not an easy task for the boy, for the road was often steep or muddy, and
many older drivers had breakdowns on the way.

In chapter 27 of this history you are told of the Saints stopping for a
time at Winter Quarters, getting ready to move westward. Joseph and his
mother were with them. Most of his time was spent in herding his mother's
cattle. And he was a good herdboy, too. He saw to it that none of them was
lost. There were Indians in that country then, and often they would steal
cattle and horses. One day Joseph had a narrow escape. It happened this
way:

Joseph and another boy had driven their cattle to the herd-grounds, and
they were having a good time on their horses which they rode. Suddenly,
they heard the whoop of Indians. On looking up, they saw a band of about
thirty savages riding toward them. They were naked, their bodies daubed
with clay and their hair and faces painted! Joseph's first thought was not
about himself, but about his cattle. If the Indians should drive off his
cattle, the family would not be able to go to the Valley next spring. So,
off he rode to try to save his stock, the Indians coming in the same
direction. They whooped and yelled so that the cattle ran off in great
fright. Then the Indians singled out Joseph, for they wanted his horse,
which was a good one and could run. The chase was now on in earnest. Joseph
turned. Some of the Indians followed, while others slacked to head him off.
Soon he was between two parties of Indians. After a time they closed in on
him. One of the Indians took him by the arm, and another by the leg, and
lifted him from his horse, letting him fall to the ground. The horses
jumped over him, but did not hurt him. The Indians rode off with the horse,
but did not get the cattle.

This is only one of the many thrilling incidents in the life of President