The Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes

Chapter 10 Research on Scarlet Characters (9)
No one but the vulture saw this strange sight: on the narrow shawl, kneeling side by side, were two wanderers, an innocent little girl and a rough, strong adventurer.The plump little round face of the little girl and the gaunt black face of the adventurer looked up at the cloudless sky, and they prayed devoutly to the honorable god who was with them.There are two voices here, one is clear and weak, the other is deep and hoarse, the two voices pray together, begging for God's mercy and forgiveness.Only after the prayers were over did they resume their sitting in the shadow of the boulder.The little girl fell asleep slowly on the broad chest of her protector.He watched her sleep for a while, but in the end he could no longer resist the force of nature. He had not rested for three days and three nights, and had never closed his eyes. So, his eyelids slowly drooped to cover his sleepy eyes, His head also gradually drooped to his chest, the adult's gray beard mixed with the child's golden hair, and both of them fell into a deep sleep.

If the tramp fell asleep half an hour later, he could see a wonderful scene.At the far end of this salt-alkali land, a cloud of smoke and dust suddenly rose.It was very thin at first, and it was difficult to distinguish it from the distant fog when viewed from a distance.But then the smoke flew higher and higher and spread wider and wider until it formed a thick cloud--such dust can obviously be raised by a large army on the move.If this was a fertile area, one would conclude that there was a large herd of cattle grazing on the steppe, moving towards his position.But in this barren land, this situation is obviously impossible.Billows of smoke and dust were moving towards the cliff where the two victims slept, and they were getting closer.Amidst the smoke and dust, figures of a canvas-roofed caravan and armed knights appeared. It turned out that this was a large group of caravans heading west.This is really a mighty caravan!The front team of the caravan has reached the foot of the mountain, and the rear team is still far away on the horizon.At this time, in this boundless wilderness, two-wheeled vehicles and four-wheeled vehicles came in an endless stream, some men rode on horseback, some men walked, forming an intermittent procession.Numerous women were slowly advancing on the road with heavy burdens on their shoulders, and children ran beside the car with unsteady steps, and some children sat in the car and looked out from the white hood.Obviously, this is not an ordinary immigrant team, but more like a nomadic people, forced by the environment to choose to relocate and find another happy land.In this fresh air, people shouted, rattled, cars rumbled, and it was a mess.But even such a noise did not wake up the two sleepy and distressed people on the mountain.

More than 20 strong-willed and serious-looking men rode at the head of the procession.They wore simple, hand-loomed clothes and carried rifles.They came to the foot of the mountain, stopped and discussed briefly.

A purse-lipped, clean-shaven, grizzled man said, "Go to the right and there's a well, brother."

Another said: "Go to the right of the Monte Blanca and we will reach Rio Grande."

A third shouted: "Don't worry about the lack of water. The true God who can draw water from the rock will not abandon his chosen one."

"Amen! Amen!" Several people replied in unison.

When they were about to start again, a young man with the sharpest eyesight suddenly pointed to the steep cliff above them and exclaimed - it turned out that there was a small pink thing floating on the top of the mountain, and it was in the air. Against the backdrop of the gray rock, that thing stood out very sharply.As soon as this thing was discovered, the riders reined in together, and took out their guns and held them in their hands.At the same time, more riders galloped in from behind for reinforcements.I only heard everyone shouting together: "There are celebrities!"

"There can't be any Reds here," said an older man who looked like a leader, "we've passed the Pawnee Reds, and there won't be another tribe until we've crossed the mountains ahead. "

Then one of them said: "Shall I go up and see, Brother Stangerson?"

"I'll go too, I'll go too." More than a dozen people shouted at the same time.

The elder replied: "Leave the horses below, we will meet you here."

While speaking, the young man immediately got off the horse, tied the horse, and then climbed up the steep hill towards the goal that aroused their curiosity.

They moved swiftly and silently, and the calm and agile movements showed that they had been trained for many years.The people at the bottom of the mountain saw them walking like flying between the rocks, and they reached the top of the mountain in a short while.The boy who discovered the situation first walked in front, and those who followed him suddenly saw him raise his hands, and seemed to be taken aback.Everyone stepped forward to take a look, and the scene in front of them also made them all stunned.

On a small piece of flat land on the top of this barren hill, there is a large independent rock.Beside the round stone lay a tall man with a long beard and long hair. His features were stern but haggard.From his peaceful face and even breathing, it can be inferred that he was in a deep sleep.A little girl was sleeping beside him, and the little girl's round and white arms were wrapping around the man's dark and thin neck.Her little head with blond hair was leaning on the chest of the man in the cotton velvet jacket. Her small red mouth was slightly opened, revealing two rows of neat white teeth, and her childish face was full of mischievousness. smile.On her fat and white calves, she wore white socks and clean shoes with shiny buttons, which contrasted sharply with her companion's skinny siblings.On the rock above the heads of these two strange figures, there were three giant eagles staring at each other. When they saw another person coming, they let out a cry of disappointment, and then flew away helplessly.

