Mower County transcript., 1907-04-03

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wouldn't sell them anything. If we
/ let them go on now, they been making
their brag that they'll raise a force
lin California and come back and wipe
us out-and ~Johnston's army already
marching on us from the east. Are
we going to submit again to what we
got in Missouri and in Illinois? No!
Everybody is agreed about that. Now
the Indians have failed to do it like
we thought they would, SO we got to
finish it up, that's ALL
! Joel Rae spoke for the first time.
You say except such as are too
young to tell tales, Brother Higbee;
what does that mean?"
why, all but the very smallest chill
dren, of course"
i "Are. there children here?"
Lee answered:
! "Oh, fair sprinkling what
you'd look for. in a train of hundred
and thirty people. The boys got two
of the kids yesterday; the fools had
dressed them up in white dresses and
sent them out for bucket of water.
You can see their bodies lying over
there this side of the spring"
s"And there are women?" he asked,
feeling great sickness coming upon
him
"Plenty of them," answered King
ensmith, some mighty fine women,
too: could see one yesterday, a mon
strous fine figure and hair shiny like
a crows wing, and little one, power
full pretty, and one kind of between
the two-it's a shame we can't keep
some of them, but orders is orders!"
these women must be killed, t0o?"
That's the orders from headquar-
te4s, Brother Rae" g..
"From the military headquarters at
Parowan, or from the spiritual head
quarters at Salt Lake," E"
Better not inquire how far back
that order started, Brother Rae-not
of me, anyway. -
"But women and children--''
"The great Elohim has spoken from
the heavens, Brother Rae-that's
enough for me. cant put my human
standards against the revealed will OF
Cod y"
"But women and children - He
repeated the words as If he sought to
comprehend them. He seemed like aa
man with defective sight who has
come suddenly against wall that hs
had thought far OF. Higbee now nd
dressed him. II
Brother Rae, in religion you have
to eat the bran along with the flour
Did you suppose We were going to
milk the Gentiles, and not ever shed
any blood?', :. -'s.>:----.
"But innocent blood" "
There amt a drop Of innocent
blood in the whole damned train. And
what are you, to be questioning this
way about orders from on high? I've
heard you preach many a time about
the sin Of such doings as that. Ybu
preach in the pulpit about stubborn
clay in the hands of the potter having
to be put through the mill again, and
now that you're out here in the field,
seems to me you get timber like tall
lowed rag when an order comes
along"
"Defenseless women and little chill
dren' He was still trying to re-
gain his lost equilibrium.
He walked about the fires or lin
gered by the groups in consultation
until the first signs of dawn. Then he
climbed the low, rocky hill to the east
and peered over the top, the drum
beats still pulsing through him, still
coercing him. AS the light grew, he
could make out the details of the
scene below. He was looking down
into narrow valley running north
and south, formed by two ranges Of
rugged, rocky hills 500 yards or so
apart. To the north this valley wild
ened; to the south it narrowed until
it became mere gap leading out into
the desert. . :. ''''e.s ~. Mr. l's+r
Directly below him, halfway be-
tween the ranges Of hills, was circle
of covered wagons wheel to Wheel.
In the center of this a pit had been
dug, and here the besieged were hnd-
ing such protection as they could
from the rifle-fire that came down
from the hills on either side Even
now he could see Indians lying in
watch for any who might attempt to
escape. The camp had been attacked
on Monday morning after the wagons
had moved hundred yards away.
from the spring. It was. now Friday.
Fer four days, therefore, with only
what water they could bring by
dashes to the spring under fire, they
had held their own In the phi.
When it grew still lighter he de-
ecried, out on his left near the spring,
two spots OF white close together, and
remembered Lees tale the night be-
fore Of the two little girls sent for
water.
At that instant, the chanting and
| the beat Of the drum stopped, and IN
the silence flood Of light seemed to
shine IN upon his mind, showing him
In something Of its true aspect the
thing they were about to do. Not
clearly did he see It, for he was still