The Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes

Chapter 11 Research on Scarlet Characters (10)
On a warm June morning, the Mormons were as busy as a swarm of bees, and they took the hive as their symbol.In the fields and in the streets, there is the noise of people working everywhere.On the dusty road, heavily laden mules passed by, heading west.At this time, California was experiencing a gold mining boom.The transcontinental road leading to the Pacific coast passes through the new city of Erector.Herds of cattle and sheep were driven from distant pastures to the highway.There are also teams of tired immigrants who look tired after a long journey.Lucy Ferrier, relying on her excellent riding skills, rode across this mixed road of people and cattle.Her pretty face was flushed from the exertion, and her long hair flew back from her head.She was ordered by her father to go to the city to handle errands.As usual, with the boldness of a young man, she pushed forward recklessly, thinking only of what she was going to do.All the travel-worn gold-digging adventurers looked at her in amazement, and even the indifferent Indians who were responsible for transporting leather were so amazed when they saw this extremely beautiful and fair-skinned girl that they couldn't help Relaxed their always dull faces.

When Lucy came to the outskirts of the city, she found that six rough-faced shepherds were driving a herd of cattle from the prairie, and the cattle had caused a road congestion.Impatiently waiting aside, she rode forward through a gap in the herd, intending to get over these obstacles.However, as soon as she entered the herd, the cattle behind her crowded together, and she immediately found herself trapped in it, and there were behemoths with protruding eyes and long horns constantly swarming and turning around.She was used to getting along with cattle herds, so even though she was in this situation, she didn't feel panicked, but seized the gap and urged the horse forward, intending to pass through it.But unfortunately, a cow slammed the side of the horse she was riding with its horn intentionally or unintentionally, and the horse immediately became furious due to fright.It kicked its front hooves into the air and began to hiss wildly.It moved so violently that if it wasn't for the first-class rider, everyone else would inevitably be thrown off the horse.The situation was very dangerous.Every leap of the frightened horse was inevitably touched by the bull's horns again, which made it all the more violent.At this moment, Lucy had no choice but to cling to the saddle.If she misses, she will fall under the hoofs and be trampled to pieces.Since she had never experienced an accident, she felt dizzy at this moment, and she held on to the rein tightly, and she was about to relax.It was dusty now, and the smell from the crowded herd was suffocating.At this critical juncture, if it had not been for the kind voice that appeared beside her, convincing her that someone was coming to help, Lucy would have been desperate and could not hold on any longer.At this moment, a big, strong brown hand grabbed the frightened horse by the bridle, and forced a way through the herd, and in a short while took her out of the herd.

The savior asked politely, "Miss, I hope you are not hurt."

She raised her head, glanced at his dark and rough face, and smiled generously.She said naively: "It really frightened me! Who would have thought that Puncho's horse would be frightened like this by a herd of cows!"

He said earnestly, "Thank goodness you held the saddle tight." He was a tall, rough-faced young man riding a gray-and-white-and-spotted horse. Carrying a long-barreled rifle.He said: "You're John Ferrier's daughter, I suppose? I saw you riding up from his estate. When you see him, please ask him if he remembers St. Louis." The Jefferson Hope family. My father used to be very close friends with him, if he was that Ferrier."

She said solemnly: "Isn't it better for you to ask him yourself?"

The lad seemed delighted at the suggestion, and his dark eyes shone with joy.He said: "I am very happy to do this. We have been in the mountains for two months, and it is really inconvenient to visit us in this state. But when he sees us, he will definitely entertain us."

She answered, "He will thank you very well. I will thank you too. He is very fond of me, and he will be very sorry if the cows trample me to death."

"I'd be sad too," said her companion.

"You? Oh, I don't see how it has anything to do with you! You're not our friend."

The young hunter's dark face darkened when he heard this, and Lucy laughed loudly when she saw it.

She said: "I don't mean that. Now, of course, you are our friend. You must come and see us. Now I must go, otherwise my father will never take his affairs to him again." Do it for me. Goodbye!"

"Good-bye," he replied, raising his sombrero hat and bending down to kiss her little hand.She turned the horse's head, whipped the horse, and galloped along the road amidst the billowing smoke and dust.

