Young Emma Snow and her brother Thomas are taken from their Boston home by their evil stepfather and left in 1848 San Francisco where they are sold to a merchant whose business is in the wilderness. In this passage from Emma Snow, Emma and Thomas, driving mules in a wagon train, are confronted by some mysterious strangers on the trail:
We had traveled for perhaps three hours and the sun was halfway to the zenith. It was about ten of the clock, when I spied the silhouettes of two riders at the side of the trail far ahead. They were not moving, only sitting on their horses.
Mr. Sam turned around and shouted, "Keep eyes open, mouths shut." He was warning us that the riders ahead might not be sociable fellows.
Thomas turned around and raised his eyebrows at me. I shrugged my shoulders and smiled. Suddenly, behind me, I could hear the soft, clear twang of Brainless’s voice, sounding not at all brainless.
"We are going to stop up there. When we are stopped, set your braker bar forward and then do not move. Do not say nothing. Do not look those fellows in the eye. Look at your team and stay quiet. No matter what happens. Nod your head if you understand." I nodded three times. I saw Thomas nod, too.
