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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d11b12e --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #67018 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/67018) diff --git a/old/67018-0.txt b/old/67018-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 89b885a..0000000 --- a/old/67018-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4394 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of In the Rockies with Kit Carson, by John T. -McIntyre - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: In the Rockies with Kit Carson - -Author: John T. McIntyre - -Illustrator: Ralph L. Boyer - A. Edwin Kromer - -Release Date: December 26, 2021 [eBook #67018] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: D A Alexander, David E. Brown, and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was - produced from images generously made available by the Library - of Congress) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN THE ROCKIES WITH KIT CARSON *** - -[Illustration: “IT’S AN INDIAN,” SPOKE THE TRAPPER] - - - - - IN THE ROCKIES - WITH - KIT CARSON - - _By_ - JOHN T. McINTYRE - - _Illustrations by_ - Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer - - [Illustration] - - THE PENN PUBLISHING - COMPANY PHILADELPHIA - 1913 - - - - - COPYRIGHT - 1913 BY - THE PENN - PUBLISHING - COMPANY - - [Illustration] - - - - -Contents - - - I. THE TRAPPER OF TAOS AND SANTA FÉ 7 - - II. AROUND THE CAMP-FIRE 24 - - III. THE TRAPPERS TAKE THE TRAIL 39 - - IV. INDIAN SIGNS--AND INDIANS! 53 - - V. WHITE MAN VERSUS RED ON THE COLORADO 67 - - VI. TWO NIGHTS OF DANGER 77 - - VII. HOW THE TRAPPERS RETALIATED 91 - - VIII. KIT REACHES SANTA FÉ ONCE MORE 102 - - IX. IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES 124 - - X. A DESPERATE EXPERIENCE WITH GRIZZLIES 145 - - XI. THE BULLY OF THE TRADING CAMP 156 - - XII. LOPEZ RIDES INTO CAMP 175 - - XIII. THE VILLAGE OF THE BLACKFEET 191 - - XIV. THE LAST BATTLE 202 - - XV. SKETCH OF CARSON’S LIFE 212 - - - - -Illustrations - - - PAGE - - “IT’S AN INDIAN,” SPOKE THE TRAPPER _Frontispiece_ - - “WHAT IS IT?” ASKED THE BOYS 43 - - “SO YOU ARE HERE?” 113 - - “REDSKINS!” 137 - - - - -In the Rockies With Kit Carson - - - - -CHAPTER I - -THE TRAPPER OF TAOS AND SANTA FÉ - - -Late one afternoon when the sunlight was slanting through the trees and -wavering upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when the -only sounds were the whispering winds in the higher boughs, and the -thrumming of a stringed instrument from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall -Spanish mule came clattering into the village with two boys astride its -back. They were bronzed, sinewy looking youngsters; each held a long -barreled rifle. - -A barefooted sentry, his piece over his shoulder, looked up at the -sudden sound; and as the mule was abruptly checked beside him, and the -two lads slipped from its back, he whipped his weapon about and with a -brown thumb upon the trigger, cried: - -“Halt!” - -The elder of the two lads wiped his forehead with his sleeve; then to -the other he said: - -“Hold tight to that old chap, Joe; we may have further use for him, you -know.” - -“I hope not,” declared Joe, ruefully. “He’s got a back like a buck-saw, -and a gait like a dromedary. And between the two he’s the worst thing I -ever rode.” - -The elder boy saluted the sentinel. - -“We are strangers,” he said, in good Spanish. “We belong to the trading -schooner ‘Gadfly’ now off the coast; and we are in pursuit of a man -named Lopez who ran away.” - -The sentry grinned. - -“A deserter?” - -“He is. But we don’t object to that so much as we do the fact that he’s -a thief as well. He robbed us, swam ashore, and the last seen of him he -was heading toward this village.” - -The sentry placed the butt of his musket upon a stone and leaned -socially upon the barrel. - -“There are some strangers in the Pueblo now,” he said. “But they are -Americans. And they are not sailors, but trappers. They came from Taos -in New Mexico,” wonderingly; “they crossed the desert where they might -have died of thirst. And all to trap beaver.” - -“Lopez is a half-breed,” said the youth. “And he has a scar, made by -the slash of a knife, across his left cheek.” - -The sentry shook his head. - -“I saw no such man,” said he. “It may be that he went with the Hudson -Bay men who I hear were at work on the streams not far from here about -a week ago.” - -“The man we are after left the schooner only this morning,” said the -boy. - -“The señor captain may have seen him,” spoke the soldier, helpfully. -“It is his duty to ask all strangers for their passports.” - -“Where is the señor captain to be found?” asked the boy. - -The soldier shook his head, shouldered his piece and prepared to resume -his tramp up and down. - -“At this hour,” said he, “the captain is always asleep. It is his -habit. Later, you can see him.” - -Joe Frazier, from his post at the tall mule’s head, laughed. - -“The habit is