The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1903-03-21
= ST. PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS. MINI. 1903
nou1a possr51y arr1ve-a hope slender

snuu1n POSSIBLY arrived hope slender
enough, at best. #5 &. & 3E
At the level of the bluff the foremost
Sous were swiftly bea ring. in upon his
trail. Under his legs Carl could feel the
sharp heaving Of his pony's TANKS. The
like a wolf run to earth Carl only Won
lered that the gallant bay had not
dropped in that terrible straining up: the
bluff. s
Again the express rider looked behind
him. Bear Bonret was now in close chase.
not more than thirty PAGES away: Even
as Carl looked, the young Sioux unstrung
his bow and fitted an 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-
srer: 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 encouras cement to
their fellow. Is u
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
benger'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
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 ana
spurred the ANNA to a last desperate
burst of speed, a final heroic effort to gain
lighting cover
The crowd of Sioux, now fast gaining
upon his exhausted mount, yelled the'T
triumph, which shrilled upon his ears and
set all his. nerves a-tingle. Would they
follow him over the preclpitous north
banks of the canon? Ardently he. hoped
so. At least some of their necks might
be broken along with his own.
He now lay fiat upon his pony's back
and neck and the trained animal, under
standing the necessity , strained every
muscle in a last rare squirt OF running.
Caz. did not look again behind until ms
ree,ing beast was hurled headlons 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 DOL
tom of dry run. The mailbags had been
corn from their SduO1c AdSICAiiA6o e~A'A Ao~'
at the edge of the ditch.
In the same instant he saw Bear Bon
nets buckskin, with doubled haunches,
plow like a hurled projectile down the
nearest slope;| saw, with his brain in q
whirling maze, the young Sioux leap from
his saddle, thrust a 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 peru
and the necessity for FACTION. 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 race
downward upon the bank OF a often,
where he lay as If Stunned by ran
from his horse. Cunning and loyal young
Sioux-he had paid a debt of gratitude at
a Fearful risk TO himself
. The messengers new mount jumped
bitches and Washout-holes in perilous and
quick succession. And now series OF
astonished screeches broke out above his
head and to the rear, and the bullets ana
arrows Of his pursuers knocked up spurts
of dust from the entertainments as he
fitted ~ them. Nor did the Ogahallas
fail in daring. They Numbered over the
sleeps and into the canyon in yelling
rout.
But in a moment Car! had lodged be-
hind projecting spur and turned ms
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 d 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 of his
scheduled minute-he drew rein at ORAL
Ions.
When the story was told to the boss OF
the station and his men, they said that
something handsome should he done t.
reward that sam Patch of Sioux.
They held his pony at the station. hoping
that Bear Bonnet would himself come fo'
it, If mis- tribesmen did not kill him. Then
as the buckskn disappeared from the
co1rpany'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.