CHAPTER XIV.
HELD UP BY ROAD AGENTS.
While riding Pony Express another adventure happened to Buffalo Bill which illustrates his nerve under most trying circumstances and great cleverness in getting out of scrapes.
It was when Buffalo Bill was in the Pony Express service between Red Buttes and Three Crossings, which included the perilous crossing of the Platte River, half a mile in width.
He rode into the station at the end of his run to find that the man who was to go on from there had been killed by road agents the night before.
There was nothing else for him to do but take the ride himself, so Bill started promptly to do so. He darted away upon his double duty and yet as he rode away he considered that as his fellow-rider had been killed by road agents, he stood a very fair chance of sharing the same fate.
It had become known in some mysterious manner, past finding out, that there was to be a large sum of money sent through by Pony Express and this was what the road agents were after.
Missing it after killing the other rider, Will Cody very naturally supposed that they would make another effort to secure the treasure.
So when he reached the next relay station he walked about a while longer than was his wont.
This was to perfect a little plan he had decided upon, which was to take a second pair of saddle-pouches and put something in them and leave them in sight, while those that held the valuable express packages he folded up in his saddle-blanket in such a way that they would not be seen unless a search was made for them.
The truth was Buffalo Bill knew he carried the valuable package and it was his duty to protect it with his life.