Not certain what Hawk was talking about, Lewis untied the laces holding the canvas bag closed and peered inside. His knees almost buckled when he saw what the bag held. “My Lord, My Lord,” he uttered, thinking it couldn’t be true. Hawk opened one side of the saddlebag, so Lewis could see that, too. It was almost too much for him.

“Brother Lewis!” the man who had first greeted Hawk, cried out. “What is it?” Seeing Donald in distress, or so he thought, he ran to help him.”

Lewis waved him off. “It’s a miracle,” he said, then shouted it out for all the tent camp to hear. “It’s a miracle!” Soon the little group of survivors of the massacre were gathered around them. Lewis held the sacks up for them to see. Remembering Hawk standing watching the celebration then, he said, “You must have caught the men who did this. I hope they did not have to be killed.” When Hawk made no comment, Lewis asked a direct question. “Did you kill David?”

Knowing the Friends’ position on the taking of another man’s life, Hawk answered truthfully, “No, I didn’t, but him and the rest of his gang have all gone where they won’t bother anybody no more.” That seemed to satisfy Donald’s conscience.

Although eager to start back to Fort Ellis, Hawk agreed to stay and share a meal with the overjoyed Friends. He figured they might be hard up for food, but Donald told him the people of Fort Benton had been more than generous in supplying them. During the dinner, plain but filling, there was much talk about going on with their original plan to journey to Helena to find the land to start their own congregation of Friends. At one point, Donald asked Hawk if he would be available to lead them there. “Ah, I don’t reckon so,” he started. “I’ve gotta get on back to Bozeman and Fort Ellis to see if I’ve still got a job. You shouldn’t have much trouble gettin’ there without a guide, just follow the Mullan Road. But thanks just the same.”

“Well, it’s gonna take us a while yet to get organized again,” Lewis said. “This time, I expect we’ll go in wagons, instead of a mule train. Is there some way I can get in touch with you when we’re ready—just in case you change your mind?”

Hawk shrugged, not wishing to be rude. “I reckon you could wire a message to me at Fort Ellis. I expect I’ll be there.” If Lieutenant Meade hasn’t got me fired again, he thought.

“Good.” Donald beamed. “The Lord has been most gracious to us when he sent you to cross our path. Who knows? He might have one more miracle in store for us.”