cn13

	Over/in his/pp$ shoulder/nn he/pps could/md see/vb Max's/np$ loose/jj grin/nn and/cc the/at Burnsides'/nps$ glowering/vbg faces/nns ./.
``/`` Honey/nn ''/'' ,/, he/pps whispered/vbd ./.
``/`` Soon/rb as/cs we/ppss send/vb them/ppo on/in their/pp$ way/nn and/cc make/vb camp/nn ,/, let's/vb+ppo you/ppo and/cc me/ppo go/vb for/in a/at walk/nn down/rp by/in the/at Snake/nn-tl --/-- all/abn by/in ourselves/ppls ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Sally/np ''/'' ,/, admonished/vbd her/pp$ mother/nn ,/, ``/`` you've/ppss+hv got/vbn all/abn evening/nn to/to visit/vb with/in Dan/np ./.
His/pp$ wounds/nns need/vb dressing/vbg now/rb ''/'' ./.


	Mrs./np Jackson's/np$ words/nns recalled/vbd Dan/np to/in his/pp$ lack/nn of/in fitness/nn for/in courting/vbg ./.
What/wdt a/at spectacle/nn he/pps was/bedz ,/, caked/vbn with/in dirt/nn and/cc sweat/nn and/cc blood/nn ,/, filthy/jj as/cs a/at pig/nn and/cc naked/jj as/cs an/at Indian/np ,/, kissing/vbg the/at finest/jjt ,/, the/at sweetest/jjt ,/, the/at bravest/jjt ,/, and/cc absolutely/rb the/at prettiest/jjt girl/nn in/in this/dt whole/jj wonderful/jj world/nn ./.
He/pps released/vbd her/ppo reluctantly/rb for/in her/pp$ enthusiastic/jj reunion/nn with/in Old/jj-tl Hap/np ./.
``/`` Got/vbd a/at lot/nn to/to tend/vb to/in ,/, but/cc I'll/ppss+md get/vb back/rb quick/rb as/cs I/ppss can/md ''/'' ,/, he/pps assured/vbd her/ppo ./.


	Dan/np could/md hear/vb Clayton/np Burnside/np and/cc Eben/np Jackson/np summing/vbg up/rp their/pp$ final/jj reckoning/nn for/in rental/nn on/in the/at oxen/nns ./.
Jackson/np was/bedz doing/vbg most/ap of/in the/at talking/vbg ./.
So/ql long/jj as/cs Sally's/np$ pa/nn was/bedz coming/vbg out/rp best/rbt on/in the/at haggle/nn ,/, Dan/np didn't/dod* feel/vb the/at need/nn of/in putting/vbg in/in his/pp$ two-bits'/nns$ worth/nn ./.


	Soon/rb as/cs the/at Burnsides/nps moved/vbd on/rp ,/, he'd/pps+md lead/vb Rex/np down/rp by/in the/at river/nn ;/. ;/.
there/rb he/pps could/md shave/vb and/cc scrub/vb himself/ppl up/rp for/in the/at evening/nn ./.
Damn/vb it/ppo ,/, he/pps thought/vbd bitterly/rb ,/, picking/vbg up/rp his/pp$ shirt/nn and/cc staring/vbg at/in the/at fresh/jj bullet/nn hole/nn in/in the/at sleeve/nn ./.
If/cs I/ppss hadn't/hvd* got/vbn Nate/np stopped/vbd when/wrb I/ppss did/dod ,/, my/pp$ duds'd/nns+md all/abn be/be shot/vbn plumb/ql to/in hell/nn !/. !/.


	He/pps stooped/vbd ,/, picked/vbd up/rp his/pp$ ruined/vbn hat/nn ,/, and/cc pursed/vbd his/pp$ lips/nns thoughtfully/rb ./.
From/in the/at way/nn the/at wound/nn in/in his/pp$ head/nn was/bedz itching/vbg ,/, Dan/np knew/vbd that/cs it/pps would/md heal/vb ./.
But/cc his/pp$ only/ap hat/nn was/bedz something/pn else/rb again/rb ./.
``/`` Nate/np !/. !/.
Nate/np ''/'' !/. !/.
He/pps shouted/vbd ./.


