Desert Dust

by Edwin L. Sabin

  CHAPTER XV

  THE TRAIL NARROWS

  Again we broke camp. We rolled down from the plateau into that wizardbasin lying all beautiful and slumberous and spell-locked like some landof heart's desire. We replenished our water casks from the tank cars, weswapped for a little feed, we occasionally exchanged greetings withcontractor outfits, and with grading crews. In due time we passed end o'track, where a bevy of sweated men were moiling like mad, clanging downthe rails upon the hasty ties and ever calling for more, more. I witnessedlittle General "Jack" Casement of Ohio--a small man with full russet beardand imperative bold blue eyes--teetering and tugging at his whiskers andrampantly swearing while he drove the work forward. And we left end o'track, vainly reaching out after us, until the ring of the rails and thestaccato of the rapid sledges faded upon our ears.

  Now we were following the long line of bare grade, upturned reddish by theplows and scrapers and picks and shovels; sometimes elevated, for contour,sometimes merged with the desert itself. There the navvies digged anddelved, scarcely taking time to glance at us. And day by day we ploddedin the interminable clouds of desert dust raised by the supply wagons.

  Captain Hyrum fought shy of their camps. The laborers were mainly Irish,trans-shipped from steerage, dock, and Bowery, and imported from Westernmining centers; turbulent in their relaxations and plentifully suppliedwith whiskey: companies, they, not at all to the Mormon mind. Consequentlywe halted apart from them--and well so, for those were womanless camps andthe daily stint bred strong appetites.

  There were places where we made half circuit out from the grade andabandoned it entirely. In this way we escaped the dust, the rough talk,and the temptations; now and again obtained a modicum of forage in theshape of coarse weedy grasses at the borders of sinks.

  But it was a cruel country on men and beasts. Our teamsters who had beenthrough by the Overland Trail said that the Bitter Creek desert was yetworse: drier, barer, dustier and uglier. Nevertheless this was our dailyprogram:

  To rise after a shivery night, into the crisp dawn which once or twiceglinted upon a film of ice formed in the water buckets; to herd thestiffened animals and place them convenient; to swallow our hot coffee andour pork and beans, and flapjacks when the cooks were in the humor; tohook the teams to the wagons and break corral, and amidst cracking oflashes stretch out into column, then to lurch and groan onward, at snail'space, through the constantly increasing day until soon we also were wrungand parched by a relentless heat succeeding the frosty night.

  The sleeping beauties of the realm were ever farther removed. In thedistances they awaited, luring with promise of magic-invested azurebattlements, languid reds and yellows like tapestry, and patches of liquidblue and dazzling snowy white, canopied by a soft, luxurious sky. But whenwe arrived, near spent, the battlements were only isolated sandstoneoutcrops inhabited by rattlesnakes, the reds and yellows were sun-bakedsoil as hard, the liquid blue was poisonous, stagnant sinks, the snowpatches were soda and bitter alkali, the luxurious sky was the same oldwhite-hot dome, reflecting the blazing sun upon the fuming earth.

  Then at sunset we made corral; against theft, when near the grade; againstIndians and pillage when out from the grade, with the animals under herdguard. There were fires, there was singing at the Mormon camp, there wasthe heavy sleep beneath blanket and buffalo robe, through the biting chillof a breezeless night, the ground a welcomed bed, the stars vigilant fromhorizon to horizon, the wolves stalking and bickering like avid ghouls.

  So we dulled to the falsity of the desert and the drudgery of the trail;and as the grading camps became less frequent the men grew riper for anydiversion. That My Lady and Daniel and I were to furnish it seemed to begenerally accepted. Here were the time-old elements: two men, onewoman--elements so constituted that in other situation they might havebrought comedy but upon such a trail must and should pronounce fortragedy, at least for true melodrama.

  Besides, I was expected to uphold the honor of our Gentile mess along withmy own honor. That was demanded; ever offered in cajolery to encourage mypistol practice. I was, in short, "elected," by an obsession equal to aconviction; and what with her insistently obtruded as a bonus I never waspermitted to lose sight of the ghastly prize of skill added to merit.

