Все приключения Шерлока Холмса. Сборник. Уровень 2

He will say what to do with you.”

They reached a great beautiful waggon. Six horses were yoked to it. Beside the driver there sat a man, thirty years of age. His massive head and resolute expression marked him as a leader. He was reading a volume, but as the crowd approached he laid it aside, and listened attentively to the story of the castaways. Then he turned to them.

“If we take you with us,” he said, “you must become believers in our creed. We shall have no wolves in our fold.

Will you come with us on these terms[47 - on these terms – на этих условиях]?”

“I’ll come with you on any terms,” said Ferrier.

“Take him, Brother Stangerson,” he said, “give him food and drink, and the child likewise. Teach him our holy creed. Forward! On, on to Zion!”

“On, on to Zion!” cried the crowd of Mormons.

The Elder led the two waifs to his waggon, where a meal was already awaiting them.

“You will remain here,” he said.

“Remember that now and for ever you are of our religion. Brigham Young said it, and he spoke with the voice of Joseph Smith, which is the voice of God.”

Chapter II

The Flower of Utah

The Mormons were going forward before they came to their final haven. The savage men, and the savage beast, hunger, thirst, fatigue, and disease-they overcame all this with Anglo-Saxon tenacity. When they saw the broad valley of Utah beneath them, they learned from the lips of their leader that this was the promised land[48 - promised land – земля обетованная].

Young was a skilful administrator as well as a resolute chief. He planned the future city, Salt Lake City, and they began to build it. Stangerson, Kemball, Johnston, and Drebber were the four principal Elders. Everything prospered in the settlement. Above all, the great temple in the centre of the city grew ever taller and larger.

The two castaways, John Ferrier and the little girl accompanied the Mormons to the end of their great pilgrimage.

Little Lucy Ferrier lived in Elder Stangerson’s waggon, with the Mormon’s three wives and with his son, a boy of twelve. In the meantime Ferrier became a useful guide and an indefatigable hunter.

On the farm John Ferrier built himself a substantial house. He was a practical man, keen and skilful. He was working all day long.