If he and Jaime had continued only a little farther the day before, they would have stumbled right on it. He scanned the pitiful scene. The wagons did not look too bad, but some of the canvas was in dire need of patching. Trees had been cut down to build crude huts as shelter against the harsh weather, but he shook his head to think how the first big wind to come along would blow them right into the water. The remaining men in the party had been fishing, but at the sight of Lem and the others returning with a stranger, they came running. The women, scattered about in the midst of various chores, gathered to watch apprehensively, small children clinging to their mothers' skirts. Concerned that Cord had not said a word as they made their way back, Lem felt his confidence slipping. Maybe, he began to fear, Cord would not be willing to lead them. "We'll give you whatever we got to take us the rest of the way," he offered. "Nobody's got much money left, but I think I can speak for everybody when I say we'll gladly give you what we have." Cord knew he really had no choice, because he wasn't about to go off and leave them stranded.
