The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1898-09-14

it easily, with Steve sitting braced on
the high seat.
Fifty miles of waterless desert
stretched between Lost River and the
Snake. Pitched in depression of
the desert, nearly midway between
the two, was the stage station of Red
Hole.
Water had to be hauled there for the
stage stock and the stock-tender.
There, also, water was measured out
to emigrants crossing the desert, and
to Mormon venders of fruit and vege-
tables bound for the mines. 1t was
given free to man, but for beasts it
must be bought.
It was in the afternoon when Steve
left Lost River. The road was nearly
level, smooth and solid, except fol- oc-
casional stretches of sand and out
cropping Of lava rock.-the terror of
the teamster.
He had to omake goodtime. Late as
it was, it would be we'll into the night
before he reached Red Hole and the
horses there, for the relay would want
the water before their start across the
desert.
The strong young horses pulled the
heavy tank at steady pace over the
road, whether good or bad. 1t rolled
smoothly over the solid gravel, fur
rowed deep the sand, and crashed
| nvar tba ,ool, x,,;Ib N oraolr;no of uooI
a rumbliug of iron and a mighty splash
ing of water.
A haze of heat hung over the desert
To Steve the Snake River hills were
smokily indistinct, and the long Bitter
Root Divide was mistily perceptible
1t marked the boundary between Idaho
and Montana, and lay in land that wal
the resort of rougher characters.
The dark outline of the divide,
shifting gently in the simmer Of the
desert, pleasantly suggested to Stew,
the shade of spruce and lulling watel
and indirectly that cool corner stall il
the stage barn. The low sun at hi
back threw his long shadow down q
smooth stretch of road; the team hat
settled to the collar; and Steve, yield
ing to that pleasant suggestion, wa
soon asleep and driving with
perilous swaying on the high seat.
Jolted along thus with danger ant
discomfort, the hostler suddenly fount
himself nearly pitched headlong ovel
the foot-board The tank had stopped
abruptly. Involuntarily he put hi
hand to his eyes. The sun had gon'
down, and in the twilight he saw be
fore him three mounted Bannock In
dians.
One, on his pony in the middle o
the road, had stopped the team. Th
others sat statuesque in their saddle
&C either front wheel, and the voice o
one called in his waking ears, Water! !!
Half-asleep as he was, Steve recog
nized the three onlookers of the morn
/ ing at Lost River.
? "Sure" he now made reply; an,
taking the bucket from the foot-boarC
) at his feet, he leaned back and raise,
| the iron cap and filed the bucket gen
erously.
5 The blanketed rider on his righ
. reached out, took it, lowered his hea
: to meet it, and thrust in his mout
Q and nostrils like q watering horse
4 long and eagerly. With a heavin
= sigh he passed the bucket back t
Steve, who handed it to the silen
+ waiter on his left. He, too, dram
: greedily, aud then rode with it to hi
: companion, stationed motionlessly O
0 the head of the team.
"Water for pony" again said th
statuesque spokesman at the off whee
: "Not muchl' returned Steve, VIII
D was used to the always increasing d.
s mands OF the Indian. '"That's again'
r orders. Fetch that bucket back her
D and ride on to Lost River"
"Water for ponyl" the man pei
sisted.
{ 1t struck Steve that his tone We
y strangely mandatory for Bannocl
/, He looked more closely at the speake
: The man held rifle across his saddl,
n and headless jack-rabbit hung at I'll
: shrunken flank Of his pony. His ga.
J. many-colored blanket, his brillial
!, scarlet flannel leggings, his bleache
: and broidered moccasins-all wei
alike picturesque and proper, and l
# had the feather of petty chief Sian
Q ing properly from his hat.
= The hat was pulled down on b
n head, Indian fashion, to meet the mui
d ling fold of the blanket below, and c
the face thus partially screened, Ste'
I, saw cheek bones fittingly reddene
d with ochre.
n Still Steve's scrutinizing eyes wei
IS not satisfied. Something was wan
d ing. The man turned his head
d beckon to his companion with Il
r bucket. With his movement b
blanket was thrown from his shoulde
Iy and Steve saw that the two long hors
Of hair-like braids that invariably bedeC
le the shoulders Of the Bannock brav
es were lacking.
d. "Water for pony" again reiterat'
ID this chief with the eagle-feather b