It took Lee but a little time to overcome the hesitation of the few suspicious ones.  The plan he proposed was too plainly their only way of escape from a terrible death.  Their animals had been shot down or run off so that they could neither advance nor retreat.  Their ammunition was almost gone, so that they could not give battle.  And, lastly, their provisions were low, with no chance to replenish them; for on the south was the most to be dreaded of all American deserts, while on the north they had for some reason unknown to themselves been unable to buy of the abundance through which they passed.

Arrangements for the departure were quickly completed under Lee’s supervision.  In one wagon were piled the guns and pistols of the emigrants, together with half a dozen men who had been wounded in the four days’ fighting.  In the other wagon a score of the smaller children were placed, some with tear-stained faces, some crying, and some gravely apprehensive.  At Lee’s command the two wagons moved forward.  After these the women followed, marching singly or in pairs; some with little bundles of their most precious belongings; some carrying babes too young to be sent ahead in the wagon.  A few had kept even their older children to walk beside them, fearing some evil—­they knew not what.

One such, a young woman near the last of the line, was leading by the hand a little girl of three or four, while on her left there marched a sturdy, pink-faced boy of seven or eight, whose almost white hair and eyebrows gave him a look of fright which his demeanour belied.  The woman, looking anxiously back over her shoulder to the line of men, spoke warningly to the boy as the line moved slowly forward.

“Take her other hand, and stay close.  I’m afraid something will happen-that man who came is not an honest man.  I tried to tell them, but they wouldn’t believe me.  Keep her hand in yours, and if anything does happen, run right back there and try to find her father.  Remember now, just as if she were your own little sister.”

The boy answered stoutly, with shrewd glances about for possible danger.

“Of course I’ll stay by her.  I wouldn’t run away.  If I’d only had a gun,” he continued, in tones of regretful enthusiasm, “I know I could have shot some of those Indians—­but these, what do you call them?—­Mormons—­they’ll keep the Indians away now.”

“But remember—­don’t leave my child, for I’m afraid—­something warns me.”

Farther back the others had now fallen in, so that the whole company was in motion.  The two wagons were in the lead; then came the women; and some distance back of these trailed the line of men.

When the latter reached the place where the column of militia stood drawn up in line by the roadside, they swung their hats and cheered their deliverers; again and again the cheers rang in tones that were full of gratitude.  As they passed on, an armed Mormon stepped to the side of each man and walked with him, thus convincing the last doubter of their sincerity in wishing to guard them from any unexpected attack by the Indians.