Young Jefferson Hope and his companions rode on.Along the way, he was depressed and silent.He and they had been looking for silver in the Sierra Nevada, and were now planning to return to Salt Lake City, planning to raise a fund sufficient to exploit the deposits they had found.He had been as passionate about the cause as any of his fellows before, but this unexpected encounter had turned his thoughts in another direction.This beautiful girl, as fresh and pure as the mountain breeze, deeply touched his volcanic, unrestrained heart.When her figure disappeared from his sight, he felt that this was the most critical juncture in his life, whether it was the silver mine or other problems, for him, nothing could compare to what just happened, attracting His whole mind was more important than anything else.The love that appeared in his heart was no longer the fickle and capricious fantasy of a child, but the unrestrained and passionate passion of a man with a firm will and a resolute personality.Everything he had done before was satisfactory.He therefore vowed to himself that if human effort and perseverance could enable him to succeed, he would not fail this time.

That same evening he called on John Ferrier.After that, he went there many times and finally became very familiar with them.John Ferrier lived in the valley all year round. For 12 years, he devoted himself to taking care of his farm, almost isolated from the outside world.But Hope was very familiar with the events of these years, so he told him everything he had seen and heard.He spoke so vividly that not only the father listened with relish, but even Lucy found it very interesting.Hope was also one of the first to reach California that year, so he could tell how many people got rich and how many lost their fortunes in those days when gold was everywhere and violence was all about.He worked as a scout, hunted wild animals, searched for silver mines, and worked as a laborer on the ranch.As long as there is a risky business, he will go there immediately.Soon he won Ferrier's favor, and he kept praising Hope.At these times Lucy was always silent.But the flush in her cheeks, the bright, happy gleam of her eyes, spoke very clearly that her young heart was no longer her own.Her honest old father may not have seen these signs, but they doubtless had not escaped the young man who had won her heart.

One summer evening Hope rode galloping down the road and headed straight for Ferrier's door.Lucy was at the door, and she went forward to meet him.He threw the reins over the hedge, and strode up the path to her.

"I'm going, Lucy," he said, taking both of her hands and looking tenderly at her, "I don't ask you to come with me right now, but when I come back, Can you decide to come with me?"

"But when are you coming back?" She asked with a shy smile on her face.

"Up to two months, dear. At that time, you will belong to me, and no one can stop us."

"But what's my father's opinion?" she asked.

"He's agreed, as long as our silver business goes well. I don't worry about that."

"Oh, that's fine. As long as you and your father have everything sorted out, there's not much to say." She said softly, pressing her face against his broad chest.

"Thank God!" he said hoarsely, stooping to kiss her. "Then it is settled. The longer I stay, the harder it is to part. They're still waiting for me in the ravine." Well. Good-bye, my dear, good-bye! You will see me in two months."

As he spoke, he broke away from her embrace, got on the horse, and galloped away without looking back, as if his resolution would be shaken if he looked back at his beloved for a moment.She stood by the door, looked at him for a long time, until his figure disappeared, and then went into the house.She felt like the happiest girl in all of Utah.

[-] John Ferrier's Conversation with the Prophet

Three weeks had passed since Jefferson Hope and his companions had left Salt Lake City.It pained John Ferrier to think of the loss of his adopted daughter when the young man returned.But his daughter's bright, happy face persuaded him to submit to the arrangement more than any argument.He had already made up his mind secretly that no matter what, he would never marry his daughter to a Mormon.In his opinion, this kind of marriage is not a marriage at all, it is simply a disgrace.Whatever his views on Mormon doctrine, he was unwavering in his own views on this one question.However, he had to keep his mouth shut on this issue, because in the world of Mormonism, it is very dangerous to make any remarks that violate the teachings.

Indeed, this is very dangerous, and even those highly respected saints in the church only dare to talk about their views on the church in secret, for fear that if a word leaks out, it will immediately cause disaster.People who were persecuted in the past, out of revenge, now become persecutors, and they are intensified and extremely cruel.The Inquisition of Seville, the laws of apostasy among the Germans, and the vast operations of the Italian Secret Party were nothing compared to the vast network of Mormons in Utah.

The erratic presence of this invisible organization, combined with the occult activities associated with it, makes this organization all the more terrifying.The organization seems omniscient and omnipotent.But what it does is neither seen nor heard.Anyone who dares to oppose the church will suddenly disappear.Neither his whereabouts nor what happened to him is known.The family's wife and children leaned on the door to watch, but the missing person never returned, and never came back to tell them what happened to him in the hands of the secret judge.If you speak carelessly or act carelessly, you will be killed immediately.And no one knows what this terrible force is hanging over their heads.Therefore, people can't help but panic.Even in deserted places, people dare not secretly question the power that oppresses them.

