Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-07-02
CHAPTER XII
MAYA DEscENDs THE CUE1

forest country and with much toll
climbed the sierra till we reached the
desert beyond, desert that seemed to
be bound1ess, we set our camp among a
clump of great aloes that grew at the
foot of 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 large town
whereof the population must once have
been supplied by it, but when Zibal-
bay andhi daughter slept here on their
the necessity of looking for it by the
discovery of a rain pool in the hollow
of a 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 a 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 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 1t, which evil
IDENTITY led to the springs or pools of
water. This shaft of unknown depth
was almost if not quite as smooth and
perpendicular as though it 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 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 a 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; five 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.
Zilbalbay walked to the camp, but 1
and the others stayed to pluck some
forage for the mules. Soon they grew
weary of this task and fell to talking as
they watched the sunset, which was
very beautiful on these lonely plains.
''Pick me that flower, friend, to wear
on my breast" and she pointed to
snow-white cactus bloom that grew
among some rocks.
He climbed to the place and stretched
out his hand to cut the flower, when of
sudden I heard him utter an eXclama-
ton and saw him start back.
t'What is it?" I said. ''Havc you
pricked yourself. or cut your hand?"
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
I saw spot of blood appear upon his
wrist. Maya saw it also.
ga snake has bitten you!" she cried,
IL d NciSO VI oSOiy, ehSAA ohS SP.~AS ~
him, and before l 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 fiercely, then calling to
me to bring stick she tore strip off
her robe and made it fast around his
wrist above the puncture. By now
was there with the stick, and setting it
in the loop of linen, 1 twisted 1t till the
hand turned blue from the pressure.
what snake was it?" I asked.
s'The deadly gray sort, he answered,
adding: Don't look SO frightened,
Maya; I know a cure. Come to the
camp, quick!' In two minutes we were
there, and the senior had snatched
sharp knife and a powder flask.
Nov, friend. The said, handing me the
knife, ''cut deep. since 1T 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 cut
twice. He never WINGED. but at each
cut MAYA groaned- Then, having let
the blood fall till it woIlld 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 smile
Zilbalbay went to bag and pro
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