Page:Edward Ellis--Alden the Pony Express Rider.djvu/187

 Most of the country is so elevated that the climate is delightful throughout the warm months. Despite the season, however, they were caught in more than one terrific snow storm while groping through the foothills, and once a driving rain and sleet seemed to chill men and animals to their bones. But for the big fires that were kindled and kept vigorously going, Alden Payne believed some of them would have perished.

“As fur dis chile,” chattered Jethro, with his thick blanket wrapped about him to his ears; “I shan’t get warm fur sebenteen yeahs.”

“Ye must have patience,” remarked the grim Shagbark; “yer turn will come after ye cross the Big Divide.”

The African failed to catch the point of this significant remark, though it caused smiles on the part of the other listeners.

Shots had been exchanged with prowling Indians fully a score of times. It was extraordinary that although there were many narrow escapes on the part of the white men, not one had been so much as wounded. Shagbark was confident that he picked off one or two dusky prowlers.

One afternoon he was riding alone in front