a bad one,” said he in reply to an inquiring look from -his friend. “And I think the quicker the señor captain is broken of it -the better. So I think, Dave, it’s your plain duty to do it.” - -Dave Johnson turned soberly to the sentry. In careful Spanish he said: - -“I am grieved to hear that your officer is asleep. Also I am sorry that -under the circumstances we shall be forced to awaken him. Give him our -compliments and say that two Americanos are here in a matter of much -haste.” - -The sentry stared. - -“Wake the señor captain! Never! He would beat me!” - -Dave considered, still gravely. - -“That would be awkward,” he decided. “And I wouldn’t care to see it -done. So to save you trouble, I will awaken him myself.” - -And before the astonished soldier could prevent him, he strode to the -door of the adobe dwelling and began thundering upon the door. A sleepy -muttering was the answer. - -“Take care!” cried the dismayed sentry, apparently at a loss as to how -to deal with the situation. “He has an evil temper, señor!” - -As the knocking went on, the muttering within swelled into a roar; then -the door was flung open and a squat, heavy-faced man with small, angry -eyes, and a brass-hilted sword in his hand, appeared. He glared at -Dave, the little eyes seeming to snap. - -“And so,” said he, “you will come knocking, will you, my brave fellow! -Nothing will do but I must be disturbed, eh? Not a wink must I get -after all the labors of the day. Very well, señor; we shall see.” - -He spoke quietly, but there was a menace in his tone which did not -escape Joe Frazier. - -“Careful there, Dave,” he called in English. “I think he’s up to -something.” - -The little eyes of the Mexican officer now went to the sentry. - -“And my commands are worth nothing, are they, my man? I waste my breath -telling you that I must not be disturbed, and you allow the first -rascally Americano who comes along to come thundering at my door. Very -well! It will be your turn later!” - -Again his glance shifted to Dave. The young American saluted in stiff -military fashion. - -“Pardon me, señor,” he said. “It is my misfortune that I had to break -in upon your slumbers. The fact is----” - -But the man stopped him sharply. - -“Enough!” said he. “Who are you?” - -“We belong to the schooner ‘Gadfly.’” - -“What are you doing here?” - -Dave related in a few words the same story he had told the sentry. The -officer listened, all the time prodding the sun-baked earth before the -door with the point of his sword; there was a scowl upon his heavy -face, and the small angry eyes looked red and threatening. - -“A pretty story,” said he. “Your passports!” - -“They are on board the schooner. In our hurry to pursue Lopez we -forgot them.” - -The captain showed his teeth in what was meant for a smile. -Unquestionably this fact pleased him. - -“Give the sentry your arms,” he said. “You are under arrest.” - -Dave fell back a step or two. - -“He means business,” he called over his shoulder to his friend in -English. “And once he gets our guns there’s no knowing what will -happen.” - -“Well, we don’t give them up until we’re sure,” answered Joe promptly, -throwing his weapon forward as he spoke, and covertly preparing for any -action that might be forced upon them. “Talk to him, old boy; maybe you -can bring him around.” - -The Mexican had followed Dave with cat-like tread; his sword was now -held at arm’s length, the point not more than a foot from the lad’s -chest. - -“Halt!” commanded he. And as Dave turned his face toward him once -more, the man went on: “I have met with impudent Americanos before -this. And I know the way to deal with them. Lay down your rifles!” - -Instead of doing so, Dave’s grip tightened about the stock of his -weapon; the officer saw this and without another word his arm drew back -for a swinging cut. Dave threw up the barrel of his rifle to guard his -head; the barefooted sentry saw the motion and read in it peril for his -officer, for his musket lifted instantly, pointing at Dave. But Joe, in -his turn, saw this, leaped forward and grasped the sentry’s arm; the -muzzle of his piece was thrown up just as it exploded; and the captain -went staggering back, fear in his face. - -“Guard! Guard!” he shouted. “Help! Would you see me murdered! Guard!” - -From the soldiers’ quarters straggled the guard, as unkempt a lot -as one would wish to see; each grasped a musket, and each was much -excited by the shot and the sudden alarm. A horde of Indians, men, -women and children, also made their appearance and pressed toward the -scene of action. There was an excited hubbub of voices; the musket -barrels shone in the sun; and the tattered soldiery eagerly fingered -the locks as though anxious to take up their duties at once. At a word -from the excited captain they formed a slovenly line. - -“Disarm those Americanos!” directed the officer. “And put them under -a close guard. We shall see if our lives are to be threatened by -intruders in this way.” - -The grim mouths of the Mexican guns were