The suburban citizen., 1902-04-05

" rider for the pony express.
He rode between Big
Springs and O'Fallons stations on
the Pate River. 1t was dangerous
ground, the common hunting ground
Of the Sioux, Cheyennes, Pawnees,
Arapahoes, and several other hostile
tribes.
One afternoon in the late fall his
trail was obliterated by the tramping
and the dust Of noTth-moving herds Of
bison. He passed several hunting
parties of Indians in the distance,
but they were not strong enough or
were too busy with their hunting. to
attack, and Carl escaped the usual
perilous chase to be expected when
ever Indians were encountered.
The messenger was making his way
by his sense of direction through be-
Jogging dust clouds, when his pony
shied at a limp and battered Indian,
attempting to get to his feet in front
of it. This wounded hunter was a
young Sioux, with a broken shoulder
and other injuries got in a mishap of
the chase.
For a moment the express rider
hesitated. His duty to the company
and the knowledge that the injured
mans tribesmen would, sooner or later,
return to look for him, were balanced
against the possibility Of his death or
further injury under the hoofs of the
tTamping herds.
But seeing that the wounded hunter
could not rise to his Feet, Carts
decision was quickly made and the
deadly enemy was picked up and
given-much to his astonishment,
doubtless seat behind the messen-
gers saddle.
Carl was but a few minutes behind
his scheduled time at O'Fallon's.
where the Indian was grum blingly
taken in and fed and cared for
until he recovered. Little was learned
from the taciturn Sioux except that
his Dakota name was, translated,
Bear Bonnet.
Some months later long after the
hunter had returned to his people,
Carl was swinging forward toward
0'Fallon's when an Indian rider ap-
peaTed, coming out of a bluff couIee to
meet him on the pony trail.
The messenger eyed the Indians
advance with suspicion, and hitched
n pistol holster forward. Then as the
rod rsu g
frlendliness, Carl recognized Bear
Bonnet.
"How-how?" shouted the messenger,
motioninK the Sioux to wheel and ride
alongside. But Bear Bonnet halted
and waved his arms up and down
with an emphatic motion, signifying, in
the sign language, Halt there.
Trouble aheadw
The messenger drew rein, and there
passed a rapid colluquy, mostly in
the sign manual, between the riders.
Carl learned that his situation was one
Of extreme peril. Bands of Sioux
coming on to cross the river, were
stretched out for a mile or two paral-
lei with his trail, and some OF them
were just beyond the river bluffs.
Already he was half surrounded upon
his left, and the river, full in the spring
food, was roaring upon his right.
Bear Bonnet urged him TO turn at
once to the river, not to attempt cross
Ing, but to sink saddle and blankets,
and then go into hiding upon one Of the
willow-fringed islands not far from
shore.
The Indian said he would swim the
messengers pony across the river him
self, and would return the animal to
its owner when the danger had passed.
Heap Ogalallas," said Bear Bonnet.
Come so--come so-come SO! Ho,
COLO gltp
Carl, scanning the bluffs, now noted
a faint veil of dust above the high
lands in front. His danger was immi-
nent, but his duty to his company and
to the mail service was above the
consideration of personal safety. He
must, as heretofore, ride it out" at all
hazards.
The young messenger felt grateful
to the Sioux for having ridden ahead
Of his fellows to warn him of danger.
But to Bear Bonnet's urgent counsel
he shook his head in smiling negative,
and slipping to the ground, frightened
his saddle cinches. The Indian followed
suit. Then, to Carts surprise, the
Sioux, mounted upon n swift pony,
rode at his side and between himself
and the bluffs.
Soon there were other Sioux to en-
gage Carl's attention. The swarm COM
ing toward the river were Ogalallas,
fierce fighters, and the most implacable
hostiles. The messenger rode swiftly,
but at first held his horse in careful
reserve, noting with shrewd eyes, as
he scanned the bluffs, the approach
Of trailing dust clouds. In the speed,
clcverness and endurance Of his trained
racer lay all his hope to reach O'Fal.
Ions with the mail bags.
Some minutes before tho first big