Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1892-02-11
THE CALIENTE TRAIL.

water aud the nsuferable 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 we'll when they left
Flagstaff but, Ike the we'll 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
hurro and the fever took tirmer hold
upon his big, lazy body his head dropped
lower over the pomme, 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 70 call
halt
81 don't want to see him die in his sad
die" Jim said in a whisper TO Zach Raw
Inns, "and unless we kin git him inter
more comfortable shape he'll croak afore
shutdown"
So they paused in the shade OF 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 a sun as only the great desert
knows Is enough 20 drive man long
way toward a shady spot
Big Bunster felt easier, but he knew he
would die. he said, unless he could yet
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" he
said keep along on your way, OF you will
all drop down as / have done. / always
was rather slow, aud 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, 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 good fellow should come to
such an end. He wanted 10 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 its existence and why,
In the name of all that was holy, something
could not be done.
wal yer needn't git so cursed riled,n
rasped out the grim Yost. Muffin kin
be did now. We can't go no further or
your man'l drop dead as that snakeszin
thar. AS IL IS, he stands some show Wen
strike Caliente trail afore dusk, when it
gifts cooler. It's right over thar and the
rugged lost pointed a knotty forennger
across a white eXpanse, over which lines 81
heat were quivering as il the very air
writhea under the pitless fire from Oh
high
"What good will it do Bunster if we do
40 d I. 9 u
"GoodN returned the guide; "why,
thars water four mile from that air trail
ef we kin git down TO it,
"Get down to I'll or course we will"
spoke up Rnwlins. "Cheer up. old man,
he said soo.hingly 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"
"Waser-yes, ! see IT, IT'S sort Of gray
blue, isu't Ia Why, there's a great lake
what a sightn 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 II glueing them to the brim Of a glass
full Of the sparkling liquid, for which he
would hgvc 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 allaycd TO a degree a few hours
later, when the fierce sun repented and the
night stole on slowly AS Il 2 evening air
famed his brow, Rawlins, riding BY the
side Of bis sick friend, made light Of the
days mishaps, and even managed a joke
about Big Bunster's burro being smaller
than lis rider. which joke seemed very near
the truth, though 10 lacked heartiness.
The little caravan made its way To Cali
ente Irail and along il 20 one OF the outer
walls Of the great canyon, where it halted
Cor the night
Nery early 81 the morning, before the
sun had ceused his repentance two OF the
men siung their canteens 70 their sides
and started for the river; though Nost
after they had gone, said; "lt's even
chances bout them gittin water-they
mought and they moughn't. Them air
| canyon walls is mighty steep, but thar
may be place 20 sit down som'ers along
thar
Il Clearly the sun had determined to Be as
wicked rs ever; and when his scorching,
blistering rays reached the little camp on
/ Caliente trail, the men soon sought the
shelter Of the rocks. Rawlins made Bun.
ster as comfortable as was possible, but
there was very little comfort 10 be en-
| ioyed. The sick man walled far water.
and his purple face was an ugly sight for
his friend to gaze upon, while be vigo.
rously famed with his hat the dry hot all
above his brow
Hours passed. "Will they never Gomez
thought Rawlins "Why did not 90 my
self. Il was Because J thought he might
die while ! was gone, and ! wanted Il
stick 10y him to the end. Still, / should
have gone-l should have gone.n
Another hour dragged its reluctant way
along. It was nearly noon There the,
were at last-the water bearers But VIII,
walked they so slowly No doubt thel
were tired. Yes, they were tired and worl
nearly exhausted in fact; their clothe.
were in tatters and they were shameface,
and eowed-for they brought back n,
water. They had started from the vale,
in stream with full canteens; but the as
cent Of the canyon side had been SO toilsone
the heat so intense and their thirst s
great that they had drank every drop.
Ugly glances shot from Zach Rawlins
eyes at the recreant ones. His blood wa
up. He would 20 down to the stream
though 1t were guarded by fiery dragons
and he would bring back canteen full q
water and steep the heartless ones in thei
shame. Yes, Big Bunster should have tn
all needful draft, IL he had to 20 throup
fire to get il. Aud be did 90 through fir,
g for it proved useless for Yost TO tell hir
4 that a journey down to the waters edge i
! the cool Of the morning and one made q
: midday were two very different things {
! undertake. He jerked the canteen stra
! over his shoulder and strobe quickly ava