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THE MOUNTAINS
VI
THE INFERNO
For eight days we did penance； checking off the hours； meeting
doggedly one after another the disagreeable things。 We were bathed in
heat； we inhaled it； it soaked into us until we seemed to radiate it like so
many furnaces。 A condition of thirst became the normal condition； to be
only slightly mitigated by a few mouthfuls from zinc canteens of tepid
water。 Food had no attractions： even smoking did not taste good。
Always the flat country stretched out before us。 We could see far ahead a
landmark which we would reach only by a morning's travel。 Nothing
intervened between us and it。 After we had looked at it a while； we
became possessed of an almost insane necessity to make a run for it。 The
slow maddening three miles an hour of the pack… train drove us frantic。
There were times when it seemed that unless we shifted our gait； unless
we stepped outside the slow strain of patience to which the Inferno held us
relentlessly； we should lose our minds and run round and round in circles
as people often do； in the desert。
And when the last and most formidable hundred yards had slunk
sullenly behind us to insignificance； and we had dared let our minds relax
from the insistent need of self…controlthen； beyond the cotton。 woods；
or creek…bed； or group of buildings； whichever it might be； we made out
another； remote as paradise； to which we must gain by sunset。 So again
the wagon…trail； with its white choking dust； its staggering sun； its miles
made up of monotonous inches； each clutching for a man's sanity。
We sang everything we knew； we told stories； we rode cross…saddle；
sidewise； erect； slouching； we walked and led our horses； we shook the
powder of years from old worn jokes； conundrums； and puzzles； and at
the end； in spite of our best efforts； we fell to morose silence and the red…
eyed vindictive contemplation of the objective point that would not seem
to come nearer。
For now we lost accurate sense of time。 At first it had been merely a
question of going in at one side of eight days； pressing through them； and
coming out on the other side。 Then the eight days would be behind us。
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THE MOUNTAINS
But once we had entered that enchanted period； we found ourselves more
deeply involved。 The seemingly limited area spread with startling
swiftness to the very horizon。 Abruptly it was borne in on us that this
was never going to end； just as now for the first time we realized that it
had begun infinite ages ago。 We were caught in the entanglement of days。
The Coast Ranges were the experiences of a past incarnation： the
Mountains were a myth。
Nothing was real but this； and this would endure forever。 We
plodded on because somehow it was part of the great plan that we should
do so。 Not that it did any good：we had long since given up such ideas。
The illusion was very real； perhaps it was the anodyne mercifully
administered to those who pass through the Inferno。
Most of the time we got on well enough。 One day； only； the Desert
showed her power。 That day； at five of the afternoon； it was one hundred
and twenty degrees in the shade。 And we； through necessity of reaching
the next water； journeyed over the alkali at noon。 Then the Desert came
close on us and looked us fair in the eyes； concealing nothing。 She killed
poor Deuce； the beautiful setter who had traveled the wild countries so
long； she struck Wes and the Tenderfoot from their horses when finally
they had reached a long…legged water tank； she even staggered the horses
themselves。 And I； lying under a bush where I had stayed after the others
in the hope of succoring Deuce； began idly shooting at ghostly jack…rabbits
that looked real； but through which the revolver bullets passed without
resistance。
After this day the Tenderfoot went water…crazy。 Watering the horses
became almost a mania with him。 He could not bear to pass even a mud…
hole without offering the astonished Tunemah a chance to fill up； even
though that animal had drunk freely not twenty rods back。 As for
himself； he embraced every opportunity； and journeyed draped in many
canteens。
After that it was not so bad。 The thermometer stood from a hundred
to a hundred and five or six； to be sure； but we were getting used to it。
Discomfort； ordinary physical discomfort； we came to accept as the
normal environment of man。 It is astonishing how soon uniformly
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THE MOUNTAINS
uncomfortable conditions； by very lack of contrast； do lose their power to
color the habit of mind。 I imagine merely physical unhappiness is a
matter more of contrasts than of actual circumstances。 We swallowed
dust； we humped our shoulders philosophically under the beating of the
sun； we breathed the debris of high winds； we cooked anyhow； ate
anything； spent long idle fly… infested hours waiting for the noon to pass；
we slept in horse…corrals； in the trail； in the dust； behind stables； in hay；
anywhere。 There was little water； less wood for the cooking。
It is now all confused； an impression of events with out sequence； a
mass of little prominent purposeless things like rock conglomerate。 I
remember leaning my elbows on a low window…ledge and watching a
poker game going on in the room of a dive。 The light came from a sickly
suspended lamp。 It fell on five players；two miners in their shirt…sleeves；
a Mexican； a tough youth with side…tilted derby hat； and a fat gorgeously
dressed Chinaman。 The men held their cards close to their bodies； and
wagered in silence。 Slowly and regularly the great drops of sweat
gathered on their faces。 As regularly they raised the backs of their hands
to wipe them away。 Only the Chinaman； broad…f