The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-22
THE CALIENTE TRAIL.

| ton and set out on the tran had come &c
pass and they were sore distressed. Bad
water and the insufferable heat of the des
ert had stretched Big Bunster out on his
blankets, and he was talking about his
! mother and asking the others to break the
news to her gently.
Bunster had not felt well when they lefI
Flagstaff, but, like the well meaning
young idiot that be was, he persisted il
facing the dangers of the trail with the
others. So, as he grew less steady on his
burro and the fever took a frmer hold
upon his big. lazy body, his head dropped
lower over the pommel, and Jim Yost the
guide and the only man of the whole six
of them who really knew what danger the
big fellow was in, determined to call q
halt.
81 don't want to see him die in bis sad
de-" Jim said in a whisper to Zach Raw.
Inns, land unless we kin git him inter
more comfortable shape he'll croak afore
SHUTDOWN"
So they paused in the shade of a mass OF
rocks, piled up in the fashion the Titans
had of doing things in the days when the
Grand canyon of the Colorado was young.
And they were mighty glad to rest there,
| for to be stared out of countenance all day
long by such sun as only the great desert
| knows is enough to drive man long
| way toward a shady spot.
Big Bunster felt easier, but he knew be
| would die, he said, unless he could get a
! sip of decent water. He saw clearly enough
that that was impossible, and so in his
! lazy way he was letting go of the strings
| of life.
Don't wait for me to die, boys" be
| said; keep along on your way, or you will
! all drop down as | have done. l always
! was rather slow, and / want to take my
own time dying. Don't stop for me-"
Then he looked up into Zach Rawlins'
| face and smiled one of the queerest, ghast-
lest smiles Zach had even seen. And then
Zach, vino was the best and truest friend
Big Bunster had ever had, stuck his heels
in the sand and said it was a beastly shame
that such a good fellow should come to
such an end. He wanted to know why
their miserable guide had led them so far
out of the way, why they were here, forty
miles from nowhere, and why the guide
had promised to find a spring when he had
/ known nothing of it's existence, and why,
in the name of all that was holy, something
| could not be done.
w al yON hCSuH u SII 81 SuLSCu I1tSl1
rasped out the grim Yost. Muffin kin
be did now. We can't go no further or
your man'h drop dead as that snakeskin
thar. AS it is, he stands some show. Well
| strike Caliente trail afore dusk, when it
gifts cooler. It's right over thar" and the
| rugged Yost pointed a knotty forefnger
across white expanse, over which lines Of
heat were quivering as if the very air
| writhed under the pitiless fire from on
high
''What good will it do Bunster if we do
get there?" whispered some one.
"Good?" returned the guide; "why,
thar's water four mile from that air trail
eff we kin git down to it."
sect down to It'll OF course we will"
spoke up Rawlins. "Cheer up, old man."
he said soothingly to the parched Bunster,
whose tongue was out and whose eyes
were staring across the plain toward Cali
ente trail; there's water over there, and
you shall -have-a good drink, my boy"
"Water-yes, see it; it's sort of gray
blue, isn't it? Why, there's great lake
what sight"' and the thirst plagued man
stared at the picture his distorted vision
bad conjured up; and drawing in his
tongue he pressed'his cracked lips together
as if glueing them TO the brim of glass
full of the sparkling liquid, for which he
would have given anything he possessed
for one soul satisfying swallow. His tor
ture, and that of the friend who watched
over him while he lay tossing on his blank
cts, was allayed TO degree a few hours
later, when the ferce sun repented and the
night stole on slowly. AS the evening air
famed his brow, Rawlihs, riding by the
side of his sick friend, made light of the
days mishaps, and even managed a joke
about Big Bunster's burro being smaller
than its rider, which joke seemed very near
the truth, though it lacked heartiness.
The little caravan made its way to Cali
ente Trail and along it TO one of the outer
walls of the great canyon, where IL halted
for the night
Very early in the morning, before the
sun had ceased his repentance, two of the
men slung their canteens to their sides
and started for the river; though Yost.
after they had gone, said: Its even
chances bout them gittin water-they
mought and they moughnt. Them air
canyon walls is mighty steep, but thar
may be q place to git down som'ers along
thar"
Clearly the sun had determined to be as
wicked as ever; and when his scorching,
blistering rays reached the little camp on
Calleute trail, the men soon sought the
shelter of the rocks. RawLns made Bun
ster as comfortable as was possible, but
there was very little comfort to be en-
joyed. The sick man walled far water
and his purple face was an ugly sight for
his friend to gaze upon, while he vigo-
rously famed with his hat the dry hot air
above his brow.
Hours passed. will they never comeY'
thought Rawlins. "Why did not go NY
self 1t was because l thought he might
die while | was gone, and 1 wanted 10
stick by him TO the end. Still, l should
have gone-I should have gone"
Another hour dragged its reluctant way
along. 1t was nearly noon. There they
We're at laSt-the water bearers. But why
walked they so. slowly? No doubt they
were tired. Yes, they were tired and worn
nearly exhausted, in fact; their clothes
We're IN tatters and they were shamefaced
aud cowed-for they brought back no
water. They had started from the walled
In stream with full caDteeps; but the as
cent OF the canyon side had been so toilsome,
the heat so intense and their thirst so
great that they had drank every drop.
Ugly Chances shot from Zach Rawlins'
eyes at the recreant ones His blood was
up. He would go down 70 the stream.
though it were guarded 10y fiery dragons.
and he would bring back canteen full OF
water and steep the heartleSs ones in their
shame. Yes, Big BunsJer should have the
ali neeGfUl draft, If be had 70 20 through
nre 20 get T. AE6 be dj3 90 through ire;
Tor 10 proved useless tor Yo>5 10 tell him
that journey down 10 the waters e6 ze in
tn .nnI Of ne r-or-.-n = NJ .,r. - ~