Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 13
Asweemergedfromthecorralwecouldseethemilitiajustashortdistanceaway.Theywereleaningontheirriflesandstandinginalonglineaboutsixfeetapart.AswepassedthemIcouldnothelpnoticinghowsolemn-facedtheywere.Theylookedlikemenatafuneral.Sodidthewomennoticethis,andsomeofthembegantocry.
Iwalkedrightbehindmymother.Ihadchosenthispositionsothatshewouldnotcatch-sightofmyscalps.BehindmecamethethreeDemdikesisters,twoofthemhelpingtheoldmother.IcouldhearLeecallingallthetimetothemenwhodrovethewagonsnottogosofast.AmanthatoneoftheDemdikegirlssaidmustbeMajorHigbeesatonahorsewatchingusgoby.NotanIndianwasinsight.
Bythetimeourmenwerejustabreastofthemilitia—IhadjustlookedbacktotrytoseewhereJedDunhamwas—thethinghappened.IheardMajorHigbeecryoutinaloudvoice,“Doyourduty!”Alltheriflesofthemilitiaseemedtogooffatonce,andourmenwerefallingoverandsinkingdown.AlltheDemdikewomenwentdownatonetime.Iturnedquicklytoseehowmotherwas,andshewasdown.Rightalongsideofus,outofthebushes,camehundredsofIndians,allshooting.IsawthetwoDunlapsistersstartontherunacrossthesand,andtookafterthem,forwhitesandIndianswereallkillingus.AndasIranIsawthedriverofoneofthewagonsshootingthetwowoundedmen.
