Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-07-23
CHAPTER XII.
MAYA DEscENps THE cUEyA


One evening after we had left the
forest country and with much toll
climbed the sierra till we reached the
desert beyond, a desert that seemed to
be boundless, we set our camp among a
clump of great aloeS that grew at the
foot of a stony hill. This hill was
marked on Zibalbay's map as being the
site of an underground reservoir, known
as a cueva, whence in the old days,
when this place was inhabited, the In
dams draw their supply of water in the
dry season from deep down in the bow
els of the earth.
That this particular cueva existed
was proved by the fact that the ancient
road, which here was plainly visible,
ran through the ruins of a large town
whereof the population must once have
been supplied by it, but when Zibal-
bay andhi daughter slept here on their
downward journey they were spared
the necessity of looking for it by the
discovery of a rain pool in the hollow
of rock Now, however, no rain hav-
ing fallen for weeks, after we had eaten
and drunk such water as remained in
the water skins, we determined to seek
for the cueva in order to refill the skins
and give drink to the thirsty mules.
Accordingly we began to examine the
rocky hill, and presently found stone
archway now nearly filed up with soil
and half hidden by thorn bushes, which
we Judged to be the entrance to the
cueva. Having provided ourselves with
torches we lit four of them, and led
the way through the hole to find myself
in a cave where a great and mysterious
wind blew and sighed in sudden gusts
that almost extinguished our lights
Following this cave we came to hole
or shaft at the end Of il, which Ell
IDENTIFY led to the springs or pools OF
water This shaft of unknown depth
was almost if not quite as smooth and
perpendicular as though 1t had been
followed by the hand of man, but the
strangest thing about it was the terri
BILE stairway that the ancients had used
to approach the water, which consisted
of double row of notches, eight or ten
inches in depth, cut in the surface OF
the shaft. Up and down these notches
the water carriers must have passed for
generations, for they were much worn,
and a groove made by tt e feet OF men
ran to the top of this awful ladder.
The senior finding fragment OF rock
let it fall over the eoge of the pit, and
several seconds passed before 4 faint
sound told us that it had touched the
bottom. What dreadful placer! he
said. 81 think that had rather die OF
Thirst than attempt to go down it.
"Still, people have gone down in the
past" answered Maya, for look. this IS
where they stepped off the edge"
Come away" said Zilbalbay, none
of us here could take that road and live.
The mules must go thirsty; Eve hours
Journey away there is a pool where
they can drink tomorrow" Then we
turned and left this cave of the winds
and were glad to be outside of it, for
the place had an unholy look, and, all
the draught Notwithstanding, was hot
to suffocation.
Zlbalbay walked to the camp, but :
and the others stayed to pluck some
forage for the mules. Soon they grew
weary of this task and fell totalking as
they watched the sunset, which was
very beautiful on these lonely plains.
Presently haaTa the Lady Maya say:
PICK me that flower. friend. to wear
on my breast" and she pointed to a
snow-white cactus bloom that grew
among some rocks
He climbed to the place ana stretched
out his hand TO cut the flower, when of
q sudden heard him utter an exclama-
ton and saw him start back.