The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-03-20
PICKLED IN A BOILING SPRING.
How Tom Collete and His Two Companions
Endowed n Hot Bath.

How Tom Collete ana HIS Two companions
Enjoyed n Hot Bath.
Tom Collette is q miner, teamster,
coal burner, or anything else that is
necessary when he finds that his pocket
is growing empty and his larder lean.
Tom, with two friends, Joe and jake,
was making a painful journey from Pine
Grove, in Esmeralda county, to eastern
Nevada. They camped one afternoon
by some hot springs near Walker lake,
and discovering a hole half full Of cold
water near one of the hottest springs,
turned the hot water, as it flowed out OF
the spring, into the hole, until the hot
and cold water blending made exactly
the right temperature for a bath. Then
they plunged in and enjoyed the deli
cious water as only those can who have
travelled over dusty alkali roads for
several days. When they had eaten
their supper and lighted their pipes,
the theme of conversation for a long
time while they smoked was their bath
and the wonderful refreshment which 1t
had brought them. They spread their
blankets on a grassy spot behind some
willows, a few yards away from the
springs, and fell asleep.
Tom was up with the dawn. The
memory of the bath was fresh IN his
mind, and so he bounded from his
blankets, and, with a skip and a jump,
plunged into the clear water and sank to
his neck. Then came a howl of anguish,
and he sprang upon the bank with all
the agility of a wild cat. In the mean
time, his fair skin had changed to the
color of n picked lobster. The hot
water had been running all night /: all
the cold water had been neutralized
hours before the dawn, and now the
water in the hole was almost of the same
temperature rs the water in the boiling
spring from which it flowed. Tom was
in a terrible state. He says: Thought
I was picked" But he did not hesitate
as to the course he should pursue.
With infinite care he drew on his
pants and boots. Forcing back tears Of
anguish, he managed to walk back to
camp. Though it wrung his heart, he
put on his old-time frank smile as he
neared the rendezvous, for Jake was
just then sitting up in his blankets,
gaping and stretching. Seeing Tom ap-
proach, Jake asked where he had been.
Tom replied that the recollection of the
magnificent bath of the previous evening
was so vivid in his memory that he could
not think of breaking camp without re-
peating it, and added: cts Just lovely
jake"
Jake did not wait to hear more, but
r from his bed and rushed away
toward the spring. As swiftly as Tom
could, he followed, and from behind the
willows kept covert watch. He saw
Jake throw off his few clothes, spring
into the water, heard n yell of anguish,
and then saw him with wonderful haste
emerge and spring upon the bank, and
vainly try, by swift applications of his
hands to different points of his body, to
arrest the intolerable pain, bowling all
the time.
At last Jake managed to get into his
| clothes and started for camp. Meeting
Tom, he began with fierce invective to
upbraid him for his deception. But
Tom cut him short in an instant.
Hush up" said he, "would you bawl
like q calf and give us away when want
to cook that other chap up in camp"
Soothed by this, Jake grew quiet, and
both leisurely proceeded to camp. BY
this time Joe had commenced to rouse
up, and seeing the others approach,
asked them where they had been. Tom
answered cheerfully (he was holding his
pantaloons away from his body at the
time): "Do you think we could break
camp without n more magnificent
swim Not much"
At this, Joe, getting mp, cried: "Not
much, you bet !" and dashed away
toward the spring.
AS he disappeared behind the willows,
Tom sprang for his pistol, and said to
Jake: sect your gun quick; it will
mean business when Joe comes back"
In a few moments Joe did come. He
was yelling furiously, and never stopped
until he caught up his pistol.
"Drop it." says Tom. II have q
dead bead on you, and so has Jake.
Besides, I took all the caps of your
gun"
The difficulty was finally adjusted
but the trio did not feel we'll for the
succeeding three days.