The Jennings daily record. [volume] (Jennings, La.) 1900-1903, 1902-07-21

rise lay the washouts Of Pony creek; and
his trail descended to the stage station in
the valley Of the Platte.
Carls pony had already made sharp
galop Of six miles when the Sioux had
weighted with mailbags and a heavier
saddle than the Indians used. Despite
this handicap. the messenger swept
across the flat valley to the foot Of the
abridginE bluffs. keeping nearly even
pace with the Sioux.
But their lines were surely converging
upon his trail, and a score of their swift
est riders were now scurrying up the hill
slope but quarter mile or upon his
left. II it were not for the fact that the
pony express trail bore to the right, at
the level of the high lands. Carl would
now have turned to the river for the
slender chance of escape by swimming
across.
was plainly giving out Carl cast back.
ward glance. Bear Bonnet was within
fifty PAGES and was easily holding the
pace. The messengers only hope now was
that he might reach the Pony Creek
canons in time to gain a cover from which
he might stand of the Indians until help
should possibly arrive--a hope slender
enough. at best.
At the level Of the bluff the foremost
Sioux were swiftly bearing in upon his
trail. Under his legs Carl could feel the
sharp heaving of his pony's tanks. The
animal was streaming wet, and painting
like wolf run to earth Carl only Won
dered that the gallant bay had not
dropped in that terrible straining up the
bluff.
Again the express rider looked behind
him. Bear Bonnet was now in close chase.
not more than thirty PAGES away. Even
as Carl looked. the young Sioux unstrung
his bow and fitted arrow to the string!
Wonderingly, the messenger swung the
muzzle of his pistol to rear But his
quick eyes noted the arrow OF his pur-
suer: it passed to his right at so wide an
angle that he gave an involuntary boot OF
derision. The Indians upon his left noted
the shot. and yelled encouragement to
their fellow.
Again. as Carl was about to fire upon
him. Bear Bonnet let fly an arrow, and 1t
passed. like the former, far upon the mes
senger's right. Instantly the flying horse
man OWNED that those bow shafts were
launched with no hostile purpose. Bear
Bonnet wanted him to turn to the right
to ride to the mouth Of Pony Creek!
There the express rider knew. were an
old buffalo ford and trail which came
In at the mouth of the main canon, and SO
passed by easy stages along the river
bluff toward the stage station. This route
was at least as near as the pony trail, but
the ditch-like canon was so steep that its
descent would test the courage OF any
rider less than reckless.
Little difference need the danger MAKE
to him at that moment! He turned his
Tagging horse toward the mouth OF Pony
Creek. And now he leaned forward and
spurred the ANNA | to last desperate
burst OF speed. a final heroic effort to gain
fighting cover
upon his exhausted mount, yelled their
triumph. which shrlled upon his ears and
set all his nerves a-tinSls. Would they
follow him over the precipitous north
AvS. 81 he, ~ mod
SO. At least some of their necks might
be broken along with his own.
He now lay fiat upon his ponys back
and neck. and the trained animal. under
standing the necessity strained every
muscle in a last rare squirt of running.
Carl did not look again behind until his
reeling beast was hurled headlong into the
vast ditch of Pony creek.
Bruised and dizzy. the fallen rider
picked himself up, to see his gallant pony
lying heels up and stone dead, in the bot
tom of a dry run. The maibags had been
! torn from their saddle faStenlngS ana lay
at the edge of the ditch.
In the same instant he saw Bear Bon
nets buckskin, with doubled launches,
pillow like a hurled projeCtile down the
nearest slope; saw. with his braln IN
whiriing maze. the young Sioux leap from
his saddle, thrust lead rope at him. and
then swing his loosened mail bags upon
the steaming pony's back. At touch OF
the mail sacks Carl recovered presence
of mind. remembering suddenly his peril
and the necessity for action. In an in
credibly brief space of time he was
mounted and off again.
AS he fled down the canyon the express
rider looked back to see Bear Bonnet
break his bow and fling himself face
downward upon the bank of ditch,
where he lay II stunned by fan
from his horse. Cunning and loyal young
NO aI Maid doh ri
fearful risk TO himself
The messengers new mount jumped
bitches and waShout-holes in perilous and
quick succession And now a series OF
astonished screeches broke out above his
head and to the rear. and the bullets ano
arrows of his pursuers knocked up spurts
of dust from the entertainments he
fitted cy them. Nor did the Osahallas
fail in daring. They Numbered over the
sleeps and into the canyon in yelling
rout.
But in a moment Carl had lodged be-
hind a projecting spur and turned his
scudding mount upon the old buffalo trail.
With each touch of the spur the express
rider felt a growing confidence. and in a
minute or two OF running he knew that
he had under him a pony as fresh and
swift as that of any wild rider in the
chase.
In point of fact. the Indians did not
chase much beyond the mouth Of Pony
creek In five minutes or less after leaV-
ing the canyOn-and much ahead - his
scheduled minute--he drew rein at DIAL
Ions.
When the story was told to the boss OF
the station and his men. they said that
something handsome should be done TO
reward that Sam Patch of Sioux
They held his pony at the station. hoping
that Bear Bonnet would himself come for
it, IL mis- tribesmen did not kill him. Then.
as the buckskin disappeared from the
company's herd one night and no Others
were taken they knew that the brave
young Sioux was alive. but would not
come to claim reward.