ak down
you can give it up."

The very next day Billy was set to work on the trail from Red Buttes on
the North Platte, to Three Crossings on the Sweet Water, a distance of
seventy-six miles.

It was a very long piece of road, but Billy did not weaken, and ere long
became known as the Boss Pony Rider.

One day he arrived at the end of his road to find that the rider who
should have gone out on the trip with his mail, had been killed in a
fight, so he at once volunteered for the run to Rocky Ridge, a distance
of eighty-five miles, and arrived at the station even ahead of time.

Without rest he turned back and reached Red Buttes on time, making the
extraordinary run of _three hundred and twenty-two_ miles without
rest, and at an average speed of fifteen miles an hour.

This remarkable feat won for him a presentation of a purse of gold from
the company, and a fame for pluck and endurance that placed him as the
chief of the Pony Riders.

CHAPTER XVI.

A RIDE FOR LIFE.

One day, after Buffalo Billy had been a few months Pony Riding, a party
of Indians ambushed him near Horse Creek.

He however, as did his horse, miraculously escaped their foes, dashed
through them and went on like the wind.

But the red-skins gave hot chase, firing as they ran, yet still without
effect.

Billy was well mounted and had not felt fear of them until he saw two of
the Indians rapidly drawing ahead of the other, and gaining upon him.

He urged his horse on at full speed with lash and spur, but still the
red-skins gained.

Then he saw that they too were splendidly mounted, not on ponies, but
large American horses which they had doubtlessly captured from the
cavalry.

Nearer and nearer came the Indians, and on Billy pressed at full speed.

Throwing a glance over his shoulder he saw that one of the red-skins,
whose feathers proved him to be a chief, was gaining on his comrade, and
yet seemed not to be urging the large roan he rode.

"I want that horse, and I want that Injun," muttered Billy, and he
quietly took his revolver from his belt.

Nearer and nearer came the chief, and Billy felt his own horse wavering,
and knew he was forced beyond his powers of endurance, and fearing he
might fall with him, determined to act at once.

Dragging the animal he rode to a sudden halt, and reining him back upon
his haunches, he suddenly wheeled in his saddle and fired.

The Indian saw his sudden and unexpected movement, and was ta