but it's the way he draws that knife." " Why should I risk it?" " Because you're a dead shot." "You're going to stick." "You're going to prove how good you are before you leave the post." "Howdy, Henry." " How's things, Coleman?" " Just fine." "Say, Black Elk was telling me that all the Indians in the West was gathering to keep you all from passing through." "So they tell me." "Black Elk and the Cheyenne are going west to hold a powwow with the Shoshones." "Black Elk tells me that it's almost certain that the Cheyennes'll declare war later." "Likely." "Old Pete Rubido was asking about you." " Pete?" "Where is he?" " Camped at the spring with his new squaw." "I think I'll ramble down and see him." " Will you put a new cap nipple on this gun?" " Sure will, boy." "And a new trigger spring in the pistol." "All right." "I'll leave 'em with you while I go see Pete." "Be ready when you come back." "We are about to unite this loving and devoted couple in the holy bonds of wedlock." "Hank Gillis, do you take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife?" "I do." "Abigail Vance, do you take this man to be your lawful wedded husband?" "She does." " Hey, Flack." " Eh?" "Do you recollect that Coleman told you that if López here or Thorpe done straight off into the brush, they would likely never come back?" "Sure." "He made some kind of a bluff." "What of it?" "Well, Thorpe strayed out and he ain't a-never coming back." "Hey?" "No." "He's done gone back to his old plantation." "Yeah." "Well, you won't go to California with Thorpe now." "Why not?" "He and Coleman just met in the brush and Coleman shot him." "Are you sure?" "I heard the shot, and saw Coleman standing there over him." "It suits me too." "So he'll even do murder." "And so I pronounce you man and wife." "And may peace and happiness be yours." "There's been a murder!" "There's been a murder!" "Murder?" "Where, girl?" "Who?" "Coleman met Mr Thorpe in the brush and shot him." "That's a serious accusation, my girl." " Are you sure?" " My brother saw it." "Men, we can't have cold-blooded murderers among us." "There's the man who shot Bill Thorpe down like a dog." "Go and get a rope, López." "And just who accuses me of killing Thorpe?" "It was Miss Cameron." "You, eh?" "So you'd like to see me hang?" "Listen to me, you!" " This boy, Coleman, couldn't have killed him." " Why not?" "Cos he didn't have no guns on him." "He'd left his with Dutch Henry to be fixed." "Coleman and Thorpe were at odds over the girl." "If it wasn't Coleman, who was it who shot Thorpe?" "Since you're so anxious to know, I'll tell you who." " Who?" " I shot that skunk myself." "Coleman's a friend of his, men." "He's lying to save his neck." "What could Zeke have against a man like Thorpe?" " You want to know that, too?" " Yes, I want to know that, too!" "Well, I'm a-telling you!" "I was camped out pretty close to you, and I heard that little powwow you had with Thorpe." " Yeah, what are you driving at?" " Just this." "When a man begins to do a lot of talking about hanging, he'd better make pretty sure as to who's gonna decorate the end of the rope." " Get my meanin'?" " Thorpe ain't nothin' to me." " It's no affair of mine." " That's just what I was a-thinkin'." "Coleman ain't gonna do no scouting while I'm boss of this train." "I'm leavin' him behind." "We're takin' on a new scout." "Guess again, Flack." "I started with this outfit and I'll be with it at the finish." " Who says so?" " I'm just tellin' you." "I got two reasons." "One is I told Wellmore I'd scout the train through." "And the other is a little personal business I aim to transact at the end of the trail." "See if you can figure out what that is, Flack." "Coleman, the settlers are willin' to push on." " We'll follow you." " What's all this talk about lnjuns?" "It's true." "The Injuns are gatherin' to the westward to stop us goin' through." "Injuns have never yet prevented our breed of men from travelling' into the setting' sun." " Go on." "Lead the way." " Get your outfits together." "We're goin'." "Never mind what you see or what you hear." "Red Flack is still boss of the train." "Get a-goin'!" "It's no use, men." "She's all dried up." "Them settlers is dying off like rats." "We're for moving on." "Come on, López." "Why, they're scattered back all across the desert." "We gotta get 'em up and shove 'em along." "Old Charlie died, Coleman." "We raised him from a