Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-07-23
what is it?" 1 said. Have VOC

He made no answer, but his eyes grew
wide with horror and he pointed at
something gray that was gliding away
among the stones, and as he pointed
saw a spot of blood appear upon his
wrist. Maya saw it also
"a snake has bitten you!" she cried
in a voice of agony; then she sprang at
him, and before guessed what she was
about to do, seized his arm with both
hands and applied her lips to the
wound. He tried to wrench it free, but
she chung to it iercely, then calling to
me to bring a stick she tore strip off
her robe and made it fast around his
wrist above the puncture. BY now 1
was there with the stick. and setting it
hand turned blue from the pressure.
what snake was ftp" l asked.
"The deadly gray sort, J." he answered,
adding: Don't look so frightened.
Maya; know cure. Come to the
camp, quick" In two minutes we were
there, and the senior had snatched a
sharp knife and powder flask.
Now, friend, ''he said, handing me the
knife, ''cut deep, since it is life or death
to me, and there are no arteries on top
of the-wrist."
Seeing what had come about, Zilbal-
bay held the senor's hand, and l cut
twice. He never WINGED, but at each
cut Maya groaned- Then, having let
the blood fall till it would run no more,
we poured powder into the wound, as
much as would lie on a twenty-cent
piece, and fred it. 1t went off in puff
of white smoke, leaving the flesh be-
meath black and charred.
Now, as we have no spirits, there IS
nothing more to be done except to
wait" said the senior, with an attempt
at a smile
Zilbalbay went to a bag and pro-
duced from it some cuca paste.
Eat this" he said; lit is better than
any firewater."
The senior took the stuff and began to
swallow it till presently saw he could
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 by the arms
and began to walk him to and fro, en-
couraging him at the same time to keep
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 Zilbalbay.
''Oh, awake!" cried Maya despairing-
ly, placing her lips close to the senior S
ear.
He seemed to hear her, for though his
eyes did not open, he smiled family and
murmured, ''I1l try"
Then, with our help, he struggled
from the ground and began to walk
again like man who is drunk. Then
he fell again, and putting our hands upon
I, S- o.
tons 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
profuse perspiration that in the light
of the rising moon we could see it run
ming down his face.
II think that the white man will live
now; he has conquered the poison, "
said Znbalbay quietly, and hearing his
words, returned thanks to God in my
heart.
Then we laid him in q 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
voice. We, who were watching, looked
at him in dismay, for we had not q sin
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 l can bear"
Can we try the cueva?" faltered
Maya.
1T is impossible" answered her
father. I'VE should all be killed"
Yes, yes" repeated the senior. sit is
impossible. Better that one should die
than all four"
Fear not" said to the senior, sit is
| the poison that has dried you up, but
| thirst will not kill you SO soon, and
presently you will feel it less. Oh!
that we had medicine here to make you
| sleepp'
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, lean you
find me a 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.
care you devil?" he asked, ''that you
| suffer me to die in torment for the want
of 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 f1ecled with blood.
Il can endure this no more" she said
in a dry voice. Watch your friend,
Don Ignatio."
'You are right" I answered; "this is
no place for a woman. Go and sleep
yonder, so that l 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 seems-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