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He sprang into the saddle. He had hardly settled in his seat when the pony broke into a trot, which quickly rose to a gallop, though it was not a dead run. That would come very soon. The observant Alden noted one fact: the horse did not take the course which he was following when alarmed by the approach of the black be...
Alden Payne could not free himself from the belief that it was safer to hold Dick down to a moderate pace than to give him free rein. The mail was already hopelessly behind time,――a fact which did not concern him――though he was determined to deliver it at the station if it were possible for him to do so. This could be ...
It did not add to Alden’s serenity of mind to notice that the course was gradually shifting to the left, and finally led directly toward the brush of smoke which still stained the blue tinted sky. All manner of thoughts crowded upon him. The one hopeful truth was that the living Lightfoot had come over the route unharm...
CHAPTER XVI CAUSE AND EFFECT Alden was convinced from a study of the signal smoke that it was gradually fading, as if the fire which caused it was not replenished. What this signified, as well as the meaning of the display itself, was beyond him. When the interval between him and the danger point had dwindled to an eig...
The animal wheeled abruptly to the right and broke into a gallop. His action showed that he read the signal smoke aright. Indians were there and he must avoid them. “I shall not interfere again with you,” said Alden admiringly; “you know a hundred times more than I do of these matters.” None the less, our young friend ...
He was glad when the pony of his own accord dropped from the gallop to his rapid, graceful walk. It was impossible for him to progress in a straight line, and he was forever turning to the right or left, rarely following a direct course for more than a few rods. Alden could not help smiling when it looked for a moment ...
“What’s the use of placing a rider on your back, Dick?” asked the delighted Alden. “Better to give you the mail pouch and tell you to deliver it at the next station. But then mighty few ponies know as much as you.” How far this path led remained to be seen. But it had not been followed far when Alden met an experience ...
The redskin was a duplicate of the one who had launched an arrow at the youth several miles back. He had the same squat, sturdy figure, the coarse black hair dangling about his bare shoulders, and growing low upon his forehead, the naked chest, the frowsy hunting shirt of deerskin, with leggings and dilapidated moccasi...
Dick at sight of the redskin had also stopped. Thus he and the savage faced each other as if the two were carved in stone. Alden was quickwitted enough to bring his rifle to his shoulder and aim between the ears of his pony. There was no mistake about it: he had “the drop” on the other fellow. And that other fellow kne...
Alden could have brought him down within the same moment that he stopped. Most men in his situation would have done so, but the whole thing was abhorrent to the youth. Only in self-defense would he shoot a human being, as he had proved weeks before. “I don’t want your life; if you will get out of my path I won’t hurt y...
Those backward glances were only for an instant but were continually repeated. The swarthy face showed the terror of the fugitive, who must have wondered why the fatal shot was delayed. Perhaps he thought his pursuer meant to make him prisoner――a fate dreaded as much as death itself. The Indian ceased his side leaps an...
At the instant the Indian began fitting the shaft to the string while still running, Alden shouted at the top of his voice. It was a warning which was understood and went through the fugitive like an electric shock. He bounded several feet in air, and dropped the arrow to the ground, but he did not lessen the haste wit...
And Alden Payne, instead of harming him waved his hand and shouted: “Good-by, old fellow! Give my love to your folks.” It was a strange piece of jocularity, but the genial hearted youth doubted whether it would be appreciated. Having gone by the warrior he left him in the best possible position to discharge one of his ...
It is a pleasure therefore to tell the truth regarding the Indian (whose tribe Alden Payne never learned) that had been spared by the amateur Pony Express Rider. He might have made it bad for the youth who was riding from him, and who as a consequence could not keep an eye upon his every movement. When Alden looked bac...
Dick showed no disposition to slacken his pace and his rider did not restrain him. Just after making the turn referred to Alden turned his head. What led him to do so he could not explain since he knew he was clear of the warrior whom he had nearly scared out of his wits, but he saw an amazing sight. The varying charac...
Could those odd sounding signals which the single warrior sent forward from his perch on the rocks have had anything to do with it? Did they cause the forbearance of his comrades farther up the gorge? That such should be the case seemed incredible, but days afterward Alden submitted the question to Shagbark. The vetera...