	The/at Burnsides/nps ,/, now/rb ready/jj to/to roll/vb ,/, were/bed purposefully/rb deaf/jj to/in his/pp$ cry/nn ./.


	``/`` Nate/np ''/'' !/. !/.
He/pps bellowed/vbd to/in the/at retreating/vbg back/nn directly/rb in/in front/nn of/in him/ppo ./.


	``/`` I/ppss ain't/bem* going/vbg to/to fight/vb you/ppo no/at more/rbr ''/'' ./.
Nate/np turned/vbd his/pp$ head/nn ,/, attempting/vbg to/to speak/vb in/in a/at soothing/vbg voice/nn ./.


	``/`` I/ppss know/vb you/ppss ain't/ber* ''/'' !/. !/.
Dan/np affirmed/vbd ,/, feeling/vbg ten/cd feet/nns tall/jj ./.
He/pps moved/vbd in/in close/rb ,/, jerked/vbd the/at handsome/jj ,/, broad-brimmed/jj beaver/nn hat/nn from/in Nate's/np$ head/nn and/cc clamped/vbd it/ppo on/in his/pp$ own/jj ./.
``/`` Here's/rb+bez a/at present/nn for/in you/ppo ''/'' ,/, he/pps said/vbd ,/, shoving/vbg his/pp$ bullet-riddled/jj hat/nn down/rp over/in Nate's/np$ purpling/vbg forehead/nn ./.
``/`` Me/ppo and/cc you's/ppss+bez trading/vbg hats/nns so's/cs you'll/ppss+md have/hv something/pn permanent/jj to/to remember/vb me/ppo by/rb ''/'' !/. !/.


	Sally/np left/vbd her/pp$ choring/nn to/to stand/vb beside/in Dan/np ./.
Slipping/vbg her/pp$ hand/nn in/in his/pp$ ,/, they/ppss silently/rb watched/vbd the/at Burnsides/nps make/vb the/at bend/nn in/in the/at road/nn and/cc disappear/vb from/in sight/nn ./.
Much/rb as/cs they/ppss had/hvd to/to look/vb forward/rb to/in ,/, they/ppss didn't/dod* begrudge/vb a/at moment/nn of/in the/at time/nn they/ppss spent/vbd seeing/vbg them/ppo go/vb ./.




At/in first/od Matilda/np could/md not/* believe/vb her/pp$ own/jj eyes/nns ./.
She/pps had/hvd spent/vbn too/ql many/ap hours/nns looking/vbg ahead/rb ,/, hoping/vbg and/cc longing/vbg to/to catch/vb even/rb a/at glimpse/nn of/in Dan/np and/cc finding/vbg nothing/pn but/in emptiness/nn ./.
And/cc now/rb she/pps could/md see/vb him/ppo ,/, looking/vbg uncommon/jj handsome/jj ,/, standing/vbg there/rb beside/in Sally/np Jackson/np and/cc her/pp$ folks/nns in/in front/nn of/in their/pp$ trail-worn/jj wagon/nn ./.


	Seeing/vbg them/ppo waiting/vbg there/rb at/in the/at foot/nn of/in Emigrant/nn-tl Rock/nn-tl was/bedz so/ql overwhelming/jj that/cs ,/, for/in a/at good/jj minute/nn after/cs they/ppss rounded/vbd the/at bend/nn and/cc started/vbd down/in the/at grade/nn leading/vbg toward/in them/ppo ,/, Matilda/np could/md not/* speak/vb at/in all/abn ./.
Then/rb ,/, with/in a/at glory/nn that/wps almost/rb wiped/vbd out/rp the/at deep/jj ,/, downward/jj sags/nns in/in her/pp$ careworn/jj face/nn ,/, Matilda/np leaned/vbd over/in the/at wheel/nn and/cc shouted/vbd to/in Hez/np ,/, who/wps was/bedz stumbling/vbg along/rb in/in the/at heat/nn and/cc the/at dust/nn on/in the/at opposite/jj side/nn of/in the/at wagon/nn ``/`` Pa/nn-tl !/. !/.
Pa/nn-tl !/. !/.
I/ppss can/md see/vb Dan/np ./.
And/cc he's/pps+bez with/in the/at Jacksons/nps ''/'' !/. !/.


