The new town of Rome was a hundred miles west.

I knew that it would be a dangerous trip, as the Indians had long been troublesome along the railroad, and I realized the danger more fully because of the presence of my wife and little daughter.
A number of immigrants bound for the new town accompanied us.
The first night out I formed the men into a company, one squad to stand watch while the others slept.

All the early part of the evening I went the rounds of the camp, much to my wife's annoyance.
"Why are you away so much ?" she kept asking.

"It is lonesome here, and I need you." Rather than let her know of my uneasiness about the Indians, I told her I was trying to sell lots to the men while they were en route.

As the night wore on and everything seemed quiet I prepared to get a little rest.