The hope which I had built upon the prospect of an alliance with Marian
was, that by her intercession Lilian might be induced voluntarily to
make her escape--even, if necessary, _from her father_! I had conceived
the hope too hastily--without dwelling upon the danger to Marian
herself. This was now evident to all of us. We saw that Marian could
not safely enter the Mormon camp. We could not think of submitting her
to a danger that might too probably conduct to a double sacrifice--two
victims instead of one. Our thoughts turned upon the ex-rifleman. He
was the only one of us unknown to the leader of the Mormons, and to Holt
himself. To Sure-shot, then, were our hopes next transferred. He might
join the train on some pretext, the rest of us remaining at a distance?
By this agency, a communication might be effected with Lilian herself;
the proximity of her sister made known; the perils of her own
situation--of which no doubt the young creature was yet entirely
ignorant. Her scruples once overcome by a knowledge of her own danger,
she would herself aid in contriving a plan of escape! For such a
purpose, Sure-shot was the man--adroit, crafty, courageous. Thus ran
our reflections.

It may be wondered why, in this emergency, we had not thought of
Wa-ka-ra: surely he could have given us effective aid. With his mounted
warriors, he could soon have overtaken the Mormon train, surrounded it,
and dealt out the law to its leader? But we had already learnt the
improbability of our appeal being acted upon. Marian had interpreted to
us the views of the Utah chief in relation to the Mormons. These wily
diplomatists had, from their first settlement in the Utah territory,
courted the alliance of Wa-ka-ra and his band. They had made much of
the warlike chief--had won his confidence and friendship--and at that
hour the closest intimacy existed between him and the Mormon prophet.
For this reason, Marian believed it would require a stronger motive than
mere personal friendship to make him act as their enemy.

In such an important enterprise, no chance should be left untried. I
was determined none should be; and therefore incited Marian to make an
appeal to the Utah chief. She consented. It was worth the experiment.
Should the answer prove favourable, our difficulties would soon
disappear, and we might hope for a speedy success. If otherwise, our
prospects would still be the same--no worse: for worse they could
scarcely