	``/`` What/wdt about/in Burnsides/np ''/'' ?/. ?/.
Hez/np asked/vbd ,/, who/wps still/rb believed/vbn they'd/ppss+md have/hv them/ppo to/to lick/vb ./.


	``/`` They/ppss ain't/ber* even/rb in/in sight/nn ''/'' !/. !/.
She/pps replied/vbd ./.


	By/in then/rb Hez/np could/md see/vb for/in himself/ppl ,/, and/cc so/rb could/md the/at others/nns ./.
Soon/rb they/ppss were/bed all/abn shouting/vbg greetings/nns ,/, exchanging/vbg smiles/nns ,/, and/cc rejoicing/vbg to/to think/vb that/cs they/ppss were/bed all/abn back/rb together/rb again/rb ./.
But/cc even/rb a/at reunion/nn as/ql joyous/jj as/cs this/dt one/pn did/dod not/* make/vb a/at break/nn in/in the/at routines/nns of/in the/at day/nn ./.
Nor/cc could/md they/ppss stop/vb and/cc find/vb out/rp about/in all/abn that/wps had/hvd happened/vbn until/cs they/ppss made/vbd circle/nn ,/, tended/vbd the/at cattle/nns ,/, tethered/vbd the/at horses/nns ,/, gathered/vbd fuel/nn ,/, carried/vbd water/nn ,/, and/cc started/vbd their/pp$ cooking/vbg fires/nns ./.
Then/rb ,/, and/cc only/rb then/rb ,/, with/in the/at Jacksons/nps and/cc Dan/np as/cs their/pp$ true/jj guests/nns of/in honor/nn ,/, did/dod the/at Harrows/nps take/vb time/nn to/to catch/vb up/rp on/in the/at news/nn ./.
No/at sooner/rbr did/dod they/ppss hear/vb of/in Dan's/np$ injury/nn than/cs both/abx Gran/np and/cc Matilda/np went/vbd into/in immediate/jj action/nn ./.
The/at wound/nn in/in his/pp$ scalp/nn was/bedz examined/vbn ,/, pronounced/vbn healing/vbg ,/, and/cc well/rb doctored/vbn with/in simples/nns ,/, before/cs they/ppss dished/vbd up/rp the/at victuals/nns ./.
From/in then/rb on/rp ,/, in/in keeping/vbg with/in the/at traditions/nns they/ppss had/hvd followed/vbn since/in childhood/nn ,/, the/at whole/jj group/nn settled/vbd down/rp to/to relish/vb their/pp$ food/nn ./.
Even/rb Sally/np ,/, in/in spite/in of/in her/pp$ gaiety/nn and/cc obvious/jj welcome/nn ,/, followed/vbd the/at old/jj taboo/nn of/in ``/`` quitting/vbg the/at gab/nn when/wrb wearing/vbg the/at nosebag/nn ''/'' ./.


	After/in their/pp$ supper/nn ,/, the/at evening/nn turned/vbd into/in a/at regular/jj ``/`` Hoe-Down/np ''/'' ./.
Only/rb ,/, they/ppss carefully/rb substituted/vbd old/jj country/nn folk/nn dances/nns for/in the/at Virginia/np-tl Reels/nns-tl and/cc square/nn dances/nns that/wps were/bed so/ql popular/jj among/in more/ql worldly/jj trains/nns in/in the/at great/jj westward/rb migration/nn ./.
But/cc with/in Bill/np O'Connor/np on/in the/at fiddle/nn ,/, and/cc Gran/np Harrow/np exuberantly/rb shouting/vbg ``/`` Glory/uh Be/uh ''/'' and/cc ``/`` Hallelujah/uh ''/'' above/in their/pp$ united/vbn chant/nn of/in the/at lilting/vbg old/jj ballads/nns ,/, they/ppss played/vbd their/pp$ quaint/jj folk/nn games/nns with/in all/abn the/at fervor/nn and/cc abandon/nn of/in a/at real/jj celebration/nn ./.


