Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-07-30


hair into knot. Next she tied the
cord about her middle and the water
skin, to which she fastened the flint
and steel, upon her shoulders. Light
ing two Of the largest torches she fixed
them slantingwise in creYices of the
crock, so that their flames .shone over
the mouth of the shaft, down which she
threw, first bundle of unlit torches,
and lastly one on fire. This torch did
not go out, as she had expected that it
would, for presently looking down the
pit she saw spark of light shining
one hundred and fifty feet or more be-
meath her.
Now all her preparations were COM
plete, and nothing remained to be done
except to descend and search for the
water.
3y the time that she was a third of
tl.c way down the shaft her courage re-
tT;ned to her, and the only fear she
fe.t was lest some of the inches should
DC broken. Fortunately this was not
the case, although one of them was so
much worn that her toes slipped out of
It, and for second or two she hung by
her hands. Recovering herself, she
went on from step to step till at length
she stood at the bottom of the shaft.
After few minutes pause to get her
breath. Maya found one of the dr. aloe
stems and lit it at the embers of the
torch, which she had thrown down the
pit. Then she looked round her to find
herself IN a large, natural cavern of no
great height, which sloped gently
downward furthe: than she could see.
Turning her eyes to the floor she
searched for and found the path that
Lad been followed out by the feet of
the ancients, but now was half hidden
in sand and dust.
It ran straight down the cave and she
followed it for fifty PAGES or more,
holding the light in one hand and
some spare torches under her arm.
Suddenly the passage took a turn,
and there in the center of a wonderful
place, such as she had never seen be-
fore, CLEANED the water which she had
risLed her life to reach.
This water, though clear as crystal,
was not still, for once in every two sec
onds a great bubble rose in the center of
the pool to burst on its surface and send
a ring of ripples to the rocky sides. So
beautiful was this bubble, and so regu-
lar its appearance, that for some min
1ites Maya watched it, then, remember
ing that she had no time to spare, set
herself to get to the water, only to find
that she was confronted by new diff
Guilty, and one that but for her fore
sight might have proved insuperable.
The rock bank of the pool was so smooth
and sloped so steeply to the water that
it was quite impossible for anyone to
keep footing on it.
The ancient had overcome the
trouble by means of a wooden stair
case, as was evident from the places
followed in the rock to receive the up
rights, but this structure had long since
rotted away. At the head of where
this staircase had stood a hole was
BORED in the rock, doubtless to receive
q rope by which the water bearers sup
ported themselves while they filed
their jars, and the sight of this hole
gave Maya an idea.
Untying the cord which she had
brought with her, she made it fast
through the hole, and having fixed the
torch into one of the spaces followed to
hold the timbers of the stairway, she
slid down the bank till she stood breast
high in the water. For a minute or
more she remained thus drinking her
fill and enjoying the GOODNESS of her
bath, then, first having taken care to
remove the finder that was tied to it,
she slipped the water skin from her
shoulder, washed it out, filled and re-
placed it.
Next she dragged herself up the bank,
and by the light of new torch started
for the foot of the shaft. Here Maya
rested awhile, gathering up her ener-
gies, then she commenced the ascent.
There were 101 of the nOtches, for she
had counted them as she came down,
and now again she began to count so
that she might know her exact position
in the shaft, of which she could see
nothing because of the intense dark
ness. Before she had assembled fifty
steps she was dismayed to find feeling
of WEAKNESS taking possession of her,
which forced her to pause awhile, hang
ing to the face of the shaft. Then she
Il Il.
reached the seventy-fifth step.
Then it seemed that a voice called
her, and she struggled writing forward
like a wounded snake, till darkness
closed in upon her mind.
When MAYA recovered few minutes
later she found that she was lying upon
the edge of the pit, over which her feet
still hung. instantly she remembered
all and with little scream of terror
wriggled forward along the floor Then
she rose to her feet, and picking up her
linen robe, crept toward the entrance
to the cave, where she put on her gar
ments and walked slowly toward the
camp, bearing the precious water with
her.
Meanwhile, knowing nothing of all
this. also had been thinking j re-
nembered how, when lay crushed be-
meath the rocks, the senior had ven
tured his life to save me. Should not,
then, venture mine to save his? 1t
seemed so. Without water he would
certainly die, and greatly as dreaded
to attempt the descent of the cueva, yet
il must be done. Leaving the hammock,
/ searched for the Lady Maya, but could
not find her, so called aloud: Sonora,
sonora! Where are you, sonora"
Here" she answered. What is it?
Is he dead?"
mo; but am sure that unless he has
water he will die within a little more
than an hour Therefore l have made
up nv mind to try todescend the cueva-
Viii you be so good as to watch the
senior till l return, and If return no
more. as is probable, tell your fatheT
what has happened?"
stop, Don Ignatio," said Maya IN a
hoarse voice. There is no need foT
YOU to descend the cueva-"
why not, lady? / should be glad 70
escape tie task, but this is n question
of life aud death
Yes" she answered. land because IL
is a auction of life and death, Don lg-
natio, l lave already climbed that hide
Gus place. and-here is the water.
And once more she fell forward and
swooned upon the ground i SAID noth-
ing. was too much amazed, and, IN
deed. too much ashamed. to speak.
Lifting Maya's senseless form from the
ground. ! placed her in hammock tnat
was slung close by. Then took the
water skin and leather cup and ran
with them 10 my friends side