Read Ebook: Alden the Pony Express rider by Ellis Edward Sylvester Prittie Edwin John Illustrator

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Ebook has 1536 lines and 65599 words, and 31 pages

"That may be so, Jeth, but we expect to ride our horses all the way to California, while Alec will change his every ten or twelve miles."

"Can't we do de same?"

"How?"

Alden looked at Jethro. The colored lad tried to keep a sober face, but had to duck his head and chuckle. He might be slow-witted, but he was not in earnest in making his proposition.

Alden made a feint of chastising the African, who caught hold of his flapping hat to keep it on and dived three or four paces away. Just then several cheers came from the ferry, and Alden withdrew his attention from his companion. Thus he stood, his back toward the negro, when it suddenly seemed to him that a runaway horse had collided with his shoulder.

The blow knocked Alden toward the middle of the street, his hat falling, as he strove desperately to keep his feet and barely succeeded. The next instant, as he replaced his hat, he turned hurriedly around to learn the cause of the shock.

A youth about his own age and size had violently bumped him. Alden was quick tempered and flamed with anger. The young man, whom he had never seen before, said something, but in his blind rage our friend did not catch the words.

"What do you mean by doing that?" he demanded, doubling his fists and striding toward the stranger, whose smile added oil to the flames. The other held his ground and seemed to catch the hot resentment of Alden.

"I can't say I meant anything in particular, my red-faced friend; what are you going to do about it?"

"I'll mighty soon show you," replied Alden, who, without an instant's hesitation, launched his right fist at the face of the other; but he neatly dodged the blow and delivered so stinging a one on the cheek of Alden that he reeled for several paces. The single repulse did not scare the assailant, however, but made him more cautious. His antagonist was lithe and active, and coolly awaited the second assault, which you may be sure was not as blind as before.

The Express Rider having gone upon the ferry boat, the attention of the crowd was shifted to the two youths, confronting each other with doubled fists and savage countenances.

"A fight! a fight!" was shouted, and men and boys swarmed around the couple, taking care to keep far enough back to give them plenty of room.

It was quickly evident that he whom Alden had attacked was a stranger to every one in the crowd. None the less, it was equally evident that some sympathized with him, although the majority were with Alden.

"Give it to him, Payne! Knock him out!"

"Look out for yourself!" called a tall man to the unknown; "Alden is a fighter from Fight Town, at the head of Fight River; keep your eye peeled!"

"I'll help you soak him!" added Jethro, bounding to the side of his master, putting up his big hands, see-sawing with them, ducking his head, and making several feints from a safe distance.

"Keep out of the way!" commanded Alden; "I don't want your help."

"Can't get along widout me; you knock him ober and I'll stomp on him and smash--"

His impatient master made a vigorous sweep with his hand which tumbled Jethro on his back, with his shoes kicking toward the sky.

"All right!" exclaimed the African, clambering to his feet; "den I'll help de oder feller."

And he ran across and assumed a fighting attitude.

"It's time to teach Al some sense--"

But the stranger was equally impatient, and made a similar back-handed stroke which sent the colored lad down again.

"Keep away or you'll get hurt," he warned.

And in order the better to carry out his threat, he began fiercely doffing his coat. He made a great pretense of hurrying, but, before he could shed the garment, a man standing near seized him by the arm and yanked him back with a force that came near throwing him to the ground again.

"What's the matter with you, Mix? 'tend to your own business."

This same person afterward remarked:

"I noticed that it didn't take much pulling to keep that darky out of the muss."

The briers being cleared from the path, the two combatants now came together. The stranger did not retreat, when Alden quickly but guardedly approached, and after a couple of feints landed a blow fair and square on his cheek that staggered him. He held his feet, however, and advanced again. The two would have closed the next minute, with the result in doubt, but an unlooked for interruption came. A loud voice demanded:

"What do you mean, Ross?"

And without waiting for an answer, a tall man, with bearded face and dressed in rough homespun, strode forward. With his right hand he flung back the youth whom he had addressed, and in the same moment did the same to Alden with the other hand. His black eyes shone with anger.

"You young fools! I ought to spank both of you, and I'll do it, if either strikes another blow. Off with you, Ross!"

If the youth called "Ross" felt no fear of Alden Payne, he held the man in awe. He dropped his hands, though they remained clenched, and tried to make excuse.

"He attacked me, uncle; haven't I a right to defend myself?"

"How is that?" sternly asked the man, turning upon Alden.

"He pushed me almost off my feet, and instead of apologizing, added an insulting remark."

"He is speaking false," said the nephew.

"Probably you are right," commented the man, who evidently had faith in the veracity of his nephew, "but there has been enough of this; come with me."

"I hope you will let us fight it out," said Alden, keenly regretting the interference; "I should like to give him a lesson in speaking the truth."

"Please let us finish," pleaded the other, with a beseeching look to his relative. Certainly there was no questioning the courage of either young man.

"Yes; let 'em settle it," added one of the bystanders, uttering the sentiments of the spectators; "the fight will be a thing of beauty."

Others joined in the request, but the man paid no heed. He did not lay his hand on his nephew, but merely said, "Come," and strode off in the direction of the river. The youth walked reluctantly after him. Looking back at Alden, he paused a moment, shook his fist and said:

"We'll meet again some day and have it out."

"That will suit me down to the ground," replied Alden, emphasizing his words also with a gesture of his fist.

"Gorrynation!" said Jethro, after the stranger was at a distance, "but it was lucky for bofe of you dat dese four men held me back. When I git mad, I'm orful, and if I'd got at you, dere wouldn't anyting been left 'cept a couple of grease spots."

This boast caused uproarious laughter. Jethro looked around in the faces of the crowd and asked reprovingly:

"What you all laughing at? What's de matter wid you, Tony Burke? If yo' doan' shet up straight off, I'll frow you down so hard you'll make a bulge on toder side de yarth."

This warning was addressed to a lad about the size of Alden. He was a clerk in a St. Joe grocery store, and known to everybody. His merriment was more boisterous than anybody else's. The instant the threat was uttered, however, his face became sober. He took a step forward.

"I'm your apple tart; put up your fists."

"Who said anyting 'bout fists? I was talking 'bout wrastlin'; if your head warn't so thick you'd understood me."

"Very well; I prefer fists, but I'll wrestle."

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