Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1901-10-18

like washouts. Out of reach Of gun
shot from these slashes, except at a
single turn. the trail Of the pony ex-
press followed the crest Of a long and
crooked ridge. At the turn mentioned
with a washout close upon the left,
the ridge dropped away toward La
peers. Past this cut. which had been
the scene Of more than one ambush.
the pony riders we're wont TO race at
full speed.
Sandy, upon his calico. had passed
over the height at a flying pace and
was now well within sight Of the build
ings at Iapeer's. Suddenly in his
front, on either hand. there came
serambling up the slopes three or four
squads Of Indian riders. They had
timed their break from cover so that
there would be no space for dash
between their lines.
Sandy's eyes and brain took in the
situation quickly. The big war party
of Cheyennes had returned TO attack
more express riders There were a
score in his front, and he knew the
ravines and canyon cuts on either
hand and the washout in his rear
were hiding other squads ready to
cut OF his line OF flight
He was surrounded and he deter
mined to go forward and trust, first
to an appearance Of good faith, and
finally to the quick wit and speed of
his calico pony. Thrusting a useless
revolver into boot leg, he unbuckled
his belt. with ammunition case and
holster and let it fail to the ground.
The mail pouch. which Sandy. like
every other express messenger. would
have refused to abandon under any
circumstances whatever, was fortu-
nately nearly empty. and added but
little to his own light weight and that
of his saddle.
Both parties Of Indians were now
nearly at the top of this ridge, and
some 800 yards in his front. Sandy
rode straight on at jog-trot. holding
up hand in token of amity or of
surrender. as the Cheyennes should
choose to consider
Seeing the express rider approach
them thus amicably. some 20 or more
befeathered fellows halted their po-
ries. Some were armed with guns,
but most had their bow and arrows
ana long lances.
How-how-how?7 they ehorused,
rs Sandy came near.
The Cheyennes were delighted at the
I a. ,xshf I'll H., ,,.I
his pony had fallen into their grasp.
Three Of their head men, each hold
ing out hand and grinning treaeher-
ously. rode forward to meet him. This
was forcing his hand sooner than San
dy had expected His pony was ap-
preaching the Indians apparently with
out fear or suspicion.
Sandy felt that it would never do to
let one of those Cheyennes grasp him
b. the hand, and when his animal had
nearly touched noses with the pony
of the foremost. he gave a sudden fierce
glunt, gripped his saddle with both
hands. and drove Spanish rowel deep
into the calieo's flank.
He had good need to cling to his
seat, for his pony's first leap nearly
3erked the breath out of his body.
while the calico lodged like a fright
ened rabbit smong the charging chey-
ennes. 1t seemed to Sandy that a
dozen riders hurled themselves upon
Linn and his pony in the same breath.
The Indians could not shoot in such
melee. but long lances were thrust
at the messenger as his pony lodged
hither and thither among plunging an
imais. Two of these awkward but dan
gerous weapons met in a clash and
broke above his head. A tomahawk hit
his mail bag and glancing. grazed an
arm. And this harmless blow was the
cnly stroke Sandy or his pony got IN
their zigzag dash through the Indian
lires.
His race. however, had only Just be-
gun. and Sandy knowing speed to be
his only hope. gave the calico free
rein and simply clung to his seat. He
Immediately found himself plunging
down the east scarp of the ridge and
straight toward a deep, precipitous
washout.
A crowd OF yelling, shooting riders
launched themselves upon his heels.
The Indians were appallingly close.
but no man. red or white. can shoot
accurately with his horse going at full
speed. and IL his animal be plunging
down a hill, his shots must be aimed
very much at random. In a short
quarter mile dash the angry Cheyennes
wasted bullets and arrows recklessly
upon the figure dropping down the
/ slope in front of them.
Sandy was nearing the washout,
with several Cheyennes pressing hotly
upon his pony's heels, and he clenched
his teeth. expecting to take tremen-
dous slide and be set upon in a pro-
niiscuous scramble at the bottom. But
at the moment when the messenger
| had abandoned all hope of avoiding the
ravine and braced himself as we'll as
ne could for the steep and dangerous
descent. his calico wheeled in a flash
upon the brink of the big ditch and
fed toward Iapeer's
Sandy reeled in his seat, then looked
behind to see two of his pursuers. un-
able to check their ponies, go plowing
into the washout, while still another,
whose animal had set its feet in
standstill, was flung neck and heels
over the bank. What fate awaited
those Indians at the bottom of the cut
Sandy could not tell; he was too quick
ly out of sight.
But three of his pursuers were out
Of the race; that he knew. Then he
felt sense of mounting exultation as
he noted how his calico pony was
running upon the very rim of the
washout, clearing wide. dry bitches
and water ruts in 1.-THE, quick leaps.
and scudding like a hunted fox over
ground fox might have chosen to
fell the best of horsemen. This--this
was a Nez Peree mountain pony.
The remaining Cheyennes followed
holly after the flying messenger. but
prudently kept farther up the slope