	``/`` Golly/uh ''/'' ,/, Rod/np exclaimed/vbd to/in Harmony/np as/cs he/pps dutifully/rb stood/vbd by/in her/pp$ side/nn among/in the/at ringed/vbn spectators/nns ,/, ``/`` don't/do* that/dt fiddle/nn make/vb you/ppo wish/vb the/at Bible/np didn't/dod* say/vb us/ppo Baptists/nps can't/md* dance/vb ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` Nor/cc Methodists/nps ,/, neither/rb ''/'' ,/, she/pps replied/vbd ./.
``/`` Not/* that/cs it/pps matters/vbz to/in me/ppo ,/, being/beg this/dt far/jj along/rb ''/'' ./.


	Rod/np gave/vbd her/ppo a/at warm/jj pat/nn on/in the/at shoulder/nn before/cs he/pps replied/vbd ./.
``/`` Come/vb spring/nn ,/, you'll/ppss+md be/be kicking/vbg up/rp your/pp$ heels/nns and/cc feeling/vbg coltish/jj again/rb too/rb ,/, gal/nn ''/'' ./.


	At/in these/dts words/nns of/in sympathy/nn and/cc understanding/nn ,/, Harmony/np said/vbd generously/rb ,/, ``/`` I/ppss don't/do* mind/vb setting/vbg here/rb along/in with/in Gran/np while/cs you/ppss go/vb out/rp and/cc join/vb in/in the/at games/nns ''/'' ./.


	Rod/np shifted/vbd his/pp$ eager/jj eyes/nns from/in the/at milling/vbg group/nn out/rp in/in the/at circle/nn long/jj enough/qlp to/to reply/vb ,/, ``/`` I/ppss ain't/bem* much/ap of/in a/at hand/nn for/in Dare-Base/np and/cc Farmer-in-the-Dell/np ,/, but/cc I'd/ppss+md sure/rb like/vb to/to get/vb in/rp on/in the/at handhold/nn and/cc wrestles/nns ''/'' ./.
He/pps looked/vbd down/rp at/in his/pp$ big/jj hands/nns and/cc slowly/rb flexed/vbd his/pp$ long/jj fingers/nns ./.
``/`` Don't/do* reckon/vb there's/ex+bez nobody/pn out/rp there/rb ,/, 'cept/in maybe/rb Dan/np ,/, who/wps can/md outgrip/vb me/ppo ,/, Harmony/np ''/'' ./.


	With/in Rod/np on/in his/pp$ way/nn and/cc Matilda/np visiting/vbg with/in Mrs./np Jackson/np while/cs they/ppss searched/vbd out/rp familiar/jj names/nns on/in the/at face/nn of/in the/at cliff/nn ,/, Harmony/np settled/vbd on/in the/at edge/nn of/in the/at grub/nn box/nn ,/, to/to ease/vb the/at pressure/nn of/in her/ppo swollen/jj body/nn on/in her/pp$ bone-weary/jj legs/nns ,/, and/cc worried/vbd about/in all/abn that/dt might/md have/hv happened/vbn to/in Sally/np ./.
And/cc she/pps was/bedz deeply/rb thankful/jj that/cs she/pps could/md see/vb her/ppo now/rb ,/, out/rp there/rb in/in the/at midst/nn of/in a/at gay/jj ,/, youthful/jj circle/nn ,/, skipping/vbg and/cc singing/vbg ,/, ``/`` Farmer/nn in/in the/at dell/nn ,/, Farmer/nn in/in the/at dell/nn ,/, Heigh-ho/uh the/at dairy-oh/uh ,/, the/at farmer/nn in/in the/at dell/nn ''/'' ./.


