re placed about ten miles apart
and were strongly built so that they might withstand the attacks
of the Indians. These stations, nearly two hundred in number, all
had to be supplied by means of freight teams, which often hauled
hay, grain, and food for the messengers for hundreds of miles.

The horses selected for the messengers to ride were the small,
sure-footed ponies called mustangs. Through a stretch of ten miles
the pony was pushed to its utmost speed, then it was carefully
groomed, fed, and rested until the time came to make the return
trip.

In selecting the riders three things were of great importance:
they must be light in weight, must be possessed of great powers of
endurance, and also must be brave and resolute. At each station,
as the time approached for the express to arrive, the relay horse
was saddled and in waiting. As the rider dashed in he jumped from
his horse, and with but a moment's rest, threw the saddle-bags
containing the letters upon the fresh horse and was off again,
riding like the wind. Upon smooth stretches the horses often made
twenty miles an hour, but it was quite impossible to maintain this
speed over the rocky and rugged portions of the route. Storms and
Indian ambuscades often delayed the riders. Sometimes the messenger
kept up a running fight with the Indians for miles.

The riders were frequently killed, but the mail-bags were rarely
lost. If a rider did not come in on time, it was known that something
serious had happened, and search was immediately made. The riders
were not allowed to stop for any purpose whatsoever; neither storms
of the greatest severity nor even the presence of hostile Indians
near the trail kept them from their duty. One of the few riders
who are still living says that he was never afraid except on dark,
cloudy nights. At such times he made no attempt to guide his horse,
but trusting to the intelligence of the well-trained animal, gave
it rein, and at the same time spurred it to its utmost speed. Think
of riding at such speed into the dark night, not knowing what is
ahead of you! The rider's only safety lay in the carefulness and
sagacity of the horse. Such a ride called for more courage than
did a conflict with Indians!

[Illustration: FIG. 92.--PALISADES OF THE HUMBOLDT RIVER, NEVADA

Near the overland trail]

The pony express carried no passengers. It carried no freight,
not even the usual express package. The messenger was intrusted
with nothing b