  At first the matter had disturbed and horrified me mightily, to the extentthat I anticipated evading the issue while preparing against it. Surelythis was the current of a prankish dream. And dreams I had--frightfullytumultuous dreams, of red anger and redder blood, sometimes my own blood,sometimes another's; dreams from which I awakened drenched in coldnightmare sweat.

  To be infused, even by bunkum and banter, with the idea of killing, is asad overthrow of sane balance. I would not have conceived the thingpossible to me a month back. But the monotonous desert trail, the closecompanying with virile, open minds, and the strict insistence uponindividual rights--yes, and the irritation of the same faces, the samefigures, the same fare, the same labor, the same scant recreations, allworked as poison, to depress and fret and stimulate like alternant chillsand fever.

  Practice I did, if only in friendly emulation of the others, as apass-the-time. I improved a little in drawing easily and firing snap-shot.The art was good to know, bad to depend upon. In the beginnings it worriedme as a sleight-of-hand, until I saw that it was the established code andthat Daniel himself looked to no other.

  In fact, he pricked me on, not so much by word as by manner, which wasworse. Since that evening when, in the approving parlance of my friends, Ihad "cut him out" by walking with her to the Adams fire, we had exchangedscarcely a word; he ruffled about at his end of the train and mainly inhis own precincts, and I held myself in leash at mine, withself-consciousness most annoying to me.

  But his manner, his manner--by swagger and covert sneer and ostentatioustriumph of alleged possession emanating an unwearied challenge to mymanhood. My revolver practice, I might mark, moved him to shrugs andflings; when he hulked by me he did so with a stare and a boastful grin,but without other response to my attempted "Howdy?"; now and again heassiduously cleaned his gun, sitting out where I should see even if I didnot straightway look; in this he was most faithful, with sundryflourishes babying me by thinking to intimidate.

  Withal he gave me never excuse of ending him or placating him, but shiftedupon me the burden of choosing time and spot.

  Once, indeed, we near had it. That was on an early morning. He was drivingin a yoke of oxen that had strayed, and he stopped short in passing whereI was busied with gathering our mules.

  "Say, Mister, I want a word with yu," he demanded.

  "Well, out with it," I bade; and my heart began to thump. Possibly Ipaled, I know that I blinked, the sun being in my eyes.

  He laughed, and spat over his shoulder, from the saddle.

  "Needn't be skeered. I ain't goin' to hurt ye. I 'laow yu expected to makeup to that woman, didn't yu, 'fore this?"

  "What woman?" I encouraged; but I was wondering if my revolver was loose.

  "Edna. 'Cause if yu did, 'tain't no use, Mister. Why," indulgently, "yucouldn't marry her--yu couldn't marry her no more'n yu could kill me.Yu're a Gentile, an' yu'd be bustin' yore own laws. But thar ain't noGentile laws for the Lord's an'inted; so I thought I'd tell yu I'm liableto marry her myself. Yu've kep' away from her consider'ble; this is totell yu yu mought as well keep keepin' away."

  "I sha'n't discuss Mrs. Montoyo with you, sir," I broke, cold, instead ofhot, watching him very narrowly (as I had been taught to do), my handnerved for the inevitable dart. "But I am her friend--her friend, mindyou; and if she is in danger of being imposed upon by you, I stand readyto protect her. For I want you to know that I'm not afraid of you, day ornight. Why, you low dog----!" and I choked, itching for the crisis.

  He gawked, reddening; his right hand quivered; and to my chagrin he slowlylaughed, scanning me.

  "I seen yu practicin'. Go ahead. I wouldn't kill yu _naow_. Or if yu wantpractice in 'arnest, start to draw." He waited a moment, in easyinsolence.
I did not draw. "Let yore dander cool. Thar's no use yu tryin'to buck the Mormons. I've warned ye." And he passed on, cracking hislash.

  Suddenly I was aware that, as seemed, every eye in the camp had beenfastened upon us two. My fingers shook while with show of nonchalance Iresumed adjusting the halters.

