This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1919 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER EIGHTEEN THE PONY EXPRESS About the time I had decided to go back to my Indian friends, word came that the Pony Express was to be started, and Mr. Faust induced me to stay and be one of the pony riders. I sold my roan pony to a sergeant in Camp Floyd for seventy-five dollars and my little black mare for a hundred dollars. Part of this money I gave to mother, and the rest I used to buy some clothes. A great "powwow" was going on about the Pony Express coming through the country. The company had begun to build its roads and stations. These stations were about ten miles apart. They were placed as near to a spring, or other watering place, as possible. There were two kinds of them, the "home station" and the "way station." At the way stations, the riders changed horses; at the home stations, which were about fifty miles from each other, the riders were changed; and there they ate their meals and slept. Finally the time came for the express horses to be distributed along the line, and the station keepers and riders were sent to the various stations. Mr. Faust and Major Howard Egan went on my bond, and I was sent out west into Nevada to a station called Ruby Valley. This was a "home station." It was kept by William Smith. Samuel Lee was his hostler. tWhen we were hired to ride the express, we had to go efore a justice of the peace and swear we would be at our post at all times, and not go farther than one hundred yards from the station except when carrying the mail. When we started out we were not to turn back, no matter what happened, until we had delivered the mail at the next station. We must be ready to start back at a half minute's notice, day or night, rain or shine, Indians or no Indians. Our saddles, which were all provided by...