AT THE STATION Dick the pony held his swift gallop for a half mile farther, when he debouched into an open country, similar in many respects to that which he had left behind him. While it could not be called level, it showed no steep inclines and the masses of rocks and heaps of boulders were readily flanked by the sup...
The ridge which caused Alden anxiety had been crossed, and now when he looked back he traced the outlines of the vague column of smoke that was slow in dissolving in the summer air. Surely nothing more was to be feared from that source. No matter how well mounted a party of Indians might be, none could overhaul the pee...
Alden wondered whether the pony would change his course and press the pursuit of the game, as almost any one of his species would have done in similar circumstances. But Dick did not vary a hair until he confronted another pile of rocks. Instead of flanking them on the same side with the buck, he whisked in the other d...
He was coursing over the undulating ground, when his gaze rested on a building half a mile away and in the line of Dick’s run. It was a low, flat structure of logs, such as is often seen on the frontier. At the rear was a covered inclosure and from the rough, stone chimney, built at one end on the outside of the main b...
Such was the rule while the rider was making his run. Generally the stations were twelve or fifteen miles apart, and the ride of a one man was thirty or forty miles. This compelled two changes such as described, after starting on his furious race. At the end of his “stunt,” the new man, freshly mounted was awaiting him...
Dick was in a lather and his sides heaved. Alden did not dismount but looked down in the faces of the group who scrutinized him keenly. Tim Jenkins, massive and heavily bearded, acted as speaker for his comrades. “Who are you?” he demanded of Alden, who gave his name. “Where’s Dick Lightfoot?” “He was killed by Indians...
“How do you come to be mounted on his pony?” There was an aggressiveness in the tone and manner of Jenkins, but Alden ignored it. The circumstances warranted suspicion. So he told his story as succinctly as he could. The three listened closely, and must have felt the truth of the words of the youth whose looks and pers...
“You’re right――it isn’t. Poor Dick! it will be a sad blow to his brother Sam. I suppose your friends will look after the body when they come up to it?” “There’s no doubt of that; I sent word to Shagbark, our guide, who would do it without any such request from me.” “Shagbark, eh? So _he’s_ your guide; well, there isn’t...
“Tom Harper is here to take the place of any chap that gets knocked out.” “Why not let me complete the run?” The three men looked in one another’s faces and smiled significantly. “Do you really want to try it?”
“Nothing can suit me better.” “You have never been over the route.” “I have never been over the run just finished; I left everything to the pony and he did not go astray.” Alden did not think it worth while to tell of his adventure in the gorge while coming through the ridge.
“You’re correct as to the ponies; all of them have been over the road long enough to become familiar with it. What do you say, Tom?” asked Jenkins, turning to the relief rider. “Well, I ain’t partic’lar,” replied the wiry fellow, who despite his youthful looks, was a veteran of the plains; “I expected to ride, if anyth...
“Hold on a minute,” interposed Jenkins; “being as you ain’t a reg’lar you needn’t be as strict as they have to be.” “What do you mean?” asked the puzzled Alden fearing that he was to be subjected to some vexatious handicap. “It’s a good fifteen miles to the next station and most of the way is so rough that your horse w...
“You need rest.” “I’m not tired,” persisted Alden, afraid that the men would change their minds. “That may be, for you haven’t had much of a ride yet, but it is nearly dark; you must eat supper with us.” “You are kind, but have we time? The mail is already late.”
Jenkins threw back his head and laughed. His mirth was so unrestrained that his comrades and even Alden smiled in sympathy. “If you want a job I’ll recommend you to Colonel Majors. I saw from the way you rode when you came in sight that you understand the business.” “How much are we behind the schedule?” Jenkins drew o...
“A little more than an hour: it’s no hanging matter if you make it two or three hours more.” The action of the man reminded Alden that he had the watch and papers of Dick Lightfoot in his possession. He took them out and explaining the matter, handed them to Jenkins. Had the youth been given his choice, he would have r...
Four men made their quarters at this lonely cabin. One of them was an extra rider for emergencies, while all, as has been said, could perform the duty if required. Such supplies as they needed were sent to them by their employers. Russell, Majors & Waddell were the proprietors, who made their headquarters in the east, ...
The dwelling could not have been of simpler structure. The single room was some twenty feet square. At one end was an old fashioned fireplace, in the middle of which stood a small cooking stove, a single joint of pipe pushing up into the chimney. A few simple utensils hung around on spikes, and a goodly pile of wood wa...