colt." "It's tough, boy." "But we gotta battle it through." "What's all this?" "Injun signs!" "Halt!" "Hold up!" "Hold up there!" "Looks like Crows and Cheyennes, Zeke." "Well, let's throw it into 'em." "Stop firing, everybody." "They're ridin' off." "They'll wheel back on us again." "Watch it now." "There they go." "I guess we was just a little too much for 'em." "Father, our good friends have perished here at the hands of the savages." "Open your arms to them and care for our loved ones until we meet again on the other shore." "Amen." "Windy's gone on another trail." "Windy, you and me was..." "You and me was, uh..." "My baby!" "Well, Zeke, I'm gonna trail the lnjuns and make sure they go back to their villages." "You scout the train ahead and I'll pick it up in a week or so." "Bye, Zeke." "Bye, boy." "I wonder how long we'll be bogged down here." "I don't know." "I heard there was three wagons already turned back." "Ma, let's turn back to Missouri." "Me turn back because of a little mud?" "When did Bascom women ever turn back?" "Grandma, don't you and Ma know that Pa's only jokin'?" "All right now." "Come on!" "Come on!" "Go on there, pony!" "Go on!" "Go in, giddap!" "Giddap, go on!" "Go on!" "Go on!" "Oh, we're stuck!" "Gus, you idiot!" "You see what you've done?" "You've got my wagon up to the hub in mud." "What are you kicking about?" "I am sitting on my mule." "But don't worry, Mama." "I think it's gonna clear up." "There will be no more rain." "Giddap!" "Throw that idiot a rope and help him out there." "What did I tell you, eh?" "You wouldn't listen to me." "You wouldn't listen to me." "We're lost." "There ain't a man here that knows the path over them hills." "Well, we're turning back." "Wait!" "Wait!" "Follow me, and I'll lead you to that valley that Coleman told us about." "Coleman, huh?" "He's the only one that knows the way out, and he, he's deserted us." "I swear, if he was here, I'd shoot him down in his tracks." " Well Flack, when you gonna start this shooting'?" " Just in time, Coleman." " Did you find the Camerons?" " Over yonder." " What's the trouble here?" " They're all against me." "They're turning back." "No, you're not." "We can't turn back." "We're blazing' a trail that started in England." "Not even the storms of the sea could turn back those first settlers." "And they carried it on further." "They blazed it on through the wilderness of Kentucky." "Famine, hunger... not even massacres could stop them." "And now we've picked up the trail again." "And nothing can stop us." "Not even the snows of winter nor the peaks of the highest mountains." "We're building a nation, so we've got to suffer." "No great trail was ever blazed without hardship." "And you gotta fight!" "That's life." "And when you stop fightin', that's death." "What are you gonna do?" "Lie down and die?" "No!" "Not in a thousand years!" "You're goin' on with me." "The word is said and we'll follow you." "Be ready to start at sunup!" "Well, he's turned up again." "Parece que este desgraciado por dondequiera nos va siguiendo." "He'll down the both two of us." "You've got to get him tonight." " But they can hear a shot at night." " They can't hear a knife." " They all know this knife of mine." " Uh, well..." "Here's a knife they don't know." " No, no, no." "I afraid of that knife." "I know where you got it." "It'll get us in trouble, sure." " How?" " Because a dead man's knife is bad medicine." "Here." "Here, take this." "And watch for tonight." "Breck va porahí." "There he goes." "Wait until he's bedded down and then..." "Give me a drink." "God bless my sister Ruth and my brother Dave." "And make me a good girl and take care of us." "Aren't you going to ask God to take care of Breck Coleman?" "Oh, Zeke says that Breck Coleman can take care of himself." "You overplayed your hand that time, López." "Zeke, this is old Ben Griswell's knife." " Where'd you find it, boy?" " López just left it sticking in my bedroll." "Their having it makes it certain that Flack and López did it." " No question about it, boy!" " What did they do, Coleman?" "Killed my best friend." "I've been on their trail ever since." "That's a serious charge." "If you're sure, we'll call a meeting in the morning to try 'em." "You can call a meeting to bury 'em." " What do you mean?" " That I kill my own rats." "They've jumped camp, Zeke, and I'm off on their trail." "Coleman, you can't leave us here." "You've