We stood mute while the blue-coats raced on with hearty cheers and brave clank of saber and canteen. We were sitting composedly when the lieutenant scrambled to us, among our rocks; the troopers followed, curiously scanning.
His stubbled red face, dust-smeared, queried us keenly; so did his curt voice. 311
“Just in time?”
“In time,” I croaked. “Water! For her—for me.”
There was a canteen apiece. We sucked.
“You are the two from the Mormon wagon train?” he asked.
“Yes, sir. You know?” I uttered.
“We came on as fast as we could. The Sioux are raiding again. By God, you had a narrow squeak, sir,” he reproved. “You were crazy to try it—you and a woman, alone. We’ll take you along as soon as my Pawnees get in from chasing those beggars.”
Distant whoops from a pursuit drifted in to us, out of the desert.
“Captain Adams sent you?” I inquired.