	At/in the/at sight/nn of/in Sally's/np$ happy/jj face/nn and/cc carefree/jj expression/nn ,/, Harmony's/np$ dark/jj ,/, brooding/vbg eyes/nns quickly/rb brightened/vbd with/in unshed/jj tears/nns ./.
She/pps was/bedz glad/jj ,/, completely/rb and/cc unselfishly/rb glad/jj ,/, to/to see/vb that/cs things/nns were/bed working/vbg out/rp the/at right/jj way/nn for/in both/abx Sally/np and/cc Dan/np ./.
And/cc she/pps really/rb tried/vbd to/to go/vb a/at step/nn further/rbr and/cc say/vb she/pps hoped/vbd they'd/ppss+md be/be just/rb as/ql right/jj as/cs they/ppss now/rb were/bed for/in her/ppo and/cc for/in Rod/np ./.
But/cc she/pps couldn't/md* ,/, not/* yet/rb ./.
Not/* with/in the/at memory/nn of/in her/pp$ folks/nns and/cc the/at lost/vbn Conestoga/np still/rb holding/vbg her/ppo close/rb ./.


	Out/rp in/in the/at center/nn of/in the/at circle/nn the/at farmer/nn ,/, who/wps was/bedz Dan/np ,/, wasted/vbd no/at time/nn when/wrb they/ppss came/vbd to/in the/at line/nn ,/, ``/`` The/at farmer/nn choose/vb his/pp$ wife/nn ''/'' ./.
With/in a/at swift/jj swoop/nn of/in his/pp$ big/jj arms/nns ,/, he/pps grabbed/vbd Sally/np out/in of/in the/at circle/nn surrounding/vbg him/ppo ,/, and/cc then/rb kissed/vbd her/ppo soundly/rb before/cs setting/vbg her/ppo down/rp so/cs she/pps could/md stand/vb by/in his/pp$ side/nn while/cs they/ppss jointly/rb chose/vbd the/at rest/nn of/in their/pp$ ``/`` outfit/nn ''/'' ./.
Soon/rb the/at child/nn ,/, the/at dog/nn ,/, the/at cat/nn and/cc even/rb the/at cheese/nn ,/, all/abn joined/vbn them/ppo out/rp there/rb in/in the/at circle/nn ./.


	By/in now/rb Harmony/np could/md see/vb that/cs most/ap of/in the/at adults/nns in/in the/at train/nn were/bed winded/vbn and/cc resting/vbg ,/, or/cc else/rb siphoned/vbd off/rp from/in the/at games/nns by/in the/at challenging/jj lure/nn of/in the/at great/jj cliff/nn towering/vbg above/in them/ppo ./.
No/at matter/nn how/wrb many/ap registry/nn rocks/nns they/ppss came/vbd to/in on/in this/dt journey/nn ,/, each/dt one/cd exerted/vbd its/pp$ own/jj appeal/nn ./.
Even/rb strange/jj names/nns seemed/vbd to/to make/vb them/ppo feel/vb closer/rbr to/in some/dti kind/nn of/in civilization/nn when/wrb stumbled/vbn across/rb out/rp here/rb in/in this/dt wilderness/nn ./.
Already/rb a/at few/ap hardy/jj folk/nn from/in their/pp$ own/jj train/nn were/bed zealously/rb chipping/vbg away/rb at/in the/at register/nn rocks/nns ,/, leaving/vbg their/pp$ own/jj records/nns along/in with/in those/dts made/vbn by/in the/at earlier/jjr trains/nns ./.
Soon/rb she/pps saw/vbd Rod/np and/cc Hez/np moving/vbg over/rp to/to join/vb them/ppo ./.


	No/at sooner/rbr were/bed they/ppss through/in and/cc the/at guards/nns posted/vbd ,/, than/cs the/at whole/jj camp/nn turned/vbd in/rp for/in a/at night/nn of/in sound/jj sleep/nn ./.
For/in Matilda/np ,/, it/pps was/bedz the/at first/od she/pps had/hvd known/vbn in/in many/abn a/at night/nn ./.
Even/rb the/at knowledge/nn that/cs she/pps was/bedz losing/vbg another/dt boy/nn ,/, as/cs a/at mother/nn always/rb does/doz when/wrb a/at marriage/nn is/bez made/vbn ,/, did/dod not/* prevent/vb her/ppo from/in having/hvg the/at first/rb carefree/jj ,/, dreamless/jj sleep/nn that/cs she/pps had/hvd known/vbn since/cs they/ppss dropped/vbd down/in the/at canyon/nn and/cc into/in Bear/nn-tl Valley/nn-tl ,/, way/rb ,/, way/rb back/rb there/rb when/wrb they/ppss were/bed crossing/vbg those/dts other/ap mountains/nns ./.