  "Gosh! Looked for a minute like you and him was to have it out proper,"Jenks commented, matter of fact, when I came in. "Hazin' you a bit, washe? What'd he say?"

  "He warned me to keep away from Mrs. Montoyo. Went so far as to lay claimto her himself, the whelp. Boasted of it."

  "Throwed it in your face, did he? Wall, you goin' to let him cache heraway?"

  "Look here," I said desperately, still a-tremble: "Why do you men put thatup to me? Why do you egg me on to interfere? She's no more to me than sheis to you. Damn it, I'll take care of myself but I don't see why I shouldshoulder her, except that she's a woman and I won't see any womanmistreated."

  He pulled his whiskers, and grinned.

  "Dunno jest how fur you're elected. Looks like there was something betweenyou and her--though I don't say for shore. But she's your kind; she may bea leetle devil, but she's your kind--been eddicated and acts the lady. Sheain't our kind. Thunderation! What'd we do with her? She'd be better offmarryin' Dan'l. He'd give her a home. If you hadn't been with this train Idon't believe she'd have follered in. That's the proposition. You got tofight him anyway; he's set out to back you down. It's your fracas, isn'tit?"

  "I know it," I admitted. "He's been ugly toward me from the first, withoutreason."

  "Reckoned to amuse himself. He's one o' them fellers that think to showoff by ridin' somebody they think they can ride. The boys hate to see youlay down to that; for you'd better call him and eat lead or else quit thecountry. So you might as well give him a full dose and take the pot."

  "What pot?"

  "The woman, o' course."

  "I tell you, Mrs. Montoyo has nothing to do with it, any more than anywoman. It's a matter between him and me--he began it by jeering at mebefore she appeared. I want her left out of it."

  "Oh, pshaw!" Jenks scoffed. "That can't be did. He's fetched her into it.What do you aim to do, then? Dodge her? When you're dodgin' her you'redodgin' him, or so he'll take it."

  "I'll not dodge him, you can bet on that," I vowed. "I don't seek her, norhim; but I shall not go out of my way to avoid either of them."

  "And when you give him his dose, what'll you do?"

  "If that is forced upon me, nothing. It will be in defense of my rights,won't it? But I don't want any further trouble with him. I hope to God Iwon't have."

  "Shore," Jenks soothed. "You're not a killer. All the same, you'reelected; he began it and you'll have to finish it. Then you'll needs lookout for yourself and her too, for he's made her the stakes."

  "Why will I?"

  "Got to. The hull train thinks so, one way or t'other, and you're white."

  "She can stay with the Mormons, if she wants to."

  "Oh, yes; if she wants to. But do you reckon she does? Not much! She'slookin' to you--she's lookin' to you. She's a smart leetle piece--knowshow to play her cards, and she's got you and Dan'l goin'."

  "But she's married. You can't expect----"

  "Oh, yes," he wagged again, interrupting. "Shore. There's Montoyo. I don'tenvy you your job, but damn' if you mightn't work harder and do wuss.She's a clipper, and I never did hear anything 'specially bad of her,beyond cappin'. Whoa, Jinny!"

  I wrathfully cogitated. Now I began to hate her. I was a tool to her hand,once more, was I? And how had it come about? She had not directly besoughtme to it--not by word. Daniel had decreed, and already our antagonism hadbeen on. And I had defied him--naturally. He should not bilk me of freemovement. But the issue might, on the face of it, appear to be she. As Itugged at the harness, under breath I cursed the scurvy turn of events;and in seeking to place the blame found amazing cleverness in her. Justthe same, I was not going to kill him for her account; never, never! And Iwished to the deuce that she'd kept clear of me.

  Jenks was speaking.

  "So the fust chance you get you might as well walk straight into him, callhim all the names you can lay tongue to, and when he makes a move for hisgun beat him to the draw and come up shootin'. Then it'll be over with.The longer it hangs, the less peace you'll have; for you've got to do itsooner or later. It's you or him."

  "Not necessarily," I faltered. "There may be another way."

