按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
and he submitted to my approval an answer； in which he
offered to resign a third of his possessions。 I conjured
him； as he valued life； to raise his offering； and； before we
parted； he had doubled the amount。 Well； two days later he
was gone … gone from the chief street of the city in the hour
of noon … and gone for ever。 O God！' cried my father； 'by
what art do they thus spirit out of life the solid body？
What death do they command that leaves no traces？ that this
material structure； these strong arms； this skeleton that can
resist the grave for centuries； should be thus reft in a
moment from the world of sense？ A horror dwells in that
thought more awful than mere death。'
'Is there no hope in Grierson？' asked my mother。
'Dismiss the thought；' replied my father。 'He now knows all
that I can teach； and will do naught to save me。 His power；
besides； is small； his own danger not improbably more
imminent than mine； for he； too； lives apart； he leaves his
wives neglected and unwatched； he is openly cited for an
unbeliever； and unless he buys security at a more awful price
… but no； I will not believe it： I have no love for him； but
I will not believe it。'
'Believe what？' asked my mother； and then； with a change of
note； 'But oh； what matters it？' she cried。 'Abimelech；
there is but one way open： we must fly！'
'It is in vain；' returned my father。 'I should but involve
you in my fate。 To leave this land is hopeless： we are
closed in it as men are closed in life； and there is no issue
but the grave。'
'We can but die then；' replied my mother。 'Let us at least
die together。 Let not Asenath and myself survive you。 Think
to what a fate we should be doomed！'
My father was unable to resist her tender violence； and
though I could see he nourished not one spark of hope； he
consented to desert his whole estate； beyond some hundreds of
dollars that he had by him at the moment； and to flee that
night； which promised to be dark and cloudy。 As soon as the
servants were asleep； he was to load two mules with
provisions； two others were to carry my mother and myself；
and； striking through the mountains by an unfrequented trail；
we were to make a fair stroke for liberty and life。 As soon
as they had thus decided； I showed myself at the window； and；
owning that I had heard all； assured them that they could
rely on my prudence and devotion。 I had no fear； indeed； but
to show myself unworthy of my birth； I held my life in my
hand without alarm； and when my father； weeping upon my neck；
had blessed Heaven for the courage of his child； it was with
a sentiment of pride and some of the joy that warriors take
in war； that I began to look forward to the perils of our
flight。
Before midnight； under an obscure and starless heaven； we had
left far behind us the plantations of the valley； and were
mounting a certain canyon in the hills； narrow； encumbered
with great rocks； and echoing with the roar of a tumultuous
torrent。 Cascade after cascade thundered and hung up its
flag of whiteness in the night； or fanned our faces with the
wet wind of its descent。 The trail was breakneck； and led to
famine…guarded deserts； it had been long since deserted for
more practicable routes； and it was now a part of the world
untrod from year to year by human footing。 Judge of our
dismay； when turning suddenly an angle of the cliffs； we
found a bright bonfire blazing by itself under an impending
rock； and on the face of the rock； drawn very rudely with
charred wood； the great Open Eye which is the emblem of the
Mormon faith。 We looked upon each other in the firelight； my
mother broke into a passion of tears； but not a word was
said。 The mules were turned about； and leaving that great
eye to guard the lonely canyon； we retraced our steps in
silence。 Day had not yet broken ere we were once more at
home； condemned beyond reprieve。
What answer my father sent I was not told； but two days
later； a little before sundown； I saw a plain； honest…looking
man ride slowly up the road in a great pother of dust。 He
was clad in homespun； with a broad straw hat； wore a
patriarchal beard； and had an air of a simple rustic farmer；
that was； in my eyes； very reassuring。 He was； indeed； a
very honest man and pious Mormon； with no liking for his
errand； though neither he nor any one in Utah dared to
disobey； and it was with every mark of diffidence that he had
had himself announced as Mr。 Aspinwall； and entered the room
where our unhappy family was gathered。 My mother and me； he
awkwardly enough dismissed； and as soon as he was alone with
my father laid before him a blank signature of President
Young's； and offered him a choice of services： either to set
out as a missionary to the tribes about the White Sea； or to
join the next day； with a party of Destroying Angels； in the
massacre of sixty German immigrants。 The last； of course； my
father could not entertain； and the first he regarded as a
pretext： even if he could consent to leave his wife
defenceless； and to collect fresh victims for the tyranny
under which he was himself oppressed； he felt sure he would
never be suffered to return。 He refused both； and Aspinwall；
he said； betrayed sincere emotion； part religious； at the
spectacle of such disobedience； but part human； in pity for
my father and his family。 He besought him to reconsider his
decision； and at length； finding he could not prevail； gave
him till the moon rose to settle his affairs； and say
farewell to wife and daughter。 'For；' said he； 'then； at the
latest； you must ride with me。'
I dare not dwell upon the hours that followed： they fled all
too fast； and presently the moon out…topped the eastern
range； and my father and Mr。 Aspinwall set forth； side by
side； on their nocturnal journey。 My mother； though still
bearing an heroic countenance； had hastened to shut herself
in her apartment； thenceforward solitary； and I； alone in the
dark house； and consumed by grief and apprehension； made
haste to saddle my Indian pony； to ride up to the corner of
the mountain； and to enjoy one farewell sight of my departing
father。 The two men had set forth at a deliberate pace； nor
was I long behind them； when I reached the point of view。 I
was the more amazed to see no moving creature in the
landscape。 The moon； as the saying is； shone bright as day；
and nowhere； under the whole arch of night； was there a
growing tree； a bush； a farm； a patch of tillage； or any
evidence of man； but one。 From the corner where I stood； a
rugged bastion of the line of bluffs concealed the doctor's
house； and across the top of that projection the soft night
wind carried and unwound about the hills a coil of sable
smoke。 What fuel could produce a vapour so sluggish to
dissipate in that dry air； or what furnace pour it forth so
copiously； I was unable to conceive； but I knew well enough
that it came from the doctor's chimney； I saw well enough
that my father had already disappeared； and in despite of
reason； I connected in my mind the loss of tha