Year: 1863

But cuss me if az iujun has the fuSt idea oi
generosity. They viii live of of you all wiuter
and tre2eherously kill you in the spring.


The sun had begun 10 warm up the cid
snow hills and tell Us that the snow was about
played out, when the injuns left the stations
every burned booger of them bumped himself
was ridin' my out trip when met whole
heap of them. They were as sasy as an old
she grizzly with cubs, but they did not offer 70
attack me, and | managed 10 make the trip
through safe enough. told the boys that il
| knew anything about iniuu signs we should
have trouble before many days. warned
them all 10 be prepared for the breaking OF
the gathering storm.


While waiting for the pony to bring me
the package of letters flom the east | cleaued
and reloaded my reyolvers and made sure that
they would no, fail me in an emergency
Pretty soon heard the horn of the other rider
as be came dashing over the hills. | ran 10
the corral, threw the saddle upon the pony and
led him to the door of the station as the other
rider rode up. \ moment more and was in
the saddle and on the road


:" l don't know what made ne feel so queer,
but l tell you it is fact that when mounted
the pony to return to Carson l felt that
should never see the boys again. l again told
them TO take keer of themselves and watch the
mountains for injun signs. bade them good bye
and took 10 the road


After leaving the station | rode along at a
good pace, singing to cheer myself. was
maxim the bullyist kind of time and had alrea-
dy gained over an hour in ridin about hun
dred miles. If could keep this up would
make the quickest trip on record.


81 had now about one hundred miles more
to make before would reach the settlements
At the last station they had brought me a
Canadian pony to ride, he was little fellow
that had a greater degree of pluck nor l ever
seed in airy other loss. He could dash off his
fifteen miles in an hour aud appear as fresh
after he had finished his task as he did when
he came out of the stable.


"I rode forward at a good jog whistling to
keep my courage up, for blame my skin eff,
somehow Or other, l didn't feel sorter skeery
and had to sing to divert my thoughts from
gloomy subjects After ridu' ten or dozen
miles found myself thinking Of my old home
/ l have been 10 these mountains nigh on to
| fifteen years and don't believe that in all that
time had ever bestowed thought upon my
good old mother, but now all the recollections
of my boyhood came upon me with a force that
fairly overwhelmed me. Arousing myself
put spurs to my pony, lead out in fine style,
and was soon descending into the valley in
which the station was built. As | came in
sight of the house placed my horn to my lips
and blew the signal for them to get the other
pony ready


" l was little astonished not to see any
attention paid to my signal and was thinking
that would indulge in little ijudicious cuss-
ing at their careleSsness. When | rode up
towards the house the pony kinder prcked up
his ears and gave snort Of fear. Then
began TO think something was the matter.
hadn't gone more'n hundred yards afore
discovered the dead body of one of the station
keepers. Then l know'd that the red skins
had opened the ball. | fastened on to the
cabin for the purpose of seeing the extent of
the damages.


:" was in the act of dism ounting when
felt sharp, singing sensation in my left
shoulder and heard the report of dozen rifles.
The pony sprang forward, clun5 to him and
was soon IN the saddle. Ga every side OF me
| could see the red devils painted ia all the
hideousness Of war, running along the road to
gain a favorable position l wouldn't have
given two cents for my chance. Bat deter
mined to make few of them bite the dust. |
drew my revolver from my canteeners, and
patting the pony on the neck, sunk my spurs
into his sides He plunged forward, and l
raised my hand to my mouth and rang ont the
war,whoop of the Pawnees.


a spect that sorter astonished the rascals.
kase they can't understand that single man
will dare attack half dozen of them. As
gave the challenge rode directly where six or
eight of them had collected As came with,
in pistol shot they fred. With yell of def
ance l was amongst them. Crack, crack,
bang, bang, went the pistol and two injuns had
gone 10 the happy hunting ground. By this
time my pony had carried me beyond the range
of their guns. | turned in my saddle and
looking back. saw them mounting their horses
for the purpose of following me.


Il gave them another yell of defiance and
urged my brave little pony to its utmost speed.
The noble little fellow seemed to understand
what heavy responsibility rested upon The
/ deetness of his limbs and the powers Of his
endurance, and exert himself accordingly. On
We went over hill and mountain through canon