turned upon the two lads who -now stood with their backs to an adobe wall; for a moment or two things -looked very bad for them; but then a new element showed itself which -put a new face upon things. - -Through the press of Indians, who made no offer to take a part in the -proceedings, a half dozen buckskin-clad men shouldered their way. From -their coonskin caps to their moccasined feet they looked a hardy lot; -and in their faces was that resolution which comes in time to all those -who are accustomed to face danger. - -Each carried a rifle in the hollow of his arm; and silently they placed -themselves between the two boys and the soldiery. One of them, a rather -small young man with sandy hair and mild gray eyes, stepped toward the -captain. - -“Just a moment, señor,” said he, in Spanish. “If you’d like to listen, -we’ve got a word or two to say for the boys, before your men carry the -matter further.” - -For a moment it seemed as though the Mexican officer would order his -guard to fire upon the intruders; but the cool, resolute air of the -men in buckskin caused him to alter his mind. Holding up a hand in a -gesture which bid his men await his further commands, he said surlily: - -“Well, señor, and who are you?” - -The young spokesman of the party smiled. - -“What! and is it possible that you’ve forgotten me so soon?” said he. - -“Are you the Hudson Bay man?” - -“No.” - -A light seemed to break upon the Mexican. - -“You are of Young’s band of trappers,” said he with a smile which held -an under-current of cunning. “To be sure. I had all but forgotten you.” - -The young spokesman nodded, good-humoredly. - -“That you’d done so, señor, shows that we’ve been giving you little -trouble,” said he. “And now,” with a certain bluntness of manner, -“let us come to the present matter. As it happened, we saw the affair -between you and these lads. As far as I can see they are in no way to -blame. It was your sentry who fired the shot, and----” - -“Wait!” interrupted the commander of the village. To the sentry he -said: “Rascal, did you fire your piece?” - -“My officer,” replied the man, “I thought you were----” - -“Enough!” snapped the captain. “I will see to you later.” - -With a wave of the hand he dismissed the guard; the men went straggling -back to their quarters; the group of Indians, puzzled and disappointed, -also melted away; then the captain turned to the spokesman of the -trappers. - -“You see, señor, I am fair. I want to do only what is right. Please so -inform your comrades, for I see they know little Spanish. And then----” -here he leaned forward, with a cunning look in his eyes, and whispered -the remainder of the sentence into the young trapper’s ear. - -But the latter, a frown wrinkling his forehead, cut him short. - -“No,” said he, “nothing like that.” - -“But consider,” pleaded the captain; “out of good fellowship.” - -The young man paid no heed; to his comrades he said: - -“Now, boys, back to camp.” Then to Dave and Joe he added, “Get your -mules and come along. I reckon you’re not just what I would call safe -in this village.” - -The two lads, Joe with his arm through the bridle rein of the tall -mule, trudged along at their new friend’s side. - -“I’m a thousand times obliged to you,” said Dave Johnson. “There’s no -telling what might have happened to us if you hadn’t come along.” - -The trapper smiled boyishly. - -“Well,” said he, with a little drawl in his voice, “I reckon the -captain was a trifle anxious about you two.” Then inquiringly, “Know -much about these parts?” - -“No,” replied Joe Frazier. “We’re just from on board ship.” - -The other nodded. - -“I thought it was something like that,” he said. “If you had known the -lay of the land, you’d not have been so ready to tackle the captain. -He’s just the very person you’d ’a’ fought shy of. You see, the Mexican -government has these pueblos, or Indian villages all along here, and -they don’t like Americans to come prowling around and finding out -things. If you haven’t a passport they’ll arrest you, steal everything -you’ve got and drive you out of the country. Or it might even be worse.” - -“We knew that passports were needed, but we left the schooner in a -hurry, and never gave them a thought. And,” added Dave, “they were very -difficult to get in the first place.” - -The trapper chuckled. - -“I don’t know much about getting them,” said he. “Fact is, I never -tried. None of Young’s men have ’em, and the captain back there’s -been walking on thorns ever since we’ve been here trying to find a way -of arresting us.” Seeing the boys’ inquiring look, he added, quietly, -“There’s eighteen of us in all, and each one knows a trifle about -shooting. So you see, the captain hasn’t found the job an easy one.” - -They had walked on some little distance, when he continued: - -“A couple of days ago the captain hit on a neat little plan. You see -some of our men,” and his voice lowered a trifle so that the trappers -in advance might not hear, “are a kind of a rough lot, and they’ll -drink if they get the