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Show 32 THE MORMON LION Chilcott was approaching us from a thicket of willows. As I turned my head he swung mto a careless stride. But I had caught a glimpse of the stealthiness with which he had come from the thicket, and it roused all my native caution. "Tell him nothing, Lucy," I muttered, as I folded the receipt and placed it in my wallet. " Sorry to hurry you, Dave. Time to move, though,' called Chilcott . " Sister Lucy goes in the carriage with those other girls." " I am quite strong again. I can walk, sir," replied Lucy, flushing at the familiarity of his tone. "You'll ride- And hereafter you'll call me 'Brother Chilcott,' as becomes one of God's Saints," he reproved her. "We're not Gentiles. Don't forget I'm a High Priest and one that's mighty close to an Apostleship. You can't do better than take counsel from me. What was that paper you gave Dave? " " It was a-a paper that my father--" She hesitated and looked at me. " Brother David can best explain it." "I'm asking you," he replied in a tone that would have cowed most girls. " Pardon me, but you must ask Brother David," she insisted with gentle firmness. " It is a matter of private concern," I interposed. "We have no matters of r,rivate concern in the Kingdom," he admonished. ' I counsel you to hold nothing in concealment, Brother Ford." " I shall consult with the Prophet at the earliest opportunity," I said. "Until then this matter remams pnvate." He smiled grimly. "You've got a thing or two to learn yet, Dave. Let me tell you, if I took that paper from you, the ProP.het would pat me on the shoulder for doing it. fhere's not another man closer to Brigham than Bill Chilcott." " I can trust the Revelator of God's will to do what is right," I said. " As for your taking this paper by THE MOl~MON LION 33 force, I happen to carry a Derringer, Brother Chilcott, and I'm not too weak to pull a trigger." "Thanks to my feeding you," he countered. " That's true," I acknowledged. " You'll not make me ashamed of the obligation I owe you! " "Well, if you put it that way. Just the same, you need to learn obed1ence, both of you. You'll be taught-later on. Come along, now." We followed him to the carriage that was already overload~d with young girls. At his command Lucy crowded m w1th them. He went forward to join the other members of the rescue party, who were helping to drag the handcarts. I dropped back to my usual position in the rear. Presently my own and the Neville wagons passed a handcart whose rickety wheels were being tinkered by Waller. He soon overtook me, easily trundling the cart, and offered to haul me in it if it was not too outworn to bear my weight. But after the extra nourishment I had received and the ride in the supply wagon, I was strong enough to walk. As we sham bled along together after the slowmovinf train I began to talk of the desperate condition o the party. To cheer me, Waller affected to make light of the situation, and after assuring me that plenty of food was on the way to us, he went on to tell how the crops of the last season, though none too abundant, had been far better than those of the previous year. He followed with an enthusiastic description of industries that now flourished in the midst of what, only a few years before, had been a desert. All this, he stated, was due to the wisdom of Brigham, the Lion of the Lord, who had led the Saints into the wilderness and required of them eerfect obedience to the doctrines and counsels of joseph. The fervour of my companion at last directed my thoughts to something else than the wants of my famished body. I broke in on his unmeasured praise of Brigham to ask a question : c |