  "There ain't, if you're a he critter on two legs," snapped Jenks. "Not inthis country or any other white man's country; no, nor in red man'scountry neither. What you do back in the States, can't say. Trust inpray'r, mebbe."

  Nevertheless I determined to make a last effort even at the risk of losingcaste. In the reaction from the pressure of that recent encounter when Imight have killed, but didn't, I again had a spell of fierce, sick protestagainst the role being foisted upon me--foisted, I could see, by hermachinations as well as by his animosity. The position was too false to beborne. There was no joy in it, no zest, no adequate reward. Why, in God'sname, should I be sentenced to have blood upon my hands and soul? Surely Imight be permitted to stay clean.

  Therefore this evening immediately after corral was formed I sought outCaptain Adams, as master of the train; and disregarding the gazes thatfollowed me and that received me I spoke frankly, here at his own wagon,without preliminary.

  "Daniel and I appear to be at outs, sir," I said. "Why, I do not know,except that he seems to have had a dislike for me from the first day. Ifhe'll let me alone I'll let him alone. I'm not one to look for trouble."

  His heavy face, with those thick pursed lips and small china blue eyes,changed not a jot.

  "Daniel will take care of himself."

  "That is his privilege," I answered. "I am not here to question hisrights, Captain, as long as he keeps within them; but I don't require ofhim to take care of me also. If he will hold to his own trail I'll hold tomine, and I assure you there'll be no trouble."

  "Daniel will take care of himself, I say," he reiterated. "Yes, and lookafter all that belongs to him, stranger. There's no use threateningDaniel. What he does he does as servant of the Lord and he fears naught."

  "Neither do I, sir," I retorted hotly. "One may wish to avoid trouble andstill not fear it. I have not come to you with complaint. I merely wish toexplain. You are captain of the train and responsible for its conduct. Igive you notice that I shall defend myself against insult and annoyance."

  I turned on my heel--sensed poised forms and inquiring faces; and hisbooming voice stayed me.

  "A moment, stranger. Your talk is big. What have you to do with this womanEdna?"

  "With Mrs. Montoyo? What I please, if it pleases her, sir. If she claimsyour protection, very good. Should she claim mine, she'll have it." Andthere, confound it, I had spoken. "But with this, Daniel has nothing todo. I believe that the lady you mention is simply your present guest andmy former acquaintance."

  "You err," he thundered, darkening. "You cannot be expected to see thelight. But I say to you, keep away, keep away. I will have nogallivanting, no cozening and smiling and prating and distracting. Shemust be nothing to you. Never can be, never shall be. Her way isappointed, the instrument chosen, and as a sister in Zion she shall knowyou not. Now get you gone----" a favorite expression of his. "Get yougone, meddle not hereabouts, and I'll see to it that you are spared fromharm."

  Surprising myself, and perhaps him, I gazed full at him and laughedwithout reserve or irritation.

  "Thank you, Captain," I heard myself saying. "I am perfectly capable ofself-protection. And I expect to remain a friend of Mrs. Montoyo as longas she permits me. For your bluster and Daniel's I care not a sou. Infact, I consider you a pair of damned body-snatchers. Good-evening."

  Then out I stormed, boiling within, reckless of opposition--even courtingit; but met none, Daniel least of all (for he was elsewhere), until as Ipassed on along the lined-up wagons I heard my name uttered breathlessly.

 
"Mr. Beeson."

  It was not My Lady; her I had not glimpsed. The gentle English girlRachael had intercepted me. She stood between two wagons, whither she hadhastened.

  "You will be careful?"

  "How far, madam?"

  "Of yourself, and for her. Oh, be careful. You can gain nothing."

  Her face and tone entreated me. She was much in earnest, the roses of herround cheeks paled, her hands clasped.

  "I shall only look out for myself," said I. "That seems necessary."

  "You should keep away from our camp, and from Daniel. There is nothing youcan do. You--if you could only understand." Her hands tightened upon eachother. "Won't you be careful? More careful? For I know. You cannotinterfere; there is no way. You but run great risk. Sister Edna will behappy."