The meal was ready when Alden Payne was waved by Jenkins to one of the stools at the side of the table, which consisted of three unplaned boards. A huge roast of venison, done to a turn, and resting on a big tin platter was the main dish. There were thick slices, too, of well-baked bread, though nothing in the way of b...
The redskins circled about the structure and fired through the windows, but did not harm any of the defenders, who picked off two or three of them. Things might have turned out ill had not one of the Express Riders carried the news to the nearest fort which hurried a squad of cavalry to the spot. There had been no trou...
“The pony seems to be a good one; I shall be satisfied if he is the equal of Dick.” “He’s tough and fast; I think he once belonged to a circus, for he knows a good many tricks.” “If he knows the trick of getting me through, neither I nor any one else could ask anything more of him.” Alden was about to start when he rec...
“I must weigh twenty pounds more than Dick Lightfoot and everything counts. What is the pony’s name?” “Bucephalus,” was the amazing reply. “Great Cæsar!” laughed Alden; “do you call him that?” “’Ceph for short; well, good bye!”
Alden waved his hand and was off like a thunderbolt. Our young friend was hardly out of sight of the little group who stood watching him, when ’Ceph became playful. He had been resting so long that he yearned for exercise and action. As an introduction he reached around and nipped at the rider’s ankle. A horse is quick...
Alden let him go unrestrained, knowing he was taking the right course, for he saw plenty of hoof prints in the ground over which they skimmed. It was not difficult for our young friend to keep his seat, and he was rather pleased with the liveliness of the animal. “There won’t be much of this left in you at the end of f...
The pony slackened his pace, though still maintaining a gallop, for the ground not only compelled him to veer first to the right and then to the left, but took an upward turn. Following his rule of leaving his animal to his own will, Alden did not touch the reins. The fact that tracks showed on the right and left as we...
It seemed that he ought to overtake some emigrant train, since hundreds of them were plodding westward, and his speed was much greater than theirs. But he saw no more evidence of other persons about him than if he were in the midst of an unknown desert. He might as well have been the only horseman or footman within a t...
For the last fifteen minutes, Alden was conscious of a dull, steady roar which gradually increased as he went on. He was drawing near the cause and must soon learn its nature. He was still wandering and speculating, when he caught the gleam of water through the sparse willows that lined the trail. “Jenkins told me I sh...
With the setting of the sun, the temperature had fallen a number of degrees. Alden was warmly clothed, but had no blanket. When he left the train in company with Jethro he expected to rejoin his friends before the close of the afternoon and a blanket would have been an incumbrance, but quite acceptable now. “I hope ’Ce...
Alden waited till his feet were within a few inches of the surface. Then he slipped them out of the stirrups and drew them up in front. Deprived thus of his “balancing poles,” a quick flirt of the pony to one side would have flung him into the water, but ’Ceph, if he was aware of it (and it would seem he ought to have ...
As nearly as the rider could judge, he had ridden half the distance to the next station. If he were right, seven or eight miles remained to be traversed. He was doing well but why did not ’Ceph “let himself out,” when the ground was favorable? He still walked, though ever stepping rapidly, with head dipping with each f...
The animal was bearing his weight on three legs, the tip of the right fore hoof just touching the ground. He seemed to be suffering, and favored the disabled leg all he could. Speaking soothingly, Alden gently passed his hand down the graceful limb from the bent knee to the fetlock. Although he used only the weakest pr...
“If you will lead I’ll be glad to follow; it won’t do――” His heart sank, for hardly half a dozen steps were taken when ’Ceph limped again: the halt grew more pronounced, and suddenly he hobbled one or two steps on three legs, holding the remaining hoof clear of the ground as he did so. “That settles it,” said his maste...
“I ought to leave you here,” reflected the youth, “and I should do so, if I knew my way: I need you as a guide and shall have to suit my pace to yours.” Once more he nursed the foreleg and after a time, ’Ceph set it down. He hobbled forward a score of paces before the limp reappeared. After that he kept it up until his...
“Good!” called Alden; “you’ve got pluck; I take back all I said against you. Whoa! whoa!” Instead of obeying the youth hurrying at his heels, ’Ceph broke into a gallop and speedily passed from sight. Alden kept up the useless pursuit until exhausted. Then he stopped disgusted and angered. He understood the whole busine...
