The Quest of the Four: A Story of the Comanches and Buena Vista — John Shaqi
The Quest of the Four: A Story of the Comanches and Buena VistaAltsheler, Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander)
General
The Quest of the Four: A Story of the Comanches and Buena Vista
Altsheler, Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander)
Comanche Indians -- Fiction; Western stories
Only Phil noticed the faint tone of sadness with which his words ended,
and he glanced quickly at the German. But Arenberg’s face expressed
nothing. Once more he was pulling calmly at his pipe. Bill Breakstone
gave his words hearty indorsement.
"You’re right," he said. "The Grand Duke of Germany speaks the truth.
I’ve embodied that piece of wisdom in a little poem, which I will quote
to you:
"You may lead a horse to the water,
But you cannot make him drink.
You may stuff a man with knowledge,
But you cannot make him think.
"Part of that is borrowed, and part of it is original, but, combining
the two parts, I think it is a little masterpiece."
Arenberg took out his pipe again, and regarded Bill Breakstone with
admiration.
"It iss one great man, this Herr Bill Breakstone," he said. "He makes
poetry and tells the truth at the same time."
"Thanks, most puissant lord," said Breakstone, "and now, the lesson
being over, Phil, I think we might all of us go to sleep and knit up a
few raveled sleeves of care."
"We might take to the wagon," said Middleton. "If I’m any judge of
weather, Phil, the beautiful spell that we’ve had is coming to an end."
"You’re right, Cap," said Breakstone. "I noticed that when the sun set
to-day it looked redder than usual through a cloud of mist, and that
means rain. Therefore, Orlando deserts his little Forest of Arden, and
betakes himself to the shelter of the curved canvas."
Phil deemed it wise to imitate him, and the four found places in the
large wagon among their goods, where they had the shelter of the canvas
roof, although the cover was open at either end to allow the clean sweep
of the air. Phil, as usual, slept well. Five minutes was about all he
needed for the preparatory stage, and to-night was no exception. But he
awoke again in the middle of the night. Now he knew full well the
cause. Low thunder was rumbling far off at the edge of the earth, and a
stroke of lightning made him wink his sleepy eyes. Then came a rush of
cold air, and after it the rain. The big drops rattled on the curving
canvas roof, but they could not penetrate the thick cloth. Phil raised
himself a little, and looked out at the open ends, but he saw only
darkness.
Meanwhile the rain increased and beat harder upon the roof, which shed
it like shingles. Phil drew his blanket up to his chin, rested his head
and shoulders a little more easily against a bag of meal, and never had
a greater sense of luxury in his life. The beat of the rain on the
canvas was like the patter of the rain on the roof of the old home, when
he was a little boy and lay snug under the eaves. He had the same
pleasant sense of warmth and shelter now. The storm might beat about
him, but it could not touch him. He heard the even breathing of his
comrades, who had not awakened. He heard the low thunder still
grumbling far off in the south-west, and the lightning came again at
intervals, but he sank gently back to slumber.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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