Next/ap morning/nn ,/, they/ppss moved/vbd on/rp again/rb ./.


	``/`` My/pp$ souls'/nns$ a-gracious/uh ''/'' !/. !/.
Gran/np Harrow/np exclaimed/vbd ,/, watching/vbg their/pp$ rippling/vbg muscles/nns as/cs Rod/np and/cc Dan/np swung/vbd her/ppo up/rp into/in the/at load/nn ./.
``/`` A/at body/nn would/md swear/vb I/ppss floated/vbd right/ql up/rp here/rb on/in a/at cloud/nn ''/'' !/. !/.


	Rod/np and/cc Dan/np released/vbd their/pp$ holds/nns on/in the/at arms/nns of/in her/pp$ hickory/nn rocker/nn and/cc exchanged/vbd embarrassed/vbn grins/nns ./.
``/`` Shucks/uh ,/, Gran/np ''/'' ,/, they/ppss said/vbd almost/rb in/in unison/nn ./.
``/`` That/dt wasn't/bedz* nothing/pn at/in all/abn ''/'' !/. !/.


	Leaning/vbg forward/rb in/in her/pp$ chair/nn ,/, Gran/np nearsightedly/rb scrutinized/vbd Dan's/np$ face/nn ./.
``/`` How's/wrb+bez Sally/np like/vb rubbin'/vbg agin/rb that/dt thar/rb little/jj ticklebrush/nn ye're/ppss+ber a-raising/vbg ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` Quit/vb ragging/vbg him/ppo ,/, Gran/np ''/'' ,/, Rod/np protested/vbd ./.


	``/`` I/ppss ain't/bem* ragging/vbg him/ppo ''/'' !/. !/.
Gran/np peered/vbd again/rb at/in the/at week-old/jj blond/jj mustache/nn shadowing/vbg Dan's/np$ upper/jj lip/nn ./.
``/`` But/cc honest-to-Betsy/uh ,/, I've/ppss+hv seed/vbn more/ap hair/nn than/cs that/dt on/in a/at piece/nn o'/in bacon/nn ''/'' ./.


	The/at two/cd tall/jj brothers/nns waited/vbd silently/rb while/cs their/pp$ mother/nn handed/vbd Gran/np her/pp$ cold/jj snack/nn and/cc water/nn jug/nn ,/, placed/vbd the/at chamber/nn pot/nn beside/in her/ppo feet/nns ,/, and/cc returned/vbd to/in her/pp$ place/nn at/in the/at front/nn of/in the/at wagon/nn with/in Alice/np ./.


	``/`` Rheumatics/nns worse/jjr ,/, Pa/nn-tl ''/'' ?/. ?/.
Dan/np asked/vbd Hez/np ,/, who/wps had/hvd limped/vbn back/rb from/in his/pp$ team/nn to/to hold/vb the/at notched-stick/nn chair/nn braces/nns in/in place/nn while/cs his/pp$ boys/nns swung/vbd up/rp the/at tailgate/nn and/cc tied/vbd it/ppo tight/jj at/in the/at ends/nns ./.


	``/`` My/pp$ right/jj leg's/nn+bez stiff/jj as/cs a/at board/nn this/dt morning/nn ''/'' ,/, he/pps replied/vbd ./.
``/`` But/cc the/at sun'll/nn+md fry/vb it/ppo out'n/rp+in me/ppo onct/cs we/ppss git/vb to/in rolling/vbg ''/'' ./.


	The/at three/cd men/nns stepped/vbd out/rp to/in the/at side/nn to/to wait/vb for/in Captain/nn-tl Clemens'/np$ signal/nn ./.


