Free How the West Was Won (1963) by Louis L'amour Page A

dry moss found high up on the side of a tree, she had tinder for the fire. With flint and steel, Sam struck a good spark after several attempts; it caught, smoked, and then was fanned and blown into a tiny flame. This he fed carefully with shredded bark, then with twigs, until the fire was blazing brightly. By the time the fire was going both were shivering with a chill. A cold wind had started to blow and in their soaked clothing they had no defense against the wind. But they worked together to build a lean-to, a windbreak to protect them from the night.
    From a forked tree to a forked branch, its other end thrust deep into the sodden earth, Sam placed a long branch. With other branches slanting to the ground from this ridge-pole, he made a roof and back wall for the lean-to, and then they swiftly cut branches to weave into and place over this. When the shelter was finished they built a reflector of branches that would throw the heat back into the lean-to itself. Then they removed their outer garments and draped them near the fire to dry while they huddled close to keep warm. The afternoon was gone. The rain continued to fall, but the heavy downpour had dwindled into a fine drizzle that promised to continue through the night. At intervals Sam got up and cut more branches to add to the roof, or dragged more sticks close for fuel.
    Eve was frightened when she looked at him. His face was drawn and gray, and his wound had been bleeding again.
    Sam? Are you all right?
    He did not reply for a moment, and when he did he said: All right ... just almighty tired.
    He dropped to the damp ground near her. Eve ... what do you think happened? To them, I mean? Do you think we're the only ones left? I can't think. I saw pa catch hold of ma ... she never did learn to swim.
    She was afraid of the water.
    The wind blew chill from over the water. The flames flickered and jumped beneath the hand of the wind, and occasionally a drop of rain fell into the fire. The lean-to gave little shelter, but by keeping their fire small, they could huddle close to it. Once Sam went out into the woods after more fuel, and came back dragging a dead-fall, from which he broke the branches to add to the fuel. Eve was afraid to think of Lilith and Zeke. Lilith was the best swimmer of the lot, better even than Sam, but Zeke was the weak one ... or he seemed so. His boyhood illnesses had given their mother the idea that he was not strong, yet he had always seemed eager to be out and doing.
    They talked no more, but huddled, wet, cold, and miserable over their small fire, moving only to add fuel. Eve tried not to let Sam see her fear. He needed rest, needed it desperately ... But what of her father and mother? Where were they?
    The wind mounted ... it was not yet fully dark. In the east there was a break in the somber clouds. The rain had ceased, but the trees dripped great, slow drops, except when a sudden gust of wind blew a small shower from their leaves. Her clothing was dry, or as dry as it was likely to get, so she dressed and walked out along the riverbank. She was drawn toward that dark, inscrutable something she had seen entangled in the brush, but it was obscured by night and she could see nothing.
    She did find a canvas-wrapped bundle of clothing that had floated ashore, secure in its water-proof tarpaulin. She also found a wooden bucket and a teakettle, both of which had somehow remained afloat.
    Suddenly she heard a shout, and Zeke rushed from the forest ... and Lilith was just behind him. They ran into each other's arms and clung tightly, saying nothing. It was Zeke who spoke first. Ma? Is she all right? And pa? Sam's over by the fire, she said-it was all she could say. Lilith was still soaking wet. When I got to the bank, she said, I knew there was nothing to do but follow the river down and hope to come up with you. You didn't see what happened?
    Zeke told me. I've been walking since I got to shore ... that was a mite after noontime. She huddled close