A BLESSING IN DISGUISE Alden Payne was in the quandary of his life. Deserted by the unprincipled Bucephalus, he was left with saddle and mail pouches six miles or more from his destination, and still farther from the station behind him. And the worst of it was he did not know the way to either. It would not have been q...
These words were addressed to the saddle, which he flung impatiently to the ground: “whoever chooses can find you; I don’t tote you another rod.” It was different with the mail pouches. He felt a peculiar awe concerning them. In some way they stood for the great United States. Having been locked in distant Missouri, th...
Two causes, however, prevented his doing this. He could not forget that signal smoke which told that Indians were not far off. The blaze was likely to draw them to the spot. Again, his mind was in such a tumult, that he could not sit still. He must keep moving. There was no moon in the sky, but the millions of stars we...
His conclusion was reasonable that Bucephalus was making for the station and would change his course only when turned temporarily aside by obstacles. He would follow the line of least resistance all the way through. His late rider meant to do the same. Standing a few minutes at the beginning of the trail, with mail pou...
Noting that the signs turned to the left, he did the same. A dozen paces brought him to a depression through which it seemed likely the pony had gone. He followed and coming up the opposite side made sure by lighting another match. The footprints were not visible. He retraced his steps and went farther to the left. Com...
He had straightened up and was walking cautiously, when he was startled by the reports of several rifles fired so nearly together that he could not tell the number. They came from a point diagonally in front, but at a considerable distance. He paused, undecided what to do. There was no guessing the meaning of the alarm...
He hesitated to light a match, for he knew he was near the spot whence had come the sounds of rifle firing. He straightened up and listened. A gentle wind stirred the willows in front, the faint murmur of the mountain stream behind him came softly to his ears, but all else was profound silence. He had peered into the s...
It was what was left of Bucephalus. He had been pierced by several bullets and killed while on a full gallop. With a realization of the danger of what he was doing, Alden blew out the tiny light and flung it to the ground. Then he hastily retreated, turned aside and made his way in among the willows. Everything was cle...
“Had he not tricked me, I should have ridden over this spot, and that volley which laid him low, would have done the same to me. Thank God!” Often indeed do misfortunes prove blessings in disguise. All the same, the young man was in a trying situation. Thus far he had been guided by the trail of the dead pony. Now he w...
He dared not push directly forward, for that would lead him over the course where the waiting red men expected the rider to pass. He determined to make a long detour until far removed from the dangerous spot, and then hide until daybreak, when he would renew his search for the station not many miles distant. All know h...
“This is the second one which, as Jenkins told me, I shall have to cross, but plague take it! I don’t like the prospect at all.” The stream was not more than half the width of the other, but it might be ten times as deep and dangerous. He found it was flowing rapidly, and it was natural that he should shrink from ventu...
It was at this moment that he fancied he dimly detected tracks in the mud on the edge of the stream. He had come so far from the carcass of the pony that he felt little fear of the Indians. He struck another of his matches and scrutinized the ground. To his astonishment, he saw the prints of broad tired wagons, and the...
Ugh! as the water crept up around his knees he shuddered. He was sure that half a degree colder would congeal it. Like some of the great rivers of Europe, it must issue from under a mass of ice. But he could stand it, and cheered himself with the thought that many others must have made the same passage, for not every m...
At that instant he went “all under.” It was as if he had stepped into a well a thousand feet deep. Not expecting anything of the kind, Alden was not prepared, and went down like a stone. CHAPTER XX A STRANGE PROCEEDING Several facts saved Alden Payne from drowning. In the first place, the deep hole into which he steppe...
His gun was gone beyond recovery, but he had his revolver, which like the contents of his match safe was not affected by the submersion. It could be fired as readily as before, though it was a weak substitute for the gun that was gone. But his plight could not have been more dismal. He was wet to the skin by the frigid...
It was the best of advice, and Alden never forgot it. He could hold the general direction, and the few miles between him and the station were but a brief walk for which in ordinary circumstances he would care nothing. Before leaving the stream he did another sensible thing. He studied the myriads of stars in the sky an...