The cries of the giant eagle woke up the two sleeping people, and they looked at the people in front of them in fear.The man stood up unsteadily and looked down the mountain.When the Sandman caught him, it was still a desolate wasteland, but now there are countless people and horses.There was an expression of disbelief on his face, and he raised his skinny hand to look carefully at his eyebrows, and muttered to himself: "I think this is the so-called insanity, right?" The little girl stood Beside him, tightly holding the hem of his clothes, she didn't say anything, but stared blankly around with the kind of surprised eyes unique to children.

The people who came to rescue them soon convinced the two stranded souls that their presence was not a hallucination.One of them picked up the little girl and put her on his shoulders, while the other two supported her frail companion and walked towards the convoy together.

At this time, the tramp reported his name and said: "My name is John Ferrier. This little guy and I are the only ones left out of 21 people. The others died when they were in the south because they didn't eat or drink."

Someone asked him, "Is she your child?"

The man graciously acknowledged it, and he said: "I think she is my child now. She should be my child, because I saved her, and no one can take her away. From today onwards, she will be my child." It's called Lucy Ferrier. But who are you?" He looked curiously at the tall, strong, dark-faced rescuers in front of him, and then said, "There seem to be many of you."

A young man said: "It's almost tens of thousands. We are the persecuted children of God and the chosen people of the angel Melona."

The wanderer said: "I have not heard of this angel, but she seems to have chosen so many of you who are really good subjects."

At this time another person said seriously: "You must not joke about the things of God. We are people who believe in the Mormon scriptures. These scriptures are written in Egyptian script on gold Holy Joseph Smith. We come from Nauvoo, Illinois, where we once built our own church. We are now fleeing from that imperious Smith and those godless people, So even if it is to live in the desert, it will not hesitate."

When mentioning the city of Nauvoo, Ferrier quickly remembered it, and he said, "I see, you are Mormons."

"We're Mormons," all shouted in unison.

"So where are you going to go now?"

"We don't know ourselves. God guides us through our prophet. You have to go to the prophet and he will tell you how to place you."

At this time, they had come to the foot of the mountain, and a large group of people immediately rushed up and surrounded them.Among them are fair-faced and docile women, laughing and healthy children, and men with sincere eyes.When everyone saw these two strangers—the child was so young, the adult was so weak, they couldn't help sighing.However, the escorts of the two men did not stop. They continued to move forward, followed by a large group of Mormons, until they came to a carriage.This carriage is very tall, especially gorgeous and elegant, and it is quite different from other carriages.This carriage has six or seven horses, while most of the other carriages have two, and the most are no more than four.Beside the driver, sat a man who was only 30 years old, but his huge head and resolute expression showed that he was a leader.At this moment he was reading a book with a brown cover.When the group came up to him, he put the book aside, and listened attentively to the report of the anecdote.After listening, he looked at the two victims.

He said sternly: "We can only take you with us if you believe in our religion. We don't allow wolves to mix in with our flock. Rather than let this rotten spot of yours ruin the whole fruit in the future, it's better Why not let your bones be exposed in this wilderness now. Are you willing to accept this condition and go with us?"

"I am willing to follow you, on any condition." Ferrier deliberately emphasized his tone, and even the stable elders couldn't help laughing, only the leader still maintained a solemn expression.

He said, "Brother Stangerson, take him in, give him food and drink, and give this boy too. You are also responsible for teaching him our doctrine. We have been delayed too long, get up and go to Mount Sion. go ahead!"

"Go forward, go to Mount Xion!" The Mormons shouted together.The order was transmitted like a wave in an instant, wave after wave, and the human voice gradually disappeared in the distance.With the crackling of whips and the rumble of cars, the whole procession moved forward, and the whole procession moved forward again.Elder Stangerson took the two castaways into his car, where food had been prepared for them.

He said: "You will stay here. Soon you will regain your strength. From now on, always remember that you are members of our religion. So Brigham Young instructed, and his words were To speak in the voice of Joseph Smith is to speak the will of God."

Nine Utah Flowers

It is not intended here to trace the sufferings of the Mormons during the immigration process before their final settlement.From the banks of the Mississippi to the western foothills of the Rocky Mountains they marched with almost unprecedented perseverance.With the indomitable and tenacious spirit of the Anglo-Saxons, they overcame all the sufferings that heaven could send down, such as savages, beasts, hunger, thirst, fatigue and disease.But the long distances and endless terrors terrified even the hardiest of them.So when they saw the broad valley of Utah bathed in sunshine beneath their feet, and heard their leader proclaim that this virgin land was their God-given Promised Home, and would be theirs forever, every man bowed his head, Pious worship.

