one of us, in our moccasins as we are, than Henry Kennerman serving time in his boots."
Henry Kennerman was a soldier who had deserted on the way to the Osage towns.
The next day was the fourth without food. It passed slowly. The feet of some of the men, like those of Stub, were much better; but John Sparks and young Tom could not stand, and Hugh Menaugh and Jake Carter could not walk.
Toward evening the sergeant grew very uneasy; alarm settled over them all. No tidings of any kind had arrived from the lieutenant and Doctor Robinson.
"We'll wait, the night," finally said Sergeant Meek. "In the morning 'twill be up to us, for if we sit here longer we'll be too weak to move. We'll divide up, those of us who can walk. A part'll have to search for them two men, for maybe they're needing help worse'n we are, and 'tis the duty of a soldier never to abandon his officers. The rest'll look for meat again. And we'll none of us come in till we fetch either news or meat. Shame on us if we can't turn to and help our officers and ourselves."
"You're right. There's nobody can blame the cap'n an' the doctor. They've never spared themselves. We'll all do our best, sergeant."
"Only lend me a pair o' fate, any wan o' yez