When he started he could not prevent his teeth from sounding like the music made by “bones” at a minstrel entertainment. He shivered and felt wretched, with the soggy leathern pouches flapping his neck, like a grotesque tippet; but ere long his incisors stopped their music, and the chills shook no more. Then a most glo...
Alden faced about like a soldier on drill, and took care that he did not wander astray again. If he had made no mistake at the beginning, he was sure to arrive at his destination before long. Twice while striding across a stretch of open ground, he fancied he saw the twinkle of a light ahead, but in the same moment it ...
It was far more to the point for Alden to learn the meaning of what he saw. It was not to be supposed that an Indian had anything to do with it. Such a performance was contrary to their nature, and to Alden it was none the less remarkable that a member of his own race should be the cause; still it must be one or the ot...
Yielding to a strange misgiving, Alden had lain flat on the ground to escape discovery. When the pony came opposite, he was within a dozen paces, near enough to scent that something was amiss. He snorted and leaped the other way. In the same instant the lantern flirted upward. Its uncertain light, revealed that the str...
“Are you deaf and dumb?” sharply demanded our young friend. Still the horseman did not utter a word. He grunted once and touched spur to his pony. The animal made a bound, and would have dashed off on a run, had not his master jerked him down to a walk. Then he moved off in the shadows, the rider still silent. Alden lo...
By and by the soft hoofbeats died out, ever on the same deliberate walk. The pony would have gone faster had his master permitted, and why he did not was altogether beyond the understanding of the mystified lad. But the questions could not be answered by standing in the midst of the plain and guessing and staring. The ...
Surely that was another light which he caught a long way ahead. A second glance revealed that it was not of the nature of the last. The glow was unwavering. It must be the big camp fire of a wagon train. Though certain on this point, Alden would not have turned aside, but the camp lay almost directly in front and he wo...
“I’m glad to get rid of them for awhile.” A tall, bearded man rose to his feet and walked toward him. He asked in surprise: “What are you doing with the United States mail?” “Trying to reach the station.”
“You are not the regular carrier.” “The Indians got him; he was killed a long way back, beyond the other station.” “Where is his pony?” “I left him at the station, mounted another, that gave me the slip, was shot by Indians and I have made the rest of the way on foot.”
“Well, you _are_ a hero!” was the admiring comment. “Not by any means; any one could have done as well.” The youth now looked more searchingly at the speaker, whose voice had a familiar sound. To his astonishment, he recognized him as Garret Chadwick, uncle of Ross Brandley. Alden at last had overtaken the other train,...
Alden had not yet sat down, tired as he was. His wish to deliver the mail pressed upon him. “Can you tell me how near I am to the station?” he asked of Mr. Chadwick. “Almost within a stone’s throw; yonder it is.” Looking in the direction he pointed, Alden saw the dull glow of light from the loopholes of the structure, ...
“I must go,” he said; “a good deal of time has been already lost.” “Will you not come back and spend the night with us? We can give you comfortable quarters in one of the wagons.” “Thank you; I may do so.” He was about to move off when the other with a laugh asked:
“Did you see anything of a man on horseback carrying a lantern?” Alden was all attention. “I did, and I couldn’t make him speak a word; do you know what it meant?” Chadwick laughed again.
“I called at the station a little while ago; they are much disturbed over the absence of Lightfoot the Pony Express Rider. One of the four was so certain that he would turn up before supper that after a hot argument, he made a freak bet. He agreed that if Lightfoot had not come by that time, he would carry a lighted la...
A SETBACK The arrival of Alden Payne at the station and the story which he carried caused a profound sensation. When the door was opened in response to his knock, he dropped the pouches on the floor, sat down on the nearest stool and exclaimed: “There’s your mail; the Indians got Dick Lightfoot.” And then as the hardy ...
“What are you going to do with the mail?” “I shall be on road in ten minutes,” replied one of the three, a man of slight figure, bright eyes and alert manner. “Won’t you let me take it?” They looked at one another in astonishment. Then the eldest, who had done most of the talking for his friends, said with a smile:
“You haven’t any pony.” “But you have.” “You have never been over the route and don’t know the way.” “The pony does; I brought the mail here and this is the first time I was ever so far west.”
“But you are worn out.” “How far is it to the next station?” “A little short of twelve miles, but a part of the way is pretty tough and you’re liable to run into redskins before you’re out of sight of the station.” The men admired the pluck of the youth, but they would have been foolish to yield to him. The mail was ce...
