THE SILENT RIVER 



65 



overhanging willow or cottonwood or handful 

 of arrow-weed holds out a restraining hand. 

 But slowly, patiently, winding about obstruc- 

 tions, cutting out new channels, creeping where 

 it may not run, the bubbleless water works its 

 way to the sea. The night-winds steal along its 

 shores and pass in and out among its sedges, 

 but there are no whispering voices ; and the stars 

 emerge and shine upon the flat floor of water, 

 but there is no lustre. The drear desolation of 

 it ! The blare of morning sunlight does not 

 lift the pall, nor the waving illusions of the 

 mirage break the stillness. The Silent River 

 moves on carrying desolation with it ; and at 

 every step the waters grow darker, darker with 

 the stain of red red the hue of decay. 



It was not through paucity of imagination 

 that the old Spaniards gave the name Col- 

 orado.* During the first fifty years after its 

 discovery the river was christened many times, 

 but the name that finally clung to it was the 

 one that gave accurate and truthful description. 



* Colorado is said to be the Spanish translation of the 

 Piman name buqui aquimuti, according to the late Dr. 

 Elliot Coues ; but the Spanish word was so obviously 

 used to denote the red color of the stream, that any trans- 

 lation from the Indian would seem superfluous. 



Slug pish 

 movement. 



Stillness of 

 river. 



Tlie river's 

 name. 



