[A. H. Martin, The Valley of Bubbling Earth, The Overland Monthly, April 1911]

 

THE VALLEY OF BUBBLING EARTH

A Legend of Coso Springs

BY A. H. MARTIN

            FOR MANY years had there been peace between the Pah-Utes and the Shoshones, and the grass grew green over the slumbering tomahawk. The braves fished side by side in the clear mountain streams and vied with each other in the chase. And ever the peace-pipe circled around. The old men of the tribes smoked in the sunshine and told of the prowess of their youth, while the women made baskets and crooned softly to the little ones. And in their tepees the medicine men made big medicine.

            In the camp of the Pah-Utes dwelt the mighty chief Thunder Water and his daughter, Laughing Sunshine. Beautiful was she as the snow that wreathes the mountain top with perennial youth, and as fearless as the mountain eagle. Not hers the hands to lie content with the humble work of the women, but with her bow at her side she pursued the leaping deer through the hills, and none was more sure and active in the chase than she. And at the tales of the old men her eyes would dance, and her lips parted with the joy of the battle.

            Hither roamed one day Silent Hawk, a mighty warrior of the Shoshone, seeking the game that had eluded him in his native hills. Strong was he as the mountain pine, and in his arm slept the might of heroes. Swift were his feet as the swooping bird that gave him name, and in none of the Shoshone lodges was found one so great as he. In the very heat of the chase, when the arrow trembled on the string ere it winged its silent way to the heart of the bounding deer, Silent Hawk beheld the maiden.

            Her gleaming limbs flashed through the trees with the grace of the fawn, and even Silent Hawk was not swifter to the kill. The chief cared not that his prize had fallen by a maiden's hand, while his own had faltered. He was only watching the woman who had won his heart.

            Thenceforth the chase held no charms for Silent Hawk, unless the maid was by his side. The hills had lost their lure, and life was as the skies of winter without her near. With all the fire of his race did Silent Hawk force his wooing, but as well might he have sought the love of the Spirit of the Snow. With light laughter and lighter words she met his ardor and fled in pursuit of the game. And ever Silent Hawk followed. And where he went, the eyes of the Pah-Ute braves roved menacingly. But little cared the chief for the dark looks of the warriors; his eyes fell only before the scorn of the maiden. Thus sped the summer, till the chilling breath of winter fanned the mountain heights with icy caress. Darker and shorter grew the days, but ever fiercer grew the love of the Shoshone chief.

            And one night, while the moon hung low and the wind spirits tossed the branches, Silent Hawk entered the lodge of the women, and striking down the guards, seized Laughing Sunshine. Out across the shimmering sands he bore her, while the maiden fought desperately and cried to her people. Through the shadowy night fled the chief with his love, and close at his heels pressed the raging Pah- Utes. The pursuers dared not use their bows, for fear of harming the maiden, but more than one spiteful arrow clipped the war-lock of the chief. But on his broad back he bore the girl and her people wavered.

            Thus they fled through the night, Silent Hawks traveling on the wings of the wind

420      OVERLAND MONTHLY.

though impeded by the weight of his burden. And when at last the fingers of the dawn parted the veil of darkness, the Pah-Utes were left in the distance. Laughing Sunshine cast a final glance behind, and her heart thrilled with the fear she had never known. Again she struggled to free herself, but the mighty embrace of the chief held her close.

            In her distress she cried to the Great Spirit for succor. And as the words left her lips the bowels of the earth rumbled and gave answer. Hissing columns of water arose and wound their lengths around them. Vast clouds of steam issued forth and hid the sun in mist. Under their feet the earth fought and bubbled. Silent Hawk recoiled, and would have fain retreated. But new springs gush forth and the earth comes to life around him. It slides and trembles, and wavering Spirits of Water enfold the chief in their wet embrace. And the bubbling earth bears him to the molten underworld, even as the maiden flings herself from him and speeds between the geysers.

            Laughing Sunshine, glancing backwards in her flight, beholds Silent Hawk turning to bubbling water, and from his head shoots a mighty hissing flood. And even in his death he thinks only of her. The water races after her, a wildly wreathing column, but swifter is her flight, and it crashes to the sands with a moaning sound.

            Sometimes, when the heavens are dark and the sun hides behind the clouds, the spirit of Silent Hawk appears and vainly seeks among the geysers for the maiden he has lost. From spring to spring he wanders, and ever he complains of the maiden's cruelty. And as he searches, his rage grows until again the waters hiss in the air and rush madly across the sands. Ever he is seeking Laughing Sunshine, and ever his quest is vain. The water roars and the earth still bubbles. And the Great Spirit stills them not.