which choked the travelers and clogged the nostrils of the oxen. James soaked a rag in clean water, and wiped the nostrils of all eight of his oxen, carefully removing the caked dust. It was enough to literally kill one the valuable animals if they were not helped by their drovers. They saw terrible evidence of that along the side of the road as they traveled.
Every night, James set up the tent they slept in, which during the day was carried under the wagon. Although the tent was more comfortable than the wagon for sleeping, it felt suffocating on these hot nights. Between the heat, and the occasional gunshot from nervous night guards, plus the howling of wolves, it was a wonder any of them got enough sleep to be able to work. Mary Ann walked along the next day, putting twigs and buffalo chips into the bag for building the fire that night. She considered as she walked, how little she had appreciated a bed that didn't move, a room with walls, a house that exuded quiet and peace, when she had them each and every day and night.
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