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Show 3IO THE MORMON LION that the vehicle was in perfect repair, while other brethren eagerly hastened to comply with my requests regarding food, water, and so forth, for our onward journey. The cook called us into the mess-hall and dished up a hearty dinner of fresh meat and vegetables. It was the best meal that Lucy had tasted since leaving Salt Lake City, and we were both ravenously hungry. When we could eat no more, I sent her into the empty bunkhouse to lie down for a nap. I went outside the fort wall and found a shady spot where, while telling the inquisitive missionaries all about the coming war w1th the Gcnbles, I could secretly watch the trail from the east. Though I saw no signs of pursuers out on the desert, two hours was as long as I dared venture to stay at the oasis. Our new outfit was all ready for us. When I !etched out Lucy, she was still very weary and so stiff and sore that she hardly could walk. My explanation that my companion was a raw German boy unused to hard ncling was accepted without other comment than a coarse jest from the stock-tender. Still grinning at her, the fellow helped me shift the water keg and food box forward and f!ll the space in the wagon bed between them and the bag of oats with a thick layer of hay. With another jest, the stock-tender caught up Lucy and tossed her in upon the hay. She blushea furiously, but had presence of mind to thank him in German. I made certain that all was right with our equipment, shook hands with the nearest brethren, and climbed up on the seat. The big, sleek, grainfed mules that had been harnessed to the wagon were champing their bits. As I threw the brake, the hostlers sprang away from the heads of the beasts. We whirled away at a stage-coach gait. Though the wagon seat was a welcome change from the saddle, I still was so tired that as soon as we were clear of the settlement I slipped back into the hay THE MORMON LION 3II beside Lucy. The heavy sand on the ascent to the plateau beyond Las Vegas was enough to bring to a walk even mules as fresh and frisky as ours. For a llme we rested on the soft hay as comfortably as was poss1ble for our aching bodies. Mentally, however, I was more restless than ever. The conscwusness of the immense relief to Lucy gave me only temporary comfort. I was harassed w1th the dread of pursuit. lt was true that, even if pursuers had started from the water hole immediately alter us, the guidance of Ankotash must have put us two or three hours m the lead ; and there was no fresh relay of riding animals at the Muddy. But at Las Vegas the pur~':'ers would have their pick o! the Church stock. I hey nught come after us with a rush or they might make it an endurance race. I had t~ plan to keep beyond range of the first, without disabhng my mules for the second. Beyond the top of the ascent was a rocky plain, across wh1ch I pushed the mules at their best pace almost all the way to the verdant oasis of Cotton~ wood Springs. I washed the muzzles of the beasts gave them a few swallows of water, and drove on: We were now in the midst of sterile hills, and the road was so rough and stony that even the thick bed of hay did not entirely save Lucy from the jolting. Yet l pushed on as fast as I dared, down into a valley where _we agam found water, and then up a long ascent mto the mountains. Nightfall found us over the summit of the pass and well down out of the mountains. The rouglmess of the road compelled us to stop where we were overtaken by the darkness. I watered the mules from the keg, rubbed them down, and gave them a hearty feed of oats, after tying them to the wagon. Lucy and I then ate a cold supr.er. Afterwards, as the rught rur began to grow ch1ll, I wrapped her in my blankets. She was soon fast asleep. Rifle in hand, I walked a few yards back along the |