"He isn't here."
"Wingate won't."
"He'll have to."
The chief of mutineers, a grave and bearded man, waited for a time.
"This is a meeting of the train," said he. "In our government the majority rules. Is there any motion on this?"
Silence. Then rose Hall of Ohio, slowly, a solid man, with three wagons of his own.
"I've been against the Missouri outfit," said he. "They're a wild bunch, with no order or discipline to them. They're not all free-soilers, even if they're going out to Oregon. But if one man can handle them, he can handle us. An Army man with a Western experience--who'll it be unless it is their man? So. Mister Chairman, I move for a committee of three, yourself to be one, to ride down and ask the Missourians to join on again, all under Major Banion."
[pg 119]
"I'll have to second that," said a voice. Price saw a dozen nods. "You've heard it, men," said he. "All in favor rise up."