The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-06
THE CALIENTE TRAIL.

Bunster had not felt well when they left
Flagstaff, but, like the well-meaning young
idiot that he was, he persisted in facing
the dangers of the trail with the others.
So. as he grew less steady on his burro and
the fever took 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 10 call halt.
Il don't want TO see him die in his sad
die" Jim said in whisper to Zach Raw
Inns. "and unless we kin git him inter more
comfortable shape he'll croak afore sun
down"
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 coun-
tenance ali 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 he
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 law way he was letting go of the
strings of life.
Don't wait for me to die, boys" he
said; keep along on your way, or you
viii all drop down as have done. l al
ways was rather slow, and | want to take
my own time dying Don't stop for me. 3"
Then he looked up in Zach Rawlins'
face and smiled one of the queerest. ghast-
lest smiles Zach had ever seen. And
then Zach, who 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 spring when
he had known nothing of its existence,
and why, in the name of all that was holy,
something could not be done.
oval, yer needn't git so cursed riled, !"
rasped out the grim Yost. "Nuthin kin be
did now. We can't go no further. or your
man'll drop dead as that snakeskin thar
As it is, he stands some show Wen strike
Caliente trail afore dusk. when it gifts
cooler It's right over thar" and the rug
ged Yost pointed a knotty foreiinger across
Awhile expanse, over which lines of heat
were quiyering as If the very air writhed
under the pitiless fire from on high.
The little caravan made its way TO CALI
ente trail and along 1t to one of the outer
walls OF the great canyon, where it 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 Iost after
they had gone. said: Its even chances
bout them glttin water-they mought and
they moughtn't. Them air CANYON walls
is mighty steep, but thar may be place
TO git down som'ers along thar"
1t was nearly noon. There they were at
iast-the water-bearers, But why walked
they so slowly? No doubt they were
tired. Yes. they were tired and worn
nearly exhausted III fact; their clothes
were in tatters and they were shameiaced
and cowed-for they brought back no wa
ter. They had started from the wailed-in
stream with full cauteens: but the ascent
ot the canyon side had been SO tircSome
the heat so intense and their thirst so
great that they had drank every drop.
Ugly glances shone from Zach Rawlins'
ewes al the reCreant ones. His blood was
up. lie would 20 down 20 the stream.
though IL were guarded by merry dragons.
and ne would bring back a Canteen full of
water and Stee0 the heartless ones in their
shame. Yes, Rig Buuster should have the
au-needful draught, if he had 10 go through
Iire To get il. Aud he did 80 through tire
tor II proved useless for Yost to tell hlm
that "A Journey down 10 the waters edge in
the cool of the morning aud one made al
midday were two very different things 80
undertake, He lerked the canteen strau
over his shoulder and strobe quickly away
over the baked mesa. under the burning
sun. and soon began the descent. From
one great step 81 the rough. natural stair
way tn another he went. and at last he
gained . point where he could look OFT and
down iuto the canyons dark depths.
Like a sluUouS piece of steel, the river
ran It's WAY far below him, a strip of il
visible here, another there, and still an
other beyond. 80 that 10 seemed rs if the
stream borrowed through high, rocky bar.
rlerS. kawllns paused not 10 note the
brilliant patches 81 color along the face OF
the great eScarpment, and the sharply
sketched cAlaroScuro that marked stht
naked grandeur of the scene made no i'm.
press lie only SAW ruunln. swiftly Al
the base Of the great walls which hemmed
IL in from human hand the water tor which
the friend % his youth lay dying The way
down was dlihcuIt. tie was most stitlei
by the heat: he was tortured nv an lutol.
cradle thirst. his clothing was torn bv ia.,
ged rocks: he was struck az by raft e,
SNAKES anu. ~ It WIS were liNt enough
one Of the soles of his boots had hecnn,
- warped by the hest and 50 splIt by III,
rocks As TO make his step unsafe.
In fever OF excitement he finally
reached the rivers edge. lie threw him
self down by the brink aud earceriv lpet
the sparkling water. Then he filled IN,
canteen AID dS-teG Up the rocks. Fleet a.
had been ms descent - the base of tn,
canyon wall il had taken him nearly TX,
hours 10 make It, X had been hard enough
coming down. but now came the real work
- steep was the rocky escaruweni that III
ascent was one OF great eflor, and peril
even for a strong man AZ early dawn. hu
for a weak man AZ , III the afternoon il va.
a fearful task.
How intensely hot il was there on the
Csnyon siGei How scorchncjv. unbear
aHiy hot And yet he bore IL. Though
ass whole body reeked with persV.Tatior
and his muscles were tightly drawn under
the great strain. vet lac paused only K
pick ajs way among The rocks. lie cOull
not 20 up the way he hAd come down. fol
u vas too steep.
Within an hour the demon thirst hsc
seized upon him again, elusching with