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Show - 4 - As they appro~ched the Mexican border, the burning h·::-at of that reg5on was intensified by the lack of #ater, and many of the men lay prostrate, their tongues swollen, and tb8ir bodies parched in a frightful manner. Some distance ahead, 4braham located a small pool of :ater, and instantly the fa~ished Mules rushed pell mell to its banks, for they, tro, were dying of thirsto The supply was very limited and if the anicals were allorv;ed to drink, the men must surely perish o ~hich should it be? Abraham quickly decided, and bayoneted those poor beasts of burden in order to save his comrades 1he water was full o . roud rom their hoofs, but no matter, it revived, and save the lives o~ the nation's soldiers. Abraham was im~ediately arrested by his superior officer for this seeming act of cruelty and ordered to renort to Capta:n cook, then in co~mandQ T~is splendid leader recognized the motive for his action and not only acquitted hin, but praised his good judgment and prompt action. ~braham was tall and rather slender, ~ut he possessed a 7igorous constitution and a firm will. These two priceless fr ends ca me to his aid, in t·me of sore distress anri carried him through to safety. It was so at thJs particular timeo His ability to endure the torture of thirst longer t 1an any other r.1an i..n tbe detachn:.~nt and ~1is ow2r to •'Jithstand fattgue, won for him the name of 11 A.braham the Strong ." Their route at tirres wound through deep, burning sauds The weak, half-starved animals could not pull the heavily loaded wagcns through them, and the men were obliged to assist the~o Pushing, pu llin~, digging , lifting for days at a time. This terrible ordeal wuuld ha7e been too much for robust we ll-fed teams and fresh young troops, but ho rJ this bank ol' toilers, held out against such heavy o ds is hard to understand. A.s they approached the Rocky Hountains , their pro~ress seemed completely shut off. Here were broad, rugged call~'ons covered with oak and dense underbrush throu~::h which they must cut their r;ay with crud~, dull instruments and bleeding hands. T1ere was a road to be hewn from the solid rock whic1 held them prisoners, and seemed to say, "Thou shalt not pass", but pass they_ did, for they ~ere invincible conquerors, and the story of this conquest, so slightly menticned here, must ever nemain the most amazing achievement in the history of man~ At length thP struggle was ended. Tao t~ousand miles of suffering lay far to t:l 2astwardo Six long, weary months of hUiil~er, thirst, heat, cold, rain, cl:illing \vinds and sleet, living among w]ld beast~, scor~ions and rept:les, all :or their country's honor, was now p~st history and forgotten for the monent, in tbe glorious scene they were permitted to ~itness. From the uplapds of the western slopes they looked down upon the great Pacific ceanA glistening like a rrirror jn the Hinter sunset of January 30, lb47~ · |
