The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-29

boughs that hang from the walls of the
canyon and the men one by one turn them
selves to their work again, little more
thoughtful than before, every one there
thinking Of home; wondering why she does
not write.
Then the man who has at last had letter
comes slowly back, so slowly. IL mas not
taken all this time 10 read it, surely? They
crane their necks as he comes nearer, look
sidewise and cautiously, respectfully, for
they have seen him hide the letter away IN
his bosom, and they have seen him draw his
sleeve across his bearded face as he comes
slowly back. All, size has written to him al
last. No, no. Some one has written toT
her. Mother is dead.
Ike MOssman, now in Oakland waiting for
the Silent BOatman, he says, had started an
express from Walla Walia 10 OrotIno, dis
lance Of 200 miles, and, as usual, all alone.
When / came q month or two later he
took me as partner. This was partly be-
cause | knew so many Of the old CaliIor-
mans. and partly because he was threatened
with competition from Wels-Farg0.
We formed cur partnership at Orohno,
the farther end Of the line, and he wanted
to get back to Walia Walla in the next q
hours In fact be not only wanted to get
there in that time. but had to get there, or
find the dreaded rival in the field.
This 200 miles in q hours, astonishing as
it may seem, was Ike MOssman's habit,
and ne did il twice each week. i am not
in the habit of calling Witnesses; 1t Is
enough to state fact and lett stand or tail
But there are thousands still living who
were there in 1862 and who know this.
Yes. oh yes, / can make II win you. III
You have horses on the road down csn ride
them and viii be atyOur side as you enter
Wala Walla." / remember MOsSman gave
me A queer look, but had ] not helped
drive cattle from Portland 10 1rekap And
had l not helped drive mustangs from
Texas TO Shasta? Why, OF course / could
ride, ride anywhere and ride anything.
and we set out at sunrise. The next sun
rise must see Us 200 miles away! F!easant
the first 40 miles-woods; Well-fed horses
along here in the mines; cool waters. W 10
flowers that brushed our feet on the tralf S
side as We shot forward. Then up long,
AcTtuous mountain side; then down, down,
down. II began 10 get rough, A horse llkes
the change Of levels, and II rests man,
too; but neither ups nor downs" should De
too continuous However a horse viii
make a longer distance and do it in better
condition over billy road than on road
that is entirely level. The secret OF IL is
that he rests his uphill muscles while going
down hill. and the reverse.
At Lewiston, the first hundred miles,
dismouDted slowly, as if the crust Of the
earth was a sort OF eggsbell But fresh,
well-fed horses always refresh the rider.
Nothing in the world can give a worn man
strength like strong, fresh horse. ms IS
a fact, and a very important fact worthy
the attention Of a thinker Indeed, ] know
no medicine for a sick man so good as con-
tact with strong, well-fed horse. We had
a long uphill pull Of it from the bank OF
Snake River Then the plains. 1t is all a
vast field of wheat now, but at that time
no sign of house or habitatl0n, only our
Indians waiting here and there by the way
side every 10 or 20 or 30 miles, as water
allowed. with fresh horses.
/ got tired, then sleepy, SO sleepyI /
pine ed myself, sang old California songs,
gave the Modoc war whOop, told wh0oplng
big lies to try to keep awake, but almost
tumbled from my horse dozens OF tunes mat
long. long night.
We made It; made it too in little less
than % hoursi Mossman instructed me IN
what l had to do until he returned, and