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at once； and then there was no safe place in all the region round about；
but behind it。
We took two or three blankets for protection against frosty weather in
the mountains。 In the matter of luxuries we were modestwe took none
along but some pipes and five pounds of smoking tobacco。 We had two
large canteens to carry water in； between stations on the Plains； and we
also took with us a little shot…bag of silver coin for daily expenses in
the way of breakfasts and dinners。
By eight o'clock everything was ready； and we were on the other side of
the river。 We jumped into the stage； the driver cracked his whip； and we
bowled away and left 〃the States〃 behind us。 It was a superb summer
morning； and all the landscape was brilliant with sunshine。 There was a
freshness and breeziness； too； and an exhilarating sense of emancipation
from all sorts of cares and responsibilities； that almost made us feel
that the years we had spent in the close； hot city； toiling and slaving；
had been wasted and thrown away。 We were spinning along through Kansas；
and in the course of an hour and a half we were fairly abroad on the
great Plains。 Just here the land was rollinga grand sweep of regular
elevations and depressions as far as the eye could reachlike the
stately heave and swell of the ocean's bosom after a storm。 And
everywhere were cornfields； accenting with squares of deeper green； this
limitless expanse of grassy land。 But presently this sea upon dry ground
was to lose its 〃rolling〃 character and stretch away for seven hundred
miles as level as a floor！
Our coach was a great swinging and swaying stage； of the most sumptuous
descriptionan imposing cradle on wheels。 It was drawn by six handsome
horses； and by the side of the driver sat the 〃conductor；〃 the legitimate
captain of the craft； for it was his business to take charge and care of
the mails； baggage； express matter； and passengers。 We three were the
only passengers； this trip。 We sat on the back seat； inside。 About all
the rest of the coach was full of mail bagsfor we had three days'
delayed mails with us。 Almost touching our knees； a perpendicular wall
of mail matter rose up to the roof。 There was a great pile of it
strapped on top of the stage； and both the fore and hind boots were full。
We had twenty…seven hundred pounds of it aboard； the driver said〃a
little for Brigham； and Carson； and 'Frisco； but the heft of it for the
Injuns； which is powerful troublesome 'thout they get plenty of truck to
read。〃 But as he just then got up a fearful convulsion of his countenance
which was suggestive of a wink being swallowed by an earthquake； we
guessed that his remark was intended to be facetious； and to mean that we
would unload the most of our mail matter somewhere on the Plains and
leave it to the Indians； or whosoever wanted it。
We changed horses every ten miles； all day long； and fairly flew over the
hard； level road。 We jumped out and stretched our legs every time the
coach stopped； and so the night found us still vivacious and unfatigued。
After supper a woman got in； who lived about fifty miles further on； and
we three had to take turns at sitting outside with the driver and
conductor。 Apparently she was not a talkative woman。 She would sit
there in the gathering twilight and fasten her steadfast eyes on a
mosquito rooting into her arm； and slowly she would raise her other hand
till she had got his range； and then she would launch a slap at him that
would have jolted a cow； and after that she would sit and contemplate the
corpse with tranquil satisfactionfor she never missed her mosquito； she
was a dead shot at short range。 She never removed a carcase； but left
them there for bait。 I sat by this grim Sphynx and watched her kill
thirty or forty mosquitoeswatched her； and waited for her to say
something； but she never did。 So I finally opened the conversation
myself。 I said：
〃The mosquitoes are pretty bad； about here； madam。〃
〃You bet！〃
〃What did I understand you to say； madam？〃
〃You BET！〃
Then she cheered up； and faced around and said：
〃Danged if I didn't begin to think you fellers was deef and dumb。 I did；
b'gosh。 Here I've sot； and sot； and sot； a…bust'n muskeeters and
wonderin' what was ailin' ye。 Fust I thot you was deef and dumb； then I
thot you was sick or crazy； or suthin'； and then by and by I begin to
reckon you was a passel of sickly fools that couldn't think of nothing to
say。 Wher'd ye come from？〃
The Sphynx was a Sphynx no more！ The fountains of her great deep were
broken up； and she rained the nine parts of speech forty days and forty
nights； metaphorically speaking； and buried us under a desolating deluge
of trivial gossip that left not a crag or pinnacle of rejoinder
projecting above the tossing waste of dislocated grammar and decomposed
pronunciation！
How we suffered； suffered； suffered！ She went on； hour after hour； till
I was sorry I ever opened the mosquito question and gave her a start。
She never did stop again until she got to her journey's end toward
daylight； and then she stirred us up as she was leaving the stage （for we
were nodding； by that time）； and said：
〃Now you git out at Cottonwood； you fellers； and lay over a couple o'
days； and I'll be along some time to…night； and if I can do ye any good
by edgin' in a word now and then； I'm right thar。 Folks'll tell you't
I've always ben kind o' offish and partic'lar for a gal that's raised in
the woods； and I am ； with the rag…tag and bob…tail； and a gal has to be；
if she wants to be anything； but when people comes along which is my
equals； I reckon I'm a pretty sociable heifer after all。〃
We resolved not to 〃lay by at Cottonwood。〃
CHAPTER III。
About an hour and a half before daylight we were bowling along smoothly
over the roadso smoothly that our cradle only rocked in a gentle；
lulling way； that was gradually soothing us to sleep； and dulling our
consciousnesswhen something gave away under us！ We were dimly aware of
it； but indifferent to it。 The coach stopped。 We heard the driver and
conductor talking together outside； and rummaging for a lantern； and
swearing because they could not find itbut we had no interest in
whatever had happened； and it only added to our comfort to think of those
people out there at work in the murky night； and we snug in our nest with
the curtains drawn。 But presently； by the sounds； there seemed to be an
examination going on； and then the driver's voice said：
〃By George； the thoroughbrace is broke！〃
This startled me broad awakeas an undefined sense of calamity is always
apt to do。 I said to myself： 〃Now； a thoroughbrace is probably part of a
horse； and doubtless a vital part； too； from the dismay in the driver's
voice。 Leg； maybeand yet how could he break his leg waltzing along
such a road as this？ No； it can't be his leg。 That is impossible；
unless he was reaching for the driver。 Now； what can be the
thoroughbrace of a horse； I wonder？ Well； whatever comes； I shall not
air my ignorance in this crowd； anyway。〃
Just then the conductor's face appeared at a lifted curtain； and his
lantern glared in on us and our wall of mail matter。 He said：
〃Gents； you'll have to turn out a spell。 Thoroughbrace is broke。〃
We climbed out into a chill drizzle； and felt ever so homeless and
dreary。 When I found that the thing they called a 〃thoroughbrace〃 was
the massive combination of belts and springs which the coach rocks itself
in； I said to the driver：
〃I never saw a thoroughbrace used up like that； before； that I can
remember。 How did it happen？〃
〃Why； it happened by trying to make one coach carry three days' mail
that's how it happened；〃 said he。 〃And right here is the very direction
which is wrote on all the newspaper…bags which was to be put out for the
Injuns for to keep 'em quiet。 It's most uncommon lucky； becuz it's so
nation dark I should 'a' gone by unbeknowns if that air thoroughbrace
hadn't broke。〃
I knew that he was in labor with another of those winks of his； though I
could not see his face； because he was bent down at work； and wishing him
a safe delivery； I turned to and helped th