It didn't take long for Young to prove himself not only a decisive leader but also a capable administrator.After many planning maps have been drawn up, the future city has an outline.The land around the city is distributed proportionally according to the status of each believer.Merchants still do business, and workers continue to work.The streets and squares in the city appeared one after another like magic.In the countryside, ditches are dredged, fences are erected, and cultivation is carried out. It is a productive atmosphere.In the summer of the second year, thousands of hectares of golden wheat waves emerged in the whole countryside.In this remote immigrant region, everything is thriving.In particular, the magnificent cathedral they built in the center of the city is also growing taller day by day.Every day from dawn to dusk, the sound of axes and saws from the church can be heard endlessly.This building is used by this group of immigrants to commemorate the God who guided them through countless hardships and finally reached a safe place.

John Ferrier and the little girl lived together, and the little girl was soon regarded by Ferrier as his adopted daughter.These two castaways followed the group of Mormons to the end of their great journey.Little Lucy Ferrier was kept in Elder Stangerson's caravan, and she was very charming.She lived with Stangerson's three wives and his wayward, precocious 12-year-old son.Lucy soon regained her health.Because she was young and docile, and lost her mother at a young age, she was immediately favored by three women.And Lucy gradually got used to this new life of wandering and making her home under the tent.By this time, too, Ferrier had recovered from his ordeal, and showed himself not only to be a useful guide, but also to be a diligent and tireless hunter.Therefore, he quickly gained the respect of his new companions.So, when they ended their wanderings, it was unanimously agreed that Ferrier, like any emigrant, should be given a large and fertile portion, except the Prophet Young, and the four elders, Stangerson, Kemble, Johnston, and Drebber. soil of.

In this way, Ferrier acquired a piece of land that belonged to him.He built a solid wooden house on the land.As the wooden house was added year by year, it gradually became a spacious villa.Ferrier is a practical man, shrewd in his dealings with others, and skilled in art.His physique was also very strong, which enabled him to work tirelessly on his land from morning to night and improve it, so that his farm flourished.In less than three years, he surpassed his neighbor.In less than six years, his family became a well-off family.Nine years later, he was very rich.After 12 years, in the entire Salt Lake City area, there are less than five or six people who can compare with him.From the inland sea of ​​the Salt Lake to the remote mountains of Wasagi, there is no one more famous than John Ferrier.

But in one instance only, Ferrier hurt the feelings of his fellow-citizens.No amount of arguing with him, no amount of persuasion, could make him marry and start a family in the manner of his companions.He never stated the exact reasons for his repeated refusal to do so, but he reserved his views firmly and unwaveringly.Therefore, some accused him of being impious for his religion, while others thought he was stingy with money and refused to spend money.Some even speculated that he must have had an earlier love affair, perhaps with a blonde on the Atlantic coast who had pined to death for him.Whatever the reason, Ferrier still lived a strict bachelor life in his own way.In all other respects, however, he was a true adherent to the religion of the new colony, and was generally considered a man of great faith and good conduct.

Lucy Ferrier grew up in this wooden house, and she helped her adoptive father with everything.The fresh air in the mountains and the scent of fat wafting in the pine forest nurtured this young girl like a loving mother.The days passed year by year, and Lucy grew up day by day.She was slim and well-built, her cheeks were more delicate, and her gait was becoming lighter.How many a passer-by, passing the avenue by the Ferriers' estate, has seen the slender figure of Lucy gliding across the wheat fields, or seen her riding her father's horse, with the skilful grace of a true Western boy. With a graceful posture, the scenes of the past can't help but come to people's minds.The buds of those days have bloomed into a beautiful flower today.All these years, while making her father the wealthiest of the farmers, had made her one of the most handsome American girls you could find in all the mountains of the Pacific Coast.

However, it was not her father who first sensed that the girl had grown up.Such things are rarely the first to be discovered by the father.This mysterious change is so subtle and develops so slowly that it cannot be measured in days.The girl herself is the most difficult to detect this change.Until she hears a word from someone, or touches someone's hand, she will feel a thump in her heart, which will lead to an emotion mixed with pride and fear.Only then did she feel that a new and more free-spirited human nature had awakened in her heart.There are very few people in the world who don't recall their own scenes in those years, and few people don't recall the trivial matter that their life has come.As far as Lucy Ferrier was concerned, the matter was serious enough in itself, leaving aside what effect it would have on her fate and that of others.

(End of this chapter)