Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-07-09
ing flower for me you were bitten by

81 know" he answered. go on"
AFTER the danger of the poison was
past you became thirsty, SO thirsty that
you were dying of it, and there was no
water to give you"
Eyes, yes" he said; sit was agony. I
pray that may never suffer so again.
But drank water and lived. Who
brought it to me?'
1T came from the cueva, that place
which we examined before you were
bitten
''Who went down the cueva to get it?
The place is unclimba ble.''
81 went down."
"You!" he sa7d, in amazement. ssYou!
1t is not possible. Do not jest. Tell
me the truth. Quick; am tired"
II am not testing. Listen, senior
You were dying for want of water. I
could not bear it. and 1 knew that my
father would not be back in time; SO I
took the water skin and some torches
and went. without saying anything to
Ignatio. The place was hard to climb
and the adventure strange; but came
through it safely"
The senior heard, but made no answer
He only stretched out his arms toward
her. and there i'm the wilderness did
they plight their troth.
Remember, 1 am but an Indian girl, -
she murmured presently, land you are
one of the white lords of the earth. Is
it well that you should love me?"
1T is WELL he answered; for you
are the modest woman that l have
known. and you have saved my life"
Zibalbay did not return until past
midday, when he appeared with the
water.
''Does he still live?" he asked of
Maya.
Eyes. father
"He must be strong, then" he an
swered. 81 thought that the want of
water would have killed him ere now"
HE has had water, father. 1 de-
scended the cueva and fetched it, she
added after moments pause.
The old man looked at her, amazed,
''How came it that you found cour-
age to go down that place, daughter?"
he asked at length.
''The desire to save a friend gave me
courage" she answered, letting her
eyes fall beneath his gaze. 81 knew that
you could not be back in time, so I
WENT
Zibalbay pondered awhile, then said:
81 think that you would have done
better to let him die, daughter, for I
believe that this white man will bring
trouble upon us. 1t has pleased the
gods to preserve you alive. Remember
that your life belongs to them and that
you must follow the path that they
have chosen. Remember, also. that one
waits you in the city yonder who may
ship with this wanderer."
That same evening Maya told me
of her fathers words and said:
81 think that before all is done 1
shall need the help that you have
sworn to give me, senior, for I can see
well that my father will be against me
unless my wish runs with his purpose"
a ~,
by the cueva till the senior was fit to
travel, then we started on again. For
ten days we journeyed across the
wilderness. On the eleventh day we
began to ascend the slope of a lofty
range of mountains, and on the twelfth
we reached the snow line, where we
were obliged to abandon the three
mules that remained to US.
That night we slept with little to eat
in a hole dug in the snow, wrapped in
our SerapeS.
'How far must we travel up this
snow?" Il asked of Zibalbay as we
stood shivering in the ashy light of the
dawning.
Look yonder," he answered, point
ing to where the first ray of the sun
shone upon surface of black rock far
above us; ''there is the highest point
and we should reach it before night
fall
Thus encouraged, we pushed for
ward for hour after hour. Fortunately
the climbing was not difficult, so that
by four in the afternoon we found our
selves beneath the shadow of the wall
of black rock.
''Must we climb that precipice?" 1
asked of Zibalbay.
NO. he answered. ''It would not
be possible without wings. There is a
secret way through it"
Are you glad to see the gateway of
your home, Maya?'' asked the senior.
NO" she answered, almost fercely,
sffor here in the wilderness / have been
happy, but there sorrow awaits me and
you. Oh! if indeed l am dear to you,
let us turn even now and fly together
back to the lands where your people
live" and she clasped his hand and
looked earnestly into his eyes.
your father and Ignatio to finish the
journey by themselves"
You are more to me than my father,
James,
but, Maya, having come SO far I
wish to see the sacred city,
LAS you WILL she said, letting fall
his hand. ''See, my father has found
the place and calls U.S.
We walked on to where the old man
stood.
Although 1 trust you," said the old
man, ''yet I must obey the oath, to
suffer no stranger to see the entrance
to the mountain gate. Come hither,
daughter, and blindfold these foreign
ers.''