Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-07-02

force no more down, for a. PARALYSIS
seemed to be creeping over him; his
throat contracted, and his eyelids fell
as though weighed down by irresistible
sleep Now, seeing that notwithstand-
ing our remedies the poison had got
hold of him. we seized him bv the arms
and began to walk him to and fro. en-
couraging him at the same time to keep
a brave heart and fight against death.
Il am doing my BEST" he answered,
feebly; then his mind began to wander
and at length he fell down and his eyes
shut
UNLESS we can rouse him the white
man will die" said Zlbalbay.
''Oh. awaken" cried Maya despairing-
", placing her lips close to the senor's
ear.
He seemed to hear her. for though his
eyes did not open, he smiled family and
murmured, III try"
Then. with our help, he struggled
from the ground and began to walk
again like a man who is drunk. Then
he fell again, and putting our hands upon
his breast we could feel the contrac-
tions of his heart growing weaker every
moment. till at last they seemed to die
away. But of a sudden, when we had
already abandoned hope, it bounded
violently in his breast, and from every
pore of his skin, which till now had
been parched and dry, there burst SO
of the rising moon we could see it run
ming down his face.
81 think that the white man will live
now: he has conquered the poison"
said Znba1bay quietly, and hearing his
words. returned thanks to God in my
heart.
Then we laid him in a hammock, pill
ing blankets and serapes over him till
at length the perspiration ceased, all
the fluid in his body having evaporated,
taking the venom with it.
For an hour or more he slept, then
awol1e and asked for water in faint
voice. We, who were watching. looked
at him in dismay, for we had not a sim
gle drop to give, and this we were
obliged to tell him. He groaned and
was silent for awhile, and then said:
1T would have been kinder to let me
die OF the poison, for this torment of
thirst is more than can bear"
Can we try the cueva?" faltered
Maya.
father. 1--WE should all be killed"
Eyes, yes" repeated the senior, sit is
impossible. Better that one should die
than all four
Fear not" said to the scnor, cit is
the poison that has dried you up, but
thirst will not kill you so soon, and
presently you will feel it less OH
sleep!''
He lay silent for awhile. making no
answer, but from the workings of his
hands and face we could see that he
suffered much.
Maya he said at length, ''can you
find me cool stone to put in my
mouth?''
She searched and found a pebble,
which he sucked, but after time it fell
from his lips, and we saw that it was as
dry as when it entered them. Then his
brain gave way, and he began to rave
huskily in many languages.
Are you devil?' he asked, "that you
suffer me to die in torment for the want
of a drink of water? Why do you stand
there and mock me? Oh, have pity and
give me water"
For awhile we bore it, though per-
haps our agonies were greater than his
own-then Maya rose and looked at his
face. 1t was sunken as though with a
heavy illness, thick black rings had ap-
peared beneath his blue eyes, and his
lips were fecked with blood.
81 can endure this no more she said
in a dry voice. Watch your friend,
Don Ignatio.''
You are right answered; ''this is
no place for a woman. Go and sleep
yonder, SO that can wake you if there
is need
She looked at me reproachfully, but
went without answering and sat down
behind bush about thirty yards away.
Here, it seens-for all this story she
told me afterward, and for the most
part do but repeat her words-she be-
gan to think.
Only one thing could save him
water. In the depths of yonder hill.
within few PAGES of her, doubtless it
lay in plenty, but who would dare to
seek it there? And yet the descent OF
the cueva must be possible, since the
ancients used it daily, and why could
she not do what they had done? Yes,
she would try it, When once she had
made up her mind, Maya set about the
task swiftly.
She provided herself with flint. steel,
timber, a rope, and a small water-skin
of untanned hide, which she strapped
upon her shoulder. In another minute
she was running across the desert like
a deer. At the entrance to the cueva
she paused to gather up the aloe torches
which had been thrown down there,
and also to look for one moment at the
familiar face of night-the night that
she might never see again. Then she
lit torch and crept through the narrow
opening.
The place had been awful in the
evening when she visited it in the com
pany of the rest of us. Now, alone
and at night, il appalled, her.
ITO BE CONTINUED