San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-02-02
THE

~ 1tCdIlN ulleu ND WlIn SOIL
and half hidden by thorn bushes. which
we judged to be the entrance TO the
cueya. Having provided ourselves with
Torches we lit four of them, and led
the way through the hole to find myself
IN cave where great and mysterious
winu Prev and sighed in sudden gusts
1nat almost extinguished our lights.
r0AioWlng this cave we came to hole
or smart at the end of IT, which evil
oenoly 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
noilowed by the hand of man. but the
strangest thing about it was the terri
pie stairway that the ancients had used
70 approach the water, which consisted
OF double row of notches, eight or ten
inches in depth, cut in the surface of
me shaft Up and down these notches
tne water carriers must have passed for
generations, for they were much worn,
ana 9 groove made by tie feet of men
ran to the top of this awful ladder.
Inc 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 a dreadful placer he
said. II 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 pool where
they can drink tomorrow" Then we
turned and left this cave of the winds
apd were glad to be outside of it, for
the place had an unholy look, and, all
the draught Notwithstanding, was hot
to suffocation.
8 Zilbalbay 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 to talking as
they watched the sunset, which was
very beautiful on these lonely plains,
ffsently heard the Lady Maya say;
lick me that flower, friend, to wear
on ny breast" and she pointed to
snowy Ehite cactus bloom that grew
among lpme rocks.
He climbed to the place and stretched
q sudden / heard Aim /, ter an exclama-
ton and saw him start back.
"What Is ftp" / said. "Have 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
/ saw spot of blood appear upon his
wrist. Maya saw 1t also.
IA snake has bitten your she cried,
ma voice of agony; then she sprang at
him, and before guessed what she was
about to do, seized bis arm with both
hands and applied her lips to the
wound. He tried to wrench II free, but
she chung to 1t fiercely, then calling to
me to bring stick she tore Q strip off
her robe and made 1t fast around bis
wrist above the punct9re. By now !
was there with the stick, and setting ~
In the loop Of linen, ] twisted 1t till the
hand turned blue from the pressure.
What snake was IT," I asked.
adding: ''Don't look SO frightened,
camp, quickl" In two minutes we were
there, and the senior had snatched
sharp knife and powder flask.
sNow, friend, "he said handing me the
knife, scut 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 I 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 q twenty-cent
piecel and fred it. 1t went off in puff
81 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
walt said the senior, with an attempt
at b smile.
4 zilbalbay went to bag and pro-
dnced from it some cuca paste.
aEat this" he said; sit is better than
INV frewater."
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-
couraoing him at the same time to keep
q brave heart and fight against death.
81 am doing my BEST" he answered,
feeblv: then his mind began to wander
and at length he fell down and his eyes
shut. :,
ssIJnless we can rouse him the white
man will die" said Zilbalbay.
aOh. awakep cried Maya despairing-
lv. placing her lips close to the senor's
ear.
He seemed to hear her, for though his
ewes did not open, he smiled family and
uSurmured, "11l try"
Then. with our help, he struggled
from the ground and began to walk
again like a man who is drunk. Then
he feilagain, and putting our handsupon
his breast we could feel the contrac-
lions of his heart growing weaker every
moment. till at last they seemed to die
away. But of 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 rum
ming down his face.
81 think that the white man will live
now; he has conquered the poison"
said Znbalbay quietly, and hearing his
"A &bo "a IN God in nv