One of the men was preparing breakfast and the odor of the steaming coffee and broiling venison was the sweetest perfume that could greet a hungry person. The others were outside looking after the ponies and attending to their ablutions. After greeting his host, Alden was directed to the spring near at hand, where he b...
Moreover, since the force at the station had increased from three to four men, one of them must be the horseman whom Alden met, and who refused to speak a word to him. A glance at the different ones told the youth which was he, but, as he made no reference to his freak bet, the guest did not think it well to mention it...
“Which one of you made the trip?” And Alden looked from one face to the other. The tallest man, the chief speaker replied: “None of this crowd went.” “Hasn’t the mail been sent on? Then I shall take it after all.”
“Oh, the mail reached the station long ago if all went well; one of the party in camp over yonder took it.” This was strange and Alden asked: “How was that? I don’t understand it, when you refused _me_ the chance.” “I should have given you the chance, if you hadn’t been tuckered out; the fellow who took the mail was as...
A suspicion flashed upon Alden. “What is his name?” “He is a young chap about your size and build: name’s Brandley, Ross Brandley.” Alden sprang to his feet.
“And you let him rob me of my honors! The last fellow in the world!” The four men looked at him in astonishment. The tallest asked: “What do you mean?” Alden saw the absurdity of his action. Resuming his seat, he said:
“I beg your pardon; how came you to select _him_?” “You hadn’t laid down ten minutes when he came over from camp. He said he had some important business with you and wanted us to wake you. That didn’t seem right, seeing how tired you were, and he agreed to wait till morning. Then he saw Cal about to start with the mail...
“Did he leave any message for me?” The agent glanced to the rider to answer. “He told me to let you know his name and to say that, as you had given up your job, he took pity on you and would finish it for you. He would try to fix things so you wouldn’t have to wait long for the meeting which he’s a good deal more anxio...
Our young friend could see no “ray of light.” Had he possessed his own pony he would have started in hot pursuit of Brandley, but Firebug was with the train and until he came up, no animal was at command. It was useless to ask the agent to loan him one of his horses, for there was not the slightest reason for doing so ...
The man was nettled by the unconscious brusqueness of Alden’s manner. “Explain yourself,” he said, moving aside where the others who looked inquiringly at them, could not overhear what was said. “I brought the mail pouches from the last station and expected to take them on to the next as I had a right to do.” “Well, wh...
“And your nephew sneaked over and took them away from me.” “Did the agent give him permission?” “Certainly, though he now regrets it.” “Then your question should be addressed to him and not to me.”
“You shouldn’t have permitted your nephew to do such a thing.” “Since when have you assumed to advise me, young man? In the first place, Ross didn’t ask my permission, nor did I know he had gone until this morning.” “And you would not have allowed him to do what he did had you known it?” “I haven’t said that nor do I s...
With which curt dismissal, Garret Chadwick turned about and gave his attention to the starting of the train, which was in motion a few minutes later. Repulsed and turned back at all points Alden was in an unenviable frame of mind. He knew he had acted inexcusably toward Mr. Chadwick, and he would have apologized had th...
“Ross Brandley is running away from me!” exclaimed Alden slapping his knee; “there isn’t a doubt of it. He knew that if he stayed in camp nothing would prevent our meeting to-day, so he made the excuse of wishing to carry the mail to the next station. When he gets there he’ll wait for his friends, and be gone long befo...
“Sorry you feel so bad, my young friend: I had no idea of anything of the kind. Ross never told me of the trouble between you and him.” “Of course not; he was afraid you would make him stay here till I could see him.” Cal swung one of his sinewy legs over the other knee, struck a fly crawling several feet away, with a ...
“I’m sorry you didn’t let him do so.” “So am I, seeing how you feel. What’s your quarrel with him? I liked the fellow first rate, what little I seen of him.” Alden told of the interrupted fray in St. Joe, when Brandley bumped into him, and instead of apologizing, added insulting words. “Can’t say that I blame you for b...
“What is it?” “When that fight comes off, fix things so I can observe it. I know it’ll be a hummer.” Alden could not help smiling. “I’m sure I have no objection, but I don’t see much chance of obliging you. He has left here and isn’t likely to come back.”

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