chance. The captain’s plan is to give them -liquor, and then when they’re helpless, take away their rifles and -hatchets and knives, and pen them up somewhere. Young got wind of it, -and we’re keeping our eyes skinned until we’re ready to take the trail -back to Taos.” - -About a mile south of the Pueblo of Los Angeles they came upon the -trappers’ camp, a row of huts made of boughs, sod and bark. A number -of buckskin-clad men lay about upon blankets or buffalo robes; others -were cooking the evening meal at the camp-fire; while others again were -cleaning their rifles or honing their broad-bladed hunting knives. - -“There’s Young, the trader who took out this expedition,” said the -young trapper. “What are your names, boys? I’ll introduce you.” - -“Mine’s Dave Johnson; I’m from Boston,” announced that young gentleman. - -“And I’m Joe Frazier, from Charleston,” said the other. Then, -curiously: “What’s yours?” - -“My name’s Kit Carson,” the trapper informed them; “once of Kentucky, -later of Missouri, but now of Taos and Santa Fé.” - - - - -CHAPTER II - -AROUND THE CAMP-FIRE - - -The two lads were warmly greeted by Mr. Ewing Young, the Taos trader -and leader of the trapper band. - -“A rather narrow squeak,” was his comment, when told of their -misadventure; “the captain back there at the Pueblo is anxious to get -his revenge upon an Americano because of the trouble he’s had with us, -and you lads would have pleased him well enough.” - -Ewing Young was a very well-known trader and trapper. Some time before -he had sent out a company in search of fur from Santa Fé toward the -Colorado River country. On their way they were attacked by an Indian -war party; after a desperate fight against great odds, the hunters -were forced to fall back and make their way toward New Mexico once -more. - -“But that just made me fighting mad,” said the trapper chief to -the boys, “so I got together a party of forty Americans, Canadians -and Frenchmen. At about the head of the Salt River we came on that -identical war party which had so roughly handled my first company.” - -Kit Carson laughed as though at some amusing reminiscence. - -“I never saw any parsel of humans so tickled as those redskins were,” -said he. “They had licked us once, and they figured they’d do it the -second time even quicker than the first.” - -The boys were seated upon a bearskin which one of the men had thrown -upon the ground for them; night was settling and the camp-fires blazed -cheerily; strips of venison, from the tenderest portions of bucks which -had fallen before the rifle that day, were being roasted at each fire, -and the savory smell filled the air. The horses and mules belonging to -the outfit were safely picketed a little distance off; the adventurers -laughed and chatted and performed the duties of the camp in high good -humor. - -“I reckon, Cap’n,” said one old grizzled fellow with a wrinkled, -weather-beaten face and the clear eyes of a boy, “that them thar reds -hadn’t any idee how many there was of us. If they had they’d not been -in such a precious hurry to come to hand grips.” - -“And the captain didn’t want them to know,” Kit Carson informed the -boys. “He picked out a nice likely place and put about twenty-five men -there in ambush. The Indians off there in front noticed us halt to do -this, and got it into their heads that we were kind of chicken-hearted -in the matter. And as the rest of us started toward them they made a -charge. We fell back until they were well into the trap. Then the boys -in the ambush jumped up and gave them one volley; and away went the -whole band of warriors as fast as they could go, and never once looked -back to see what had happened to them.” - -“I counted fifteen braves who’ll never draw another bow ’cept in the -Happy Hunting Grounds,” said the grizzled old trapper. “And besides -that, there were the wounded. That’s the way to hit at the varmints; -and it’s the only way to make it safe for a white man to set his traps -along the streams in this region. Teach ’em a lesson, says I; and make -it one that they’ll not forget, while you’re about it.” - -But while the savages were defeated they were not altogether -discomfited; for they doggedly held to the trail of the trappers. Along -the Salt to the San Francisco River, they had pursued them, and all -the way along this stream to its very head waters; their depredations -were secret and under cover of darkness; the men learned to avoid -the camp-fires, for at any moment a deadly arrow might come hissing -from the darkness; horses and mules were killed and maimed; traps were -stolen constantly. - -“The loss of the traps crippled us,” said Kit, “and at the head of the -San Francisco, Mr. Clark split the party in two; only what you see -here continued on through the desert; the others took what pelts we’d -trapped and turned face about for New Mexico.” - -During all the talk of the company’s adventures and through the supper -which shortly followed, Kit Carson noticed that the two boys were -strangely silent. Now