Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-04-26

daneero1s mission. The e3Ssk horse,
saddled and bridisd, was paving st the
post 70 which be vas tied; behind the
saddle the nail sack. with itfi few han
dred letters, vas securely strapped; and
pair Of large revolyers tsctiopied the
holsters-
when sii vss ready the volantser sx-
press MESSENGER. dressed III q sco1fs
suit of baekskin, With q cartridge oeit
b1ckIsd around his waist, stepped out
Of the hotel. shook hands vith the 50
psrintendent and captain. and then
mounting the pfaneing h0fss and taking
bis SharEfs Creedmoor ride from the
hands Of the gambler, rS,da awsr, f'si-
lowed BY the cheers and good wishes "
his friends, 20 face the unknown dan
gers that might await him on the road
20 the fort in the Rorth-
What q still morning that was, A
mist yelled the stream and wrapped the
eusEied trunks of she o'lks IN lis fields:
. white frost lay upon the grsund; a
lingering tint OF winter Was IN the an,
which vas Just sharp eBoCGh 10 sena the
blood thrilling thTo1sAr the veins OF
both horse and rider. There was net a
sound TO be heard except the footballs
Of the morse. AZ last thls sun rose and
dispersei the mist. and With its rays
came sounds Of life. The bluebird Sas
chirping and the yeiiowhsmner r&ppsne
on the eluis. Eloeks of pigeons we're
h,inQ among the trteg, and the squirrels
were leapinR and iehattering IN the
branches The rabbit locked at the
black horse and its rider with mild
amazsment as they vent rushing past,
and q: one place a pr5wling vslf leapi
across tie road and disappeared IN the
| bushes.
At last the point where the road left
the wooded valley aud wound MP the
bill vas reached. Here the rider halt
ed, and, drawing a spyeiass from his
poeksf, proceeded ID survey the blum.
| for fear that there might be concealed
foes in the bushes by the side OF the
path. A careful inspection failed to
shog any sign Of an. enemy.
Putting spars TO his horse, he rede
up that hill as fast as the horse could
RaII0p, and did not rein him in uatil
the prairie was reached. stopping for
q minute, with the glass he surveyed
the horizon. With the exception OF a
small band of antelope, thsre was mo-
thing in sight The horse Railoped
steadily along. and gave no sign Of
wearinsss. Mile after mile passed. and
still no sign Of danger. The SUI Vas
nov high IN the heavens. Taking bis
watch from bis pocket. the rider say
that tt was noon. Reaching lake. be
stopped. gave the hsrse drink of the
pure, sold water, and then pieketed him
0at to Craze for short tins. From the
| pockets of his hunting shirt be produced
some slices of bread and cheese, which
he ate With the relish that hunger gives
70 the traveller who faces the braoing
nerthern air.
when his horse had eaten all the grass
| that be wanted, which was not mue5, as
be did not seem to relish the dry bunch
grass, the conductor again mounted and
rode for an hour at a swift Rallop. Then
he saw a large body of animals directly
| in front Of him, q few miles distant
| By using his glass be found that it was
a great herd of buffaloes. which was
| travelling in the sane direction he WI
going. Squirting his horse, be soon over.
| took them, and, when they saw him
| they started of on their clumsy Railop
/ They followed the road for more than
half au hour, and during this time he
| chased them several miles At last they
left the path and ran down the bluff Il
a creek and disappeared among the
Willows that lined its banks. After 90
| ing a few miles along the edge Of ths
bluff, the road wound down rasint
and soon reached the valley. Here be
saw q few deer; after gazing as him q
| few seconds, they turned and fled into
| the weeds.
The sun was now low in the west and
the shadows reached from bank to bank
| OF the river. His faithful horse was
beginning to lse. Suddenly he gave q
neigh and started quickly forward. A
few hundred yards away was seen G
body OF msn osmped by the side OF the
stream, whose uniforms aladdened the
lonsly riders heart Il was SIN III
party Of y. s. troops who had siartes
to learn the cause Of the disappearance
| of the express riders They had sought
four days. but could find no trace of ths
missing men. The conductor learned
row that be WAS bat twenty miles II L
the fort. He remained With the soldiers
that night, and next norainQ rode t.
the fort and delivered his precious saci
Of letters 10 the colonel 10 oonImsRd
The officers of the garrison, learning
that the express NJ sssenger was volun
tser who merely cams because no ons
else would venture, treated him vsrJ
Kindly and made bis stay at the fort 9
pleasant one. There were many Indians
at the agency, which was about foul
miles distant from the fort. in q pleas AM
valley. The messengers attention was
drawn TO them by the evident interest
they manifested in him. They would
gaze upon him and h's horse. the only
horse then in the stables of the fort. fol
hours at q tins. Certainly there was
something more than common curiosity
| IN their actions that was not dnnotioec
| bs the Ressenger. A light dawned upou
| him. Might not these Indians be the
cause of tie mysterious disappearance
| II the pony express ridersf To think
was to ack with him. Seeking the colo
nel's quarters, he asked him u he did
not think the death OF the messengers
could be attributed TO the agency IRdi-
ans. The colonel grew very indignant
a She presumption OF the conductor IL
daring 10 assert snsh an idea No; be
said the Indians under his charge vers
geed Indians; the idea Of murder was
repuenant 10 them, good fellows that
| they were, and the expressman vas do
| inc them great wrong TO even think oi
accusing them Of such q crime. II be
was older and had more experience in
the world. be xonld never think Of suoE
q thing. AZ for himself, be would for
| give she rider for bis wicked, wronafn
suspician, but be must never mention
such suspicion again; and with lordly
bow be dismissed the now crestfaliez
messenger.
The conductor determined to 20 down
10 The agency, and, a. be could speal
the Sieux language, mingie with then
and see what be could learn Of theil
Intentions A be vas 10 leave with thu
mail the next morning. he thought BIZ
would 60 down that evening. Procursns
acme paint from the sutlsf. who was alsf
Indian trader. he adornsd himself In
the most stylish manner known TO In
dian dandyism. As be wore the scouts
sii2ss, all he required TO make his dis
eitise compiese Wa q feather headaFess
Tsis be borrowed from young iieaten-
ara Who had one a. . trophy from The
lRSt campaign. So. thns adorned and
iornamenisd. be borrowed an attenuafed
pany from q acoat At the fort and eel
% for the agency at snndsHn-
The only building 81 the aeenc5 wa
thu house OF the agent, very large
stsine house. Surrounding this heasl
vsrs The skin tepsss or vlRwams Of ths