Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-11-07
On the Calionte Trail.

TO a halt. What they had dreaded from
the time they had left the staoe-road
station and set out on the trail had come
to pass and they were sore distressed.
Bad water and the insufferable heat of
the desert had stretched Big Bunster out
on his blankets, and he was talking about
his motherand asking the others to break
the news to her gently.
Bunster had not felt well when thew
left Flagstaff, but, like the well-meaniug
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 aud the fever took a firmer
hold upon his big, lazy body, his head
dropped lower over the pommel, aud 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 halt
al don't want to see him die in his
saddle, jim said in a whisper to Zach
Rawlins, land unless we kin git him
inter more comfortable shape, he'll croak
aforc 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 Canon 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 a
sun as only the great desert knows, is
enough to drive man a 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 clear
ly enough that that was Impossible, and
so, in his lazy way, he was letting go of
the strings of life
"Dont wait for me to die, boys" he
said; keep along on your way, or you
Will all drop down as | have done. /
always was rather slow, and l want to
take my own time dying. Don't stop for
me-. D." Then he looked up into Zach Raw
lins's face and smiled one of the queer
est, ghastiest 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 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, aud
why, in the name of all that was holy,
something could not be done.
"Wal, yer needn git so cursed riIed, -
rasped out the grim Gost "Nuthin' kin
be did now. We can't 90 no further, or
your man'll drop dead as that snake skin
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 rugged Yost pointed a knotty
foretingcr across white expanse, over
which lines of heat were quivering as if
the very air writhcd under the pitless
fire from on high
"What good will it do Bunster, if we
do get there?' whispered some one.
Good: 2 returned the guide; "why,
thar's water four mile from that air trail
EFF we kin git down to it.
"Get down to it, OF course we will, g."
spoke up Rawlins. "Cheer up, old mau,
he said, soothingly, to the parched Bun
ster, whose tongue was out aud whose
eyes were staring across the plain to.
ward Caliente Trail "there's water over
there, and you shall have a good drink,
my boy.
"Water-yes, l see it; it's sort of
gray-biue, isn'tit2 Why, there's great
lake-what sightl' and the thirst.
plagued man stared at the picture his
distorted vision had 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 spar.
king liquid, for which he would have
given anything he possessed for one soul
satisfying swallow His torture, and
that of the friend who watched over him
while be lay tossing on his blankets, was
allayed to degree a few hours later,
when the fierce sun repented and the
night stole on slowly. AS the evening
famed his brow, Rawlins, riding by the
side of his sick friend, made light of the
days mishaps and even managed joke
about Big Bunster's burro being smaller
than its rider, which joke seemed very
near the truth, though it lacked hearth
ness.
The little caravan made its way to
Caliente Trail and along it to one of the
outer walls of the great canon, 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
Yost, after they had gone, said; "It's
even chances bout them gittin' water
they mought and they moughtn't. Them
air canon walls is mighty steep, but thar
may be a place to git down som'ers along
thar"
Clearly, the sun had determined to be
as wicked as ever; and when his scorch-
ing, blistering rays reached the little
camp on Caliente Trail, the men soon
sought the shelter Of the rocks Raw
lings made Bunstcr as comfortable as
was possible; but there was very little
comfort to be enjoyed. The sick man
walled for water, and his purple face
was an ugly sight for his friend to gaze
upon, while he vigorously famed with
his hat the dry, hot air about his brow.
Hours passed "Will they never
GOMEZ" thought Rawlings; "why did |
not go MYSELF 1t was because thought
he might die while was gone, and
wanted to stick by him TO the end.
Still, | should have gone-I should
have gone"
Another hour dragged its reluctant way
along. 1t was nearly noon. There
they were at last-the water bearers.
But why walked they so slowly2 No
doubt they were tired Yes, they were
tired and worn-nearly exhausted, in
fact; their clothes were in tatters, and
they were shamefaced and cowed-for
they brought back no water They had
started from the walled-in stream with
full canteens; but the ascent of the ca
non-side had been so toilsome, the heat
so intense, and their thirst so great, that
they hal drunk every drop.
Ugly glaLces shot from Zach Rawlins's
eyes at the recreant ones. His blood
was up. He would 60 down to the
stream, though it were guarded by fiery
dragons, and he would bring back can.
teen full of water and steep the heartless
ones in their shame. Yes, Big Bunster