and then they showed an interest in what was said -by the trappers about them; but for the most part they sat looking -into the fire or talking in a low tone. But when the meal was done and -the men broke up into small knots about the fires, the two approached -the young trapper. They talked for a space upon different topics, and -finally, after some little hesitation, Dave Johnson said: - -“Being from Taos, you might know a half-breed Mexican named Lopez.” - -Kit Carson smiled. - -“Well,” said he, “seeing that half the Mexicans down that way are -half-breeds, it would be a hard way to pick a man. But the name Lopez -is not the same as Smith or Jones,” he added thoughtfully. “What kind -of a man is your half-breed for looks?” - -“Rather well made, wears rings in his ears and has a knife cut across -his left cheek.” - -A gleam of surprise came into Kit Carson’s face. - -“Has the man anything to do with your being here?” he asked. - -“He has,” said Joe Frazier. “We are in search of him.” - -“I thought something was wrong from the way he acted when I saw him at -noon.” - -“You saw him!” Both lads came to their feet, their rifles in their -hands. “Where?” - -“Sit down,” said the trapper, quietly. “Don’t get excited. It’ll do you -no good, for you couldn’t go looking for him to-night, anyway.” - -And as the boys resumed their seats on the bearskin, he went on. - -“I didn’t know this breed by the name of Lopez. I’d seen him often at -the trading posts and the Indians called him Spotted Snake. To-day as I -was riding back to camp here, with some small game that I’d been after, -I met him on a badly winded horse. I was surprised to see him so far -away from his usual hunting grounds. - -“‘Hello, Spotted Snake,’ says I to him. ‘What are you doing here?’ - -“At first he set out to make believe he didn’t know me and that I must -have made some kind of a mistake. But in a couple of minutes he saw -that it wouldn’t do, and climbed down to real facts. - -“‘You with some trappers?’ says he. - -“‘Young’s crowd,’ says I. - -“‘Does he want another man?’ he says. - -“Now I know that Spotted Snake is a good trapper, so I says to him: - -“‘Maybe.’ - -“‘Good,’ says he. And then: ‘Going away from here soon?’ - -“‘Not for a week,’ says I. - -“And with that,” said Kit Carson, his eyes on the boys, “he lost all -interest in joining us. A few hours later I saw him headed south with a -band of Pueblos and Mexicans who had been making ready for a big hunt.” - -There was a moment’s silence; then Dave Johnson asked: - -“What sort of a country is it to the south?” - -“Fine country if you stick to the water-courses. Lots of game; and,” as -an afterthought, “lots of redskins.” - -“To-morrow,” said Dave to his friend, “we’ll send the mule back to the -man we borrowed it from. Then we’ll each buy a horse and some other -things that we need, and we’ll be off to the southward after Lopez.” - -Kit Carson regarded the lads quizzically. - -“It’ll take a good trailer to follow that party with any chance of -overtaking them,” he said. “And outside that, it’s a mighty dangerous -thing for two people to get out there without anything to back ’em up. -The reds would gobble ’em quicker’n it takes to tell it.” He studied -them for a moment longer and then said quietly, “If the thing’s not too -much of a secret, let’s hear it. You’ve got a reason for wanting to -come up with Spotted Snake; and, who knows--maybe if it’s a good enough -one--I might be able to help you.” - -“It seems to me,” said Joe, sturdily, “every person we’ve met to-day -has to listen to our troubles. But I guess,” comically, “we’ll have to -saddle you with the story, too, Mr. Carson, if you’re to understand -how we came here and what we’re after.” - -“It has been all of six months ago,” spoke Dave, “though I’ve about -lost track of the time, that we left New Orleans in the bark ‘Gloria -Santos.’ She traded all along the coast until we came to Rio Janeiro; -then we shifted to the English square rigger ‘North Star,’ which -carried us around the Horn and to Valparaiso. At that city we got -passage on the trader ‘Gadfly,’ which worked along until we reached the -mouth of the Los Angeles River.” - -“You came alone on this trip?” asked the trapper. - -“No,” replied Joe. - -“That’s what I thought,” said Kit. “But go on.” - -“My father’s been thinking of making the voyage for the past five -years,” said Joe. “And he thought he’d wait until Dave and I were old -enough to join him. Dave and I are cousins, you see.” - -“But we never knew what his object was until we reached this coast,” -said Dave. “Then we found that he had a sort of map or plan of a -particular place on a California river, which had been given him by an -old seaman for whom he had done an important service while they served -under MacDonough on the Lakes in the last war with England.” - -“Plan of a place on a river, eh?” spoke Kit. “Well, I’ve trapped along -all these streams and while they’re good for beaver and other fur -bearing critters, still I don’t see anything about