The Quest of the Four: A Story of the Comanches and Buena VistaAltsheler, Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander)
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The Quest of the Four: A Story of the Comanches and Buena Vista
Altsheler, Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander)
Comanche Indians -- Fiction; Western stories
In two minutes they also were in the lake, enjoying a greater luxury
than any Roman ever found in his marble and perfumed bath. All the dust
and dirt of the desert were quickly swept from them, and the cold water
infused new life into their veins and muscles. Toward the center they
found by diving that the lake had a depth of at least twenty feet. As
they saw no stream flowing into it, they were of the opinion that it was
fed by underground springs, probably the snow water from distant
mountains, which accounted for its coldness. At the far side they found
the outlet, a rivulet that flowed between rocks and then descended
swiftly toward the plain. They marked its course by the rows of trees
on either side, and they knew that after its passage from the hilly
country it would enter the desert, there to be lost among the sands. To
the north of them the country seemed to rise considerably, and
Breakstone believed that the faint blue haze just under the horizon
indicated mountains.
"If so," he said, "we’re not likely to suffer much more from the desert,
because the mountains in this part of the Southwest generally mean trees
and water. Meanwhile, we’ll take the goods the gods provide us, while
the lovely lake is here beside us; which bears a little resemblance to
more famous lines, and which fits the case just now."
After a splendid swim they lay on the grass and let the sun dry them,
while they soothed their eyes with the view of the lakes and the woods
and the horses grazed in peace near the water’s edge. It was idyllic,
sylvan, and at this moment they felt at peace with everybody, all except
Arenberg, who rarely let his boy and the Comanches go out of his
thoughts.
"Maybe we’re the first white people who have ever seen this lake," said
John Bedford.
"Not likely," replied Breakstone. "Hunters and trappers have roved
through this region a lot. People of that kind generally see things
before the discoverers come along and name ’em."
"At any rate," said Phil, "we’ve never seen it before, and since it’s
the color of silver, and it’s set here in this bowl, I propose that we
call it ’The Silver Cup."
"Good," said Breakstone, and the others, also, approved. They were
silent for awhile longer, enjoying their rest, and then Hans Arenberg
spoke gravely:
"It iss likely," he said, "that the Comanches know of this lake, and
that warriors in time may come here. We are sure that their bands went
westward to avoid the American troops. Wherever there iss good water
they will come sooner or later, and this water iss the best. It may be
that it will pay us to stay here awhile and seek some clue."
"I think you’re right," said Bill Breakstone, speaking for all the
others. "We don’t know just where we are going, and we’ve got to stop
and catch hold to something somewhere. And, as you say, in this part of
the world good water is bound to draw people."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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