got to see us through." "He's right, boy." "Maybe so, the way you all look at it." "But those two men killed a man in cold blood... and they've got to pay." "Not that I've got hatred in my heart, but I'm the law out here, that's all." "And law is justice." "Well, Zeke." "I'll see 'em to the end of the trail." "But then I'm picking up a new trail here." "Yonder stands the great white mountain." "And down there is the valley I've told you about." "Coleman, you have fulfilled our hopes." "Brethren, friends!" "It is fitting that we give thanks to the Almighty." "Our Father, we thank thee for leading us to this land of promise, for guiding our footsteps safely through the dangers of our pilgrimage." "In this valley of our dreams, we'll build our home and serve thee, O Father, and our children's children shall praise thy name." "Amen." "The way is clear ahead." "All gentle slopes." "So drive down, my friends, and settle it." "Lead the way!" "Zeke will lead the way down." "Our trails fork here." "You mean you're leaving us?" "There's a trail I've followed for over 3,000 miles now, and I'm heading back to pick it up again and follow it to the end." "Coleman, you're the breed of man that would follow a trail to the end." "Thanks, Bascom." "Friends, we'll go on." "Boy, there's two of 'em and they're bad 'uns." "Now I'm going with you." "No, Zeke." "You stay here and look after of Ruth and her outfit." "Breck." "You're not leaving?" "Yes, Miss Ruth, I'm pullin' out." "They say you're going to hunt down Flack and López." " That's what I aim to do." " You can't do this awful thing... take two lives!" "It's frontier justice." "Don't go, Breck." "Don't go." "It's a job I've got to finish." "But don't you see?" "It doesn't matter about them." "I'm afraid for you." "They'll kill you." "You're everything in the world to me, Breck." "I can't let you go." "I can't!" "The thing has to be done." "Someday, somewhere," "our trails will cross again." "Now, now." "Come, come, miss." "You mustn't be a-carryin' on that way." "He's gone." "He'll never come back." "Now, now." "You just mustn't do this, miss." "You'll have me a-blubbin' here pretty soon." "I'm a-tellin' you that everything's gonna be all right." "When spring comes in that valley, he'll be tracking' back again." "I know that boy." "I know him." "Now..." "Now come, come." "Come on." "My legs are froze to the knees." " I can't get up." " Yes." "Looks as if you're done for, López." " Don't go away and leave me, Flack." " Do you think I'm staying here?" " Well, then, leave me a blanket." " Ah, won't do you no good." "You'll be froze to death in an hour." "It may help me." "Now, get away." "Flack!" "Flack!" "Flack, don't let me die alone!" "Stay with me!" "Flack!" "Quédate conmigo." "No me dejes." "Flack!" "Flack!" "Well, López." "It won't be long before you have company." "Flack!" "I got a hankerin' to trail on down into Mexico." "Old Bill Gillis told me them black-eyed gals is just full of fire." " Zeke." " Yeah?" " You're not really leaving us?" " Yeah, gal." "I'm a-pullin' out." "You's all nice and settled now." "This valley's gettin' altogether too civilised for me." "Whenever I get more than three or four families within 100 mile of me," "I begin to feel kinda crowded." "That's not why you're going, Zeke." "Why else, gal?" "Breck has never come back." "You're goin' out to look for him." "Now, wherever that boy Breck Coleman is at, he's a-lookin' out for hisself." "Don't you fret about him." "Why are you looking at that dress?" "This is the anniversary of the day that the wagon train left from Missouri." "Last time I had this on, I was sitting in the Riggs' cabin." "In a rocking chair?" "Yes, Honey Girl." "In a rocking chair." "Zeke, I reckon that's a panther." "Yeah, a two-legged panther." "The only kind what ever give me that Comanche yell as a signal." "We might just as well start to unpack." " Ain't ya goin'?" " No use to goin' now." "He's only a bit up in the timber there, and he's a-headed this way." "Zeke, won't you stay over for the anniversary?" "Yes, gal, I'll stay." "And I just recollected." " I got a little present for you." " Oh, Zeke, what is it?" "A young fella named Breck Coleman left it with me." "He told me to give it to you in case he didn't show up." "Where is it, Zeke?" "I hid it in the hollow of the big tree at the bend of the trail." "You'll find it there." "Thanks, Zeke." "I'll go get it."