them that would take -a man all that way a-looking for them.” - -Dave glanced about at the groups of trappers as though to make sure -that he was not overheard; bending forward he whispered something in -Kit Carson’s ear. - -“No!” exclaimed the trapper, incredulously. - -Both boys nodded a vigorous affirmative. - -“The old seaman who gave my uncle the map,” said Dave, “had visited -the country years ago. He was sure that there were great quantities of -gold in the beds of all the streams. He was very old when my uncle met -him, and that is why he didn’t make the venture himself. The map was -made by him on a spot where he had seen the Indians washing out gold to -make ornaments.” - -“It may be so,” said Kit, slowly. “They find it just that way, I’m -told; so why not in California as well as any other place?” - -“The captain of the ‘Gadfly’ was short handed when we got to a village -down the coast, and he hired a Mexican and this half-breed, Lopez, to -help work the schooner. The Mexican deserted at the next stop, but -Lopez remained with us. In a little while we found why this was. Things -began to be missed. Two nights ago as I came on deck I found him lying -on his stomach looking down the open skylight into my uncle’s cabin. -There was a light burning in the cabin and my uncle sat at a table -with a small metal box before him, going over its contents. It was -in this box that he kept the map and his other valuables. I spoke to -Lopez; he got up, muttered something and walked away. This morning the -half-breed was missed; a half hour later the box was also discovered -to have disappeared. It took us only a moment to put the two things -together; then Joe and I put out on board the mule, looking for him.” - -“Your father didn’t join in the hunt?” said Kit to Joe, and there was -an inquiring note in his voice. - -“My father,” said Joe, “isn’t able to ride. He’s a cripple; lost his -right leg by a cannon shot at the engagement on Lake Champlain.” - -“I see,” said Kit. “And if the map was to be recovered, it was for you -two boys to do it.” There was a short silence; then the trapper spoke -again. “I see now why Spotted Snake was so anxious to get away from -this section as soon as he could.” Then inquiringly, “Is it your idea -that he took the box just because of the money value of the things in -it?” - -“He couldn’t have known of the map----” began Joe breathlessly. But the -trapper interrupted him. - -“Don’t be too sure of that,” said he. “You are never sure of what a -fellow like that knows. He goes sneaking about, peeping and listening, -and often he finds out more than he’s given credit for.” - -Dave was about to make a reply to this, when suddenly there was a -commotion in the darkness. The voice of one of the trappers posted to -the north of the camp as a guard was heard calling sharply: - -“Halt! Stand where you are!” - -Instantly the groups about the fires melted; each man seized the -ever ready rifle and fell back out of the red glow. The chief of the -trappers, Mr. Young, went forward, and voices were heard in a sort of -parley. Then the two boys saw the captain of the Pueblo advancing, a -half dozen of his soldiers at his back. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -THE TRAPPERS TAKE THE TRAIL - - -“Pardon!” cried the Mexican, jovially, as he advanced. “I hope I do not -intrude, gentlemen.” - -The chief of the trappers, who had approached the fires with him, bid -him welcome. - -“Sit down,” said Mr. Young. “Glad to see you.” - -The officer did so; and his men squatted within the circle of light, -blinking like so many owls and holding their muskets across their knees. - -“Soon you will be leaving the Pueblo,” said the captain. “I am sorry. -Not once have you accepted my hospitality.” - -The grizzled old trapper who had spoken to the boys when the company’s -venture was being related, laughed at this declaration when it was -translated. - -“Trouble with that Greaser is that he is too public in his -invitations,” grinned he. “If he wants to treat us so consarned bad, -why don’t he do it privately? I reckon nobody here’d refuse.” - -There was a laugh at this; and one of the Americans who spoke some -Spanish called to the captain across the firelight: - -“Very well, señor, if you want to be sociable, we’ll not discourage -you.” - -The Mexican smiled in an oily fashion and rubbed his thick, strong -hands. He spoke English very badly, but at once entered into a -conversation with some of the men. - -Kit Carson, who, with the two boys, had not returned to the camp-fire -at the officer’s approach, stood leaning upon his rifle, watching the -strangers. - -“Up to some of his games,” the lads heard him mutter. Then to them he -said: “Move quietly and follow me; I reckon I’ll be able to show you -the reason for the captain’s visit.” - -Softly he stole away westward from the camp, the boys following in his -steps; when about two hundred yards distant he made a détour toward the -south and after some little time paused. - -“I think the Greasers took