At first, this mysterious and terrible power was only against those apostates.Before long, however, its scope expanded.At this time, the supply of adult women has gradually become insufficient.Without enough women, the dogma of polygamy is useless.So strange rumors began to fly: immigrants were murdered on the way, and travelers' tents were robbed in places the Indians had never been.At the same time, a strange woman appeared in the inner room of the Mormon elders.They were haggard and weeping quietly, with an unforgettable look of terror on their faces.According to the legend of the homeless people in the mountains, at dusk and twilight, groups of armed bandits wearing masks can be seen galloping past them quietly on horseback.These stories and legends were only a few words at first, but then they intensified.After repeated confirmation by people, it is known that this is what someone did.To this day, on the desolate prairie in the west, "Dennett Gang" and "Avenging Angels" are still synonymous with evil and ominous.

Learning more about this heinous organization will only deepen, not lessen, that fear in people's minds.No one knows who the members of this brutal organization are.The names of those who carried out brutal, bloody acts under the guise of religion are kept strictly confidential.You tell a friend about your displeasure with the Prophet and his church, and that person may be one of those nightly horrific vengeance.Therefore, everyone has doubts about their neighbors, and no one dares to speak their minds.

One fine morning John Ferrier was about to go out into the wheat fields when he heard the latch of the front door click.He looked out of the window and saw a strong middle-aged man with light brown hair walking along the path.He was surprised that it was none other than the great Brigham Young who entered.He was terrified, because he knew that such a visit would be fatal to him.Ferrier hurried to the door to meet the Mormon leader.However, Jan was very indifferent to his reception, and he followed Ferrier into the living room with a straight face.

"Brother Ferrier," he said, sitting down and looking gravely at the farmer before him from under his pale lashes, "you have been treated as good friends by the faithful of God. When When you were dying of starvation in the desert, we rescued you, we distributed our food to you, brought you safely to this valley chosen by God, and gave you a large piece of land, and let you live in our Under the protection of my family, I slowly developed wealth and became richer, isn’t it like this?”

"That's right," Ferrier replied.

"For all of this, we have only put forward one condition, that is, you must believe in our pure religion and abide by the religious rules in all aspects. You have also promised this. However, if everyone's report is true, On this point, you have been ignoring it."

Ferrier held out his hands in reply: "Well, how did I ignore it? Didn't I pay the public funds as required? Didn't I go to church? Did I--"

"So, where are your wives?" Young asked, looking around. "Call them out, I want to see them."

Ferrier replied: "It is true that I have no wife. But there are not many women left, and many need them more than I. I am not alone, and I have my daughter with me." Woolen cloth."

The Mormon leader said: "I came to talk to you about your daughter. She has grown up and is a flower in our place in Utah. Many people of status here I've taken a fancy to her."

John Ferrier groaned inwardly when he heard this.

"There are many rumors out there that she is betrothed to some heathen. I don't want to listen to them. It must be the gossip of boring people. No. 13 of St. Joseph Smith's canon What is it? 'Let every young girl in Mormonism marry a chosen man of God. If she marries a heathen, she commits a heinous sin.' That's what it says in the scriptures. Since you believe in the holy teaching, you should not allow your daughter to destroy it."

John Ferrier made no answer; he was fiddling with his riding-whip.

"You can test all your sincerity on this issue. The Four Saints have already decided. This girl is still young, we will not let her marry an old man, and we will not deny her the right to choose. Those of us Elder, there have been many Heifers, but our children still need. Stangerson has a son, and Drebber has a son, and they are very glad to take your daughter into their family. Call her Choose one of the two of them. They are young and rich, and both are Orthodox. What do you think of the matter?"

Ferrier remained silent for a while, frowning.

At last he said: "You must give us time. My daughter is still very young, she is not yet of marriageable age."

"Give her a month to choose," Young said, standing up. "At the end of the month, she will give me an answer."

When he passed the door, he turned back suddenly, his face was flushed, and his eyes were fierce, and he shouted sharply: "John Ferrier, if you want to hit an egg on a stone, you dare to disobey the order of the Four Saints!" , it would be better if both of you father and daughter died on Mount Blanca for me back then!"

He waved his fist threateningly and turned away.Ferrier could hear his heavy feet rustling on the gravel path before the door.

He sat there with his elbows on his knees, trying to figure out what to say to his daughter.At this moment, a soft hand suddenly held his hand.He looked up and saw his daughter standing beside him.As soon as he saw her pale, frightened face, he knew that she had heard the conversation just now.

(End of this chapter)