"Thou Shalt Not Be Afraid"

MORE than twenty years ago while crossing the deserts from California to Utah, I had another proof that in the Bible may all things be found. There was a train of perhaps forty wagons. It was my custom to carry a pocket Bible, which I consulted during the day as we traveled. One morning I opened upon this verse : " Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day." How does that apply ? We are at peace with the Indians, I thought; but before midnight we were attacked, and all our animals were away in a herd in the hills, in care of the Indians. There was much alarm in camp, for four Indians had been shot, and there was a narrow canyon to go through next day, and forty miles to the next watering-place. We were kept awake the rest of the night, for now and then a bullet from the enemy would strike our wagons. But the promise in those lines was fulfilled, although we were closely followed all the next day, and when we reached the Muddy River, a long line of red men stood between us and the water. However, they let us pass through. Those sacred words were like a warning and promise hours before the danger came.