Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-04-09
CHAPTER XIV.

Sx4<14 L LIN &Axts
TALSE dawn in the lava beds of
Arizona. The first faint tinge
on the eastern horizon fades,
= and the stars shine the more
brilliantly in the brief, darkest hour
before the true daybreak An icy
wind sweeps down canyons and over
mesas, stinging the marrow of the
wayfarer's bones. In the heavens the
innumerable stars burn steadily in
crystal GOODNESS. Shadows lie in styg-
ian blackness at foot of rock and val
ley. Soft and clear the lights of night
swathe the uplands. An awesome ST.
lence hangs over the desert. flushed
and humbled by the immensely of
space. one expects to hear the rush of
worlds through the universe. At times
the bosom swells with wild desire to
sing and shout in the glory of pure
living.
The day comes quickly. The, sun,
leaping over the edge of the world,
floods mesa and canyon. burning. with
ering, sparing no living thing, lavish
ing reds and puppies, blues and vio-
let's, upon canyon walls and wind
sculptured rocks. But remorseful
glare. binding. sight destroying. is
thrown back from the sand and alkali
OF the desert. shriyeled sagebrush and
shrunken cactus bravely fight for life.
A narrow pathway leads from the
mesa down the canyons wall, twisting
and doubling on itself to Apache
spring. The trail then moves south
ward between towering cliffs, lane
through which is caught far distant
glimpse of the mountains. Little whirl-
winds of dust spring up ever and
anon, twirling wildly across the sandy
wastes. The air suffocates like the
breath Of furnace. Ever the pitiless
sun searches and scorches, as con-
science sears and stings stricken
soul.
Down the narrow trail, past the
spring, ride in single file the Apaches
slowly on tired horses. for the pursu-
Ing soldiers have given them no halt
ing space. Naked save for breech-
clout, with narrow red band of dyed
buckskin about his forehead, in which
sticks feather, each rides silent.
grim, cruel, a hideous human reptile,
as native to the desert as is the ella
monster. The horse is saddleless. For
bride the warrior uses a piece of
grass rope twisted about the pony's
lower jaw. His legs droop laxly by
the horses sides. In his right hand he
grasps his rifle. resting the butt on the
knee The only sound to break the
stillSess of the day is the rattle of
stones slipping and sliding down the
pathway when loosened by the hoofs
Of the ponies.
Creeping down the canyon wall, they
cross the bottom, pass the spring and
disappear at turn in the canyon
walls. Nature and Indian meet and
merge In world of torture and de-
spair.
Dick had Jared badly in the lava
beds. One spring after the other he
found dry. His horse fell from ex-
haustion and thirst He ended the
sufferings of his pack mule with re-
volver bullet.
Dick staggered on afoot across the
desert, hoping to find water at Apache
spring. His blue shirt was torn and
faded to a dingy purple. Hat and
shoulders were gray with alkali dust.
Contact with the rocks and cactus had
rent trousers and leggings. His shoes,
cut by sharply pointed stones and with
thread rotted by the dust Of the des-
erts, were worn to shreds. Unshaven
and unshorn, with sunken cheeks and
eyes bright with the delirium of thirst,
he dragged his weary way across the
desert. He reached Apache spring
shortly after the passage of the In
dams, but his craving for water was
so great that he did not observe their
TRAIL
Keeling toward the spring, he cast
aside his hat and flung down his rife
In his eagerness to drink. Throwing
himself on his face before the hollow
In the rock from which the water trio
kled, he first saw that the waters had
dried up. With his bony fingers he
dug into the dry sand, crying aloud in
despair. Stiffly he arose and blundered
blindly to rock, upon which lie sank
In his weakness.
"Another day like this and I'll give
up the fight" he moaned. Apache
spring dry, the first time in years;
Little Squaw spring nothing but dust
and alkali. 1t is twenty miles to Clear.
water spring-twenty-m iles-if l can
make It,"
| Dick trembled with weakness. His
swollen tongue Glove to the roof Of his
mouth. His lips were cracked and
blackened. Bits Of foam tlickered
about the corners Of his mouth. The
glare blinded his eyes, which were hall
closed. AT times fever waves swept
over him; again he shuddered will
cold.
Sounds of falling waters filled his
ears. The signing of the wind through
the canyon walls suggested the trio
King of fountains. Rivers flowed be
fore his eyes through green meadow.
only to fade into the desert as b.
gazed.
What land-what land! 1t is til,
abode of the god of thirst! He tempt,
men into his valley with the lure O
gold and saps the lifeblood from thei
bodies drop by drop. Drop by drop
hear it falling. Mott is water hear
/ rNhara IT iSt How cool ~ Inol,sp,