	Hez/np looked/vbd up/rp at/in the/at high/jj face/nn of/in Emigrant/nn-tl Rock/nn-tl ,/, official/jj signboard/nn for/in the/at Raft/nn-tl River/nn-tl turnoff/nn ,/, and/cc gloated/vbd ,/, ``/`` Seems/vbz funny/jj that/cs them/dts Burnsides/nps never/rb took/vbd time/nn to/to leave/vb their/pp$ John-Henry/np up/rp thar/rb ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Wonder/vb what/wdt made/vbd them/ppo hurry/vb so/ql ''/'' ,/, Rod/np drawled/vbd ,/, giving/vbg Dan/np a/at sly/jj wink/nn ./.


	Dan/np grinned/vbd ,/, and/cc changed/vbd the/at subject/nn ./.
``/`` From/in now/rb on/rp ,/, Sally/np and/cc me/ppo and/cc her/pp$ folks/nns aim/vb to/to give/vb you/ppo our/pp$ turn/nn when/wrb it/pps comes/vbz up/rp and/cc fall/vb in/rp behind/in you/ppo and/cc Rod's/np$ outfit/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Ain't/bez* no/at sense/nn you/ppss eating/vbg our/pp$ dust/nn ''/'' ,/, Rod/np protested/vbd ./.


	``/`` Sally/np and/cc her/pp$ ma/nn want/vb to/to trade/vb off/rp on/in account/nn of/in Harmony/np being/beg so/ql far/jj along/rb ''/'' ,/, Dan/np explained/vbd ./.
``/`` Jackson/np recruited/vbd his/pp$ critters/nns ,/, and/cc him/ppo and/cc me/ppo fixed/vbd up/rp his/pp$ wagon/nn while/cs we/ppss was/bedz waiting/vbg for/in you/ppo to/to catch/vb up/rp ./.
He's/pps+bez got/vbn the/at tightest/jjt running/vbg gear/nn in/in the/at train/nn now/rb ./.
Besides/rb ,/, 'tain't/ppss+bez* no/at more'n/rbr+cs right/jj for/in me/ppo to/to follow/vb with/in my/pp$ black/jj oxen/nns ,/, so's/cs I/ppss can/md unhook/vb and/cc pull/vb up/rp fast/jj if/cs either/dtx of/in you/ppo get/vb in/in a/at pinch/nn ''/'' ./.


	Captain/nn-tl Clemens'/np$ signal/nn shot/nn sent/vbd the/at men/nns hurrying/vbg to/in their/pp$ waiting/vbg teams/nns ./.


	``/`` Reckon/vb ye're/ppss+ber right/jj ,/, Dan/np ''/'' ,/, Hez/np called/vbd back/rb over/in his/pp$ shoulder/nn ./.
``/`` I'll/ppss+md shore/nn be/be needing/vbg ye/ppo both/abx on/in the/at pull/nn out/rp o'/in the/at canyon/nn ''/'' ./.


	Rod/np looked/vbd apprehensively/rb ahead/rb at/in the/at narrowing/vbg ,/, precipice-walled/jj gorge/nn ./.
``/`` We'll/ppss+md double/vb teams/nns zigzagging/vbg up/in the/at mountain/nn ,/, Harmony/np ''/'' ,/, he/pps spoke/vbd reassuringly/rb ,/, concerned/vbn by/in the/at pinched/vbn look/nn around/in her/pp$ mouth/nn ./.
``/`` Like/jj enough/qlp we'll/ppss+md all/abn be/be up/rp on/in top/nn by/in sundown/nn ''/'' ./.


	Out/rp of/in the/at corner/nn of/in his/pp$ eye/nn ,/, he/pps could/md see/vb his/pp$ father's/nn$ wheels/nns beginning/vbg to/to turn/vb ./.


	Before/cs Harmony/np had/hvd a/at chance/nn to/to reply/vb ,/, Rod/np cracked/vbd his/pp$ long/jj whip/nn over/in his/pp$ thin/jj oxen's/nns$ backs/nns ./.