this way when they approached,” said he. - -Then slowly he stepped along in the direction of the distant -firelight; the night was a moonless one, but the stars twinkled in the -light-colored sky and they were enabled to see without difficulty. -Quietly they paced along among the trees, until at length the trunk of -a giant cottonwood reared itself a little to one side. - -“Ah!” said the trapper, “I think I noticed that tree before.” - -They approached it; upon the far side it showed a large hollow at the -base. The long rifle barrel was poked into this and struck something -that gave out an unusual sound. - -“I thought so,” said Kit, and with that he put down his gun, reached -into the crevice and rolled out a heavy looking keg. - -“What is it?” asked the boys, in a breath. - -“Liquor!” replied the trapper. “And put here by that Greaser a while -ago. And before he leaves camp to-night he’ll see to it that our men -know where the stuff is hidden.” - -“But what is his object?” asked Joe, puzzled. - -There was a little pause; the trapper’s moccasined feet prodded the -keg; then he said: - -“You see, all this region is claimed by the Mexican government. A -license is needed to hunt and trap hereabout. And they refused to grant -one to an American. When we reached here the captain undertook to -arrest us, but we showed fight. Ever since then he’s been trying to -get our fellows intoxicated; once let him succeed, and the rest will be -easy for him.” - -[Illustration: “WHAT IS IT?” ASKED THE BOYS] - -He drew a heavy, short-handled hatchet from his belt. With one blow the -head of the keg was stove in; the strong liquor rushed out and sank -into the ground. - -“And so,” said Kit, humorously, replacing the hatchet in his belt, -“there’s that to set against the captain’s little game. There’s not -enough left to make even a tarantula feel lively.” - -They took the same way back to camp; no one had missed them; and they -found the Mexican officer all smiles and ready to leave. - -“Good-night, Señor Young,” he was saying to the leader of the trappers, -as he shook his hand. “Good-night and pleasant dreams. To-morrow, in -the morning, I will come again.” He said this with an unpleasant smile -which made Kit Carson nudge Dave Johnson meaningly. “In the morning I -will come again; and from then on, señor, I hope to see much more of -you.” - -“Good-night,” said Young. - -The Mexican hitched his sword belt into a more comfortable position. - -“Good-night, gentlemen,” said he, with a wave of his hand to the -trappers. “You are all brave fellows; and like brave fellows the whole -world over, you accept all that circumstances put in your hands.” - -As this was put into English for them by the comrade who knew Spanish, -the men laughed and exchanged mysterious nods and winks. - -“You see,” said Kit, “he’s got them primed to fall into his trap. And -they’d do it as sure as shooting--if”--and he laughed softly--“the trap -was not already sprung.” - -With a final wave of the hand, the Mexican officer strode away followed -by his men; and no sooner had he disappeared than Kit was at the side -of his employer telling of the plot. Mr. Young’s face grew dark with -anger. - -“I’d like to repay him for that,” said he. “But,” with a gesture, -“what’s the use? I suppose, after all, it’s his way of doing his duty.” -Then with sudden resolve, “There will be a constant danger of that kind -all the time we are here; so at sunrise to-morrow we break camp and -head for the Gila River.” - -As the leader turned away, Kit Carson turned swiftly to the boys. - -“And, so there you are!” said he. “You have the luck with you, boys. -It’s the best chance that could turn up. Come with us and you’ll be -following right in the trail of Spotted Snake.” - -“But my father,” cried Joe, as he caught his breath. - -“We’ve got an Indian boy here that’s been hanging around camp,” said -Kit. “He’s to be trusted. Send him back with your mule, and also write -a message to your father. Tell him to come ashore and hire a couple -of Pueblo Indians to carry him in to the Mission of San Gabriel. The -priests will look after him; they have good food and he’ll be safe.” - -“But,” said Dave, “couldn’t we start for the coast now and make -arrangements with him in person? It’s only a little more than thirty -miles there and back. We could make camp again by sunrise.” - -This seemed to strike Kit as a good notion; he sought out Mr. Young and -put the case of the boys before him. The chief trapper nodded, slowly. - -“I don’t like the idea of greenhorns,” said he. “And then we’re out to -catch fur, and not to trail thieving half-breeds. But if the thing’s -important and there’s no other way of doing it, all right.” - -“Well,” said Kit, to the boys, “as there isn’t any time to lose, -let’s see to your mounts.” He led them to the place where the horses -were picketed; the animals lifted their heads at the approach of the -trapper; some snorted and pawed the ground as though anxious to be -off on the trail once more. Mr. Young pointed to