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Townsmen accorded him first place with Molly Wingate, the beauty from east of the river, until Will Banion came back from the wars. Since then had been another manner of war, that as ancient as male and female. That Banion had known Woodhull in the field in Mexico he already had let slip. What had been the cause of his sudden pulling up of his starting tongue?
These facts Banion did not hesitate to make plain to all his men; but, descendants of pioneers, with blood of the wilderness in their veins, and each tempted by adventure as much as by gain, they laughed long and loud at the thought of danger from all the Indians of the Rockies. Had they not beaten the Sioux? Could they not in turn humble the pride of any other tribe?
It was Molly! Rivals indeed they were, these two, and in more ways than one. But Banion held his peace until one quiet father of a family spoke up. "I reckon our own train captain, that we elected in case we didn't throw in with the big train, had ought to say what he thinks about it all." Will Banion now rose composedly and bowed to the leader. "I'm glad to second Mr.
"Well then, gentlemen" and now he stood free of Woodhull "ye both give word ye'll make no break till we tell ye? I'll say, two-three days out?" "Suits me," said Woodhull savagely. "I'll break his neck for him." "Any time that suits the gentleman to break my neck will please me," said Will Banion indifferently. "Say when, friends. Just now I've got to look after my cows.
"Major," said he, "this is Jim Bridger, the oldest scout in the Rockies, an' that knows more West than ary man this side the Missoury. I never thought to see him agin, sartain not this far east." "Ner me," retorted the other, shaking hands with one man after another. "Jim Bridger? That's a name we know," said Banion. "I've heard of you back in Kentucky."
"None left in Kentucky this generation back; none now in Missouri. The Plains!" His eye gleamed. "That's Sam Woodhull along," resumed Molly Wingate. "He was with Doniphan." "Yes." Banion spoke so shortly that the good dame, owner of a sought-for daughter, looked at him keenly. "He lived at Liberty, too. I've known Molly to write of him." "Yes?" suddenly and with vigor. "She knows him then?"
But that has now reached a point where it might mean open war between two parts of our train. That would mean ruin. That's wrong." "Yes," replied Banion, "surely it is. You see, to avoid that, I was just ordering my people to pull out. I doubt if we could go on together now. I don't want war with any friends. I reckon we can take care of any enemies. Will this please you?"
Yit he goes teeterin' erroun' like he had from now ter doomsday ter marry the girl which he loves too much fer ter marry her. That makes me sick. Yit he has resemblances ter a man, too, some ways faint resemblances, yes. Fer instance, I'll bet a gun flint these here people that's been hearin' erbout the ford o' the Snake'd be a hull lot gladder ef they knew Will Banion was erlong. Huh?"
In one of these rolled Bill Jackson, unconscious of the roughness of the way. On the Sandy, twenty miles from the ford, they wakened him. "Now tell me how it lies," said Banion. "How's the country?" Jackson drew a sketch on the sand. "They'll surround, an' they'll cut off the water." "Can we ford above and come in behind them?" "We mout.
"I was wondering if you'd be over before Jed and I left for the prairie. Father and mother have moved on out west of town. We're all ready for the jump-off. Are you?" "Yes, to-morrow by sun," said Banion, swinging out of saddle and forgetting any errand he might have had. "Then it's on to Oregon!" He nodded to Woodhull, who little more than noticed him.
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