The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-02-07
The Caliente
Trail 81 - -

In their weary journey across the
barren laesa the travellers had sudden
ly come to a halt. What they had
dreaded from the time they had left
the stage road station and set out on
the trail had come to pass. and they
were sore distressed. Bad water and
the insufferable heat of the desert had
stretched Big Bunster out on his blan-
kets, and he was talking about his
mother and asking the others to break
the news TO her gently.
Bunster had not felt well when they
left Flagstaff; but. like the well mean
ing young idiot that he was. he persist
ed In facing the dangers of the trail
with the Others. So. as he grew less
steady ON his burro and the fever took
a firmer hold upon his big, lazy body.
his head dropped lower over the POM
mel, and Jim Yost. the guide and the
only man of the whole six of them
who really knew what danger the big
fellow was In, determined to call .
halt.
II don't want to see him die In his
saddle" Jim said in a whisper to Zach
Rawlins, land unless we kin git him
inter more comfortable shape he'll
croak afore sundown."
So they paused In the shade OF a
mass Of rocks piled up in the fashion
the Titans had Of doing things in the
days when the Grand Canyon Of the
Colorado was young. And they were
mighty glad to rest there, for to be
stared out of countenance all day long
by such a sun as only the great desert
knows is enough to drive man a long
way toward q shady spot.
Big Bunster felt easier, but he knew
he would die, he said, unless he could
get sip Of decent water. He saw
clearly enough that this was impossi-
BILE. and SO In his lazy way he was let
ting go of the strings of life.
Don't wait for me to die, boys" he
said: "Keep along on your way or you
will all drop down, as I have done.
always was rather slow, and 1 want to
take my own time dying Don't stop
for me-"
Then he looked up into Zach Raw
Inns face and smiled one Of the queer
est, ghastliest smiles Zach had ever
seen. And then Zach, who was the
best and truest friend Big Bunster
had ever had, stuck his heels in the
sand and said it was a beastly shame
that such a good fellow should come
to such an end. He wanted to know
why their miserable guide had led
them SO far out of the way, why they
were here, forty miles from nowhere,
and why the guide had promised to
find q spring when he bad known moth
ling of its, existence, and why, In the
name of all that was holy, something
couldn't be done.
"Waal, yer needn't git so cursed
riled," rasped out the grim Yost
"Nuthin' kin be did now. We can't &c
NO further, or your man'l drop dead
as that snakeskin thar. As 1t Is, he
stands some show. Well strike Ca
Iiente tran afore dusk. when 1t gits
cooler. It's right over thar" And the
rugged iYost pointed a knotty fore
, finger across a white expanse, ovel
which lines of heat were quivering a!
If the very air -rithed under the pitt
less fire from on high.
"What good will II do Bunster II WI
do get thereY' whispered some one.
"Goodf" returned the guide. "Why
thars water four mile from that al
trail-ef we kin git down to it."
"Get down to 1t! OF course we will.
3 spoke up Rawlins. 'Cheer up. oil
man." he said soothingly to the parch
ed Bunster, whose tongue was out an,
whose eyes were staring across tn
plaIr toward Caliente trail. Thar
water over thar. and yer shall have
good drink. my boy"
"Water-yes. see 1t; It's sort Of gra
blue, isn't it? Why, there's a grea
Il lake. What a sightw And the thir:
+ plagued man stared at the picture hl
|. distorted vision had conjured up, ant
drawing In his tongue. he pressed hi
cracked lips together as IL gluing theI
;. to the brim of a glass full of the spa
~ killing liquid, for which he would hay
given anything he possessed for on
d soul satisfying swallow. His tortur
and that of the friend who watche
n over him while he lay tossing on h
A. blankets were allayed to a degree fe
hours later, when the fierce sun repen
ed and the night stole on slowly. 4
: the evening air famed his brow Raw
Inns. riding by the side Of his sic
, friend. made light of the days mi
At haps and even managed a joke abol
Big Bunster's burro being smaller ths
70 Its rider, which joke seemed very mel
kS the truth, though 1t lacked heartiness
IS The little caravan made its way