San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-12-07

Thew went through Cahono'
sand deserts, up and down mountains
on, ON, forever on, Or at least, II
not forever, so long that many oil
those TO whom the gold they We're To
get had seemed so fine thing be-
hind began to distrust the old Indian
knowledge. Why were they chang,
ing their direction so often if the old
fool knew where he was going9 And
why would he never say how much
farther it was? Why did he keep so
far from water, necessitating forced
marches and so much suffering? And
why this, and why that9 Many at
firmed that they would be unable to
return to the town, so devious had
been their wandering, if the Indian
should fail them. And then, to add
to the discomfort that each was be.
ginning to feel, one man died and
was buried in the rocks. All this
eliminated one evening when, after
a long day in the sand, they came in
to a more pleasant bit OF country,
where there was game and plenty OF
grass. After the supper had been
eaten the main body of the company
proposed to the leaders that, as they
could not now be such great dis
lance from the gold canon, all but a
few should stay where they were,
while one or two should take the
best animals and go on with the In
dian. The plan met the favor of all,
and the following morning saw two
men only-the Indian and the, man
who had organized the expedition
pass out of sight up the little valley
in which the camp had been fixed.
The two journeyed silently till sun
set. All day long the sun beat down
on their heads with a heata that
seemed uncomfortable to the white man.
No breeze, however faint, stirred in
the air. Their clothes burned where
they touched the skin; their eyes
seemed small in their sockets. The
mind of the white man, at least, ran
in kind of nightmare, from one
cool spring to another.
Sunset found, them well nigh ex-
lausted, but hope revived as the air
grew cool, and after they had eaten
The white man endeavored to
talk with his comrade. He had
learned enough of the Indian language
TO know the names of common things,
ind to talk with the aid Of a panto-
mime common to both. "a. .'t
How much farther was it?" '
The answer was understood to be
hat it was at least twenty days
jravel. '''" ."..'
1t might as we'll have been thou
sand. The white mans first inten-
ion was to kill the Indian without
ceremony. But fearing mistake he
again put the question. 1t was some
before the Indian answered:
"Ten. - ,.at' .o h'"''"'.-+ '
eYou said twenty before" =,
No answer
How far?" drawing and cooking
lis revolver as he spoke. 90 ia
One hand, with fingers extended,
vas shown. ..'l ~
"Ah! some difference"
Their supper Of thin corn cake and
Tried meat eaten, it was the Indian
who showed desire to be social.
He inquired by pantomime and other
wise if he must go onto the canon
Of gold. no
The white man indicated that he
would kill him if he did not. g.,
The supreme moment evidently OF
the Indians life was at hand. He
protested some, reciting as well as he
was able the old legend in Spanish.
1t prophesied the death of him who
should return to the canon de ORC. No
rdicule couldmove the Indians faith
in this. He was mute when argu
ment was tried, he was equally silent
before threats. Finally he seemed to
see clearly that but one answer would
avail; turned away, sank his knife in
his heart and was dead. .....Is,r