  "Did she send you, madam?" I asked.

  "N-no; yes. Yes, she wishes it. Her place has been found. The Lord sowills. We all are happy in Zion, under the Lord. Surely you would not tryto interfere, sir?"

  "I have no desire to interfere with the future happiness of Mrs. Montoyo,"I stiffly answered. "She is not the root of the business between Danieland me, although he would have it appear so. And you yourself, a woman,are satisfied to have her forced into Mormonism?"

  "She has been living in sin, sir. The truth is appointed only among theLatter Day Saints. We have the book and the word--the Gentile priests arenot ordained of the Lord for laying on of hands. In Zion Edna shall bepurged and set free; there she shall be brought to salvation. Our bishops,perhaps Brigham Young himself, will show her the way. But no woman in Zionis married without consent. The Lord directs through our prophets. Oh,sir, if you could only see!"

  An angel could not have pleaded more sweetly. To have argued with herwould have been sacrilege, for I verily believed that she was pure ofheart.

  "There is nothing for me to say, madam," I responded. "As far as I can doso with self-respect I will avoid Daniel. I certainly shall not intrudeupon your party, or bother Mrs. Montoyo. But if Daniel brings trouble tome I will hand it back to him. That's flat. He shall not flout me out offace. It rests with him whether we travel on peacefully or not. And Ithank you for your interest."

  "I will pray for you," she said simply. "Good-bye, sir."

  She withdrew, hastening again, sleek haired, round figured, modest in hershabby gown. I proceeded to the outfit with a new sense of disease. Ifshe--if Mrs. Montoyo really had yielded, if she were out of the game--butshe never had been in it; not to me. And still I conned the matter overand over, vainly convincing myself that the situation had cleared.Notwithstanding all my effort, I somehow felt that an incentive hadvanished, leaving a gap. The affair now had simmered down to plain temperand tit for tat. I championed nothing, except myself.

  Why, with her submissive, in a fracas I might be working hurt to her,beyond the harm to him. But she be hanged, as to that phase of it. I hadbeen led on so far that there was no solution save as Daniel turned aside.Heaven knows that the matter would have been sordid enough had it focusedupon a gambler's wife; and here it looked only prosaic. Thus viewing it Ifought an odd disappointment in myself, coupled with a keenerdisappointment in her.

  "You talked to Hyrum, I see," Jenks commented.

  "I did."

  "'Bout Dan'l, mebbe?"

  "I wanted to make plain that the business is none of my seeking. Hyrum iswagon master."

  "Didn't get any satisfaction, I'll bet."

  "No. On the contrary."

  "I could have told you you'd be wastin' powder."

  "At any rate," I informed, "Mrs. Montoyo is entirely out of the matter.She never was in it except as she was entitled to protection, but now sherequires no further notice."

  "How so?"

  "That is her wish. She sent me word by Rachael."

  "She did? Wall?" He eyed me. "You swaller that?"

  "Willingly." And I swallowed my bitterness also.

  "Means to marry him, does she?"

  "Rachael did not say as to that. Rather, she gave me to understand that away would be found to release Mrs. Montoyo from Benton connections, butthat no woman in Utah is obliged to marry. Is that true?"

  "Um-m." Jenks rubbed his beard. "Wall, they do say Brigham Young is ag'inpromisc'yus swappin', and things got to be done straight, 'cordin' to thefaith. But an unjined female in the church is a powerful lonely critter.Sticks out like a sore thumb. They read the Bible at her plenty. Um-m,"mused he. "I don't put much stock in that yarn you bring me. There's anigger in the wood-pile, but he ain't black. What you goin' to do aboutit?"

  "Nothing. It's not my concern. Now if Daniel will mind his affairs I'llcontinue to mind mine."

  "Wall, Zion's a long way off yet," quoth friend Jenks. "I don't look tosee you or she get there--nor Dan'l either."

  He being stubborn, I let him have the last word; did not seek to develophis views. But his contentious harping shadowed like an omen.