a pair of fair sized -mustangs which stood side by side. - -“They ought to do,” said he. “They are sound, not excitable and have -speed.” - -“Couldn’t have made a better pick if you’d gone over the entire lot,” -said Kit, approvingly. - -“But won’t we be depriving some one of a mount?” asked Joe. - -“Horses are plenty in this country; and cheap, too. You can have these -for the price we pay for the ones we buy to replace them.” - -This was eagerly agreed to; there was little more said; the mustangs -were led out, bridled and saddled; and the boys, good riders both, -swung themselves upon their backs. - -“By daylight,” cried Dave, as he waved his hand. - -“And if we’re a little late,” called Joe, his impatient mount prancing -under him, “we’ll try and pick up your trail.” - -“Good lads,” laughed Kit Carson; and then with another salute they were -gone into the darkness. - -A strong guard of trusty men was kept about the trappers’ camp that -night; Mr. Young was an experienced frontiersman and so took no chances -with an enemy of the Mexican captain’s type. No one was permitted to -leave camp for fear that the keg discovered by Kit was not the only -one “planted” by the cunning official. At the first streak of dawn the -trappers were astir; breakfast was cooked, traps and other equipment -packed upon the horses used for that purpose, and everything was ready -for the start. - -“Looks as though our young friends were going to fail us,” spoke Mr. -Young. “If they do, I’m out the price of two good ponies.” - -“They’ll not fail unless something happened them on the way,” said Kit -Carson, who had taken a fancy to the cousins. “They are a clean-looking -pair, and I think I’d back them to do more than hold to a bargain.” - -The trappers, with their packhorses in the center of the column, moved -off down the Indian trail; they had gotten entirely out of sight of -the Pueblo of Los Angeles, when a distant shout caught the ear of Kit -Carson; his sharp eye swept the hills which rose about them; across a -ridge to the north two horsemen were coming like the wind. - -The trapper wheeled his mustang and dashed back; the newcomers were -Dave and Joe, weary and sore from the unaccustomed labor of the night, -but both game and willing, for all. - -“It was all right,” proclaimed Joe, delightedly. “Dad didn’t take to -the thing at first, but we had him talked over in half an hour. The -captain of the schooner knows a priest at San Gabriel; they are going -to get a party of the mission Indians with ponies and a litter as you -suggested; and he’ll stay at the mission till we return, or he hears -from us.” - -The cavalcade reached the Mission of San Gabriel in the afternoon. This -mission was the most wonderful sight in the Californias of that period. -It had farming land stretching for miles about, tilled by the thousand -Indians which it maintained; over its ranges wandered seventy-five -thousand head of cattle, also huge herds of horses, mules and sheep. -Mr. Young had no difficulty in replacing the ponies sold to the boys; -horse-flesh was low as he had said, and, especially at San Gabriel, -very plenty. - -Kit Carson earned the friendship of a young Pueblo, loafing on the -steps of the mission building, by presenting him with a small trinket. - -“Some Mexicans and Indians went through here yesterday,” said he. - -“Trap!” said the youthful savage, laconically. “Much hunt on Gila -River.” - -“A man was with them--much cut on face,” and the trapper illustrated -the character of the scar. - -The young Indian nodded. - -“Big cut!” agreed he. “Long time ago.” - -Kit nodded to the boys as they turned and rode after their party. - -“We’re right behind them! If we have good luck, Lopez, or Spotted -Snake, as we called him in Taos, will be where we can get our hands on -him by sundown to-morrow.” - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -INDIAN SIGNS--AND INDIANS! - - -That night the trappers camped upon the banks of a small stream; their -supper was of game shot during the day and corn-cakes made from the -meal in one of the packs. - -Both boys noticed that much care was taken as to the picketing of the -horses, also a guard was placed over them. The camp was laid out with a -plain regard for defense as well as for comfort. - -“You never can tell in the wilderness just what is going to happen,” -said Kit Carson, in answer to a question of Joe’s. “The Pueblo Indians -are mostly a mild lot, and never go upon the war-path; and the other -redskins are too well fed around the mission to make trouble. But war -parties of one nation or another are apt to be met with any time.” - -The trappers placed their saddle pads on the ground and threw their -blankets over them; these, with saddles at one end for pillows, were -their bed. The boys followed their example. - -“But keep yourself out of the firelight,” warned Kit. “It’s a dangerous -habit to get into, this hanging around the camp-fire. And always keep -your rifle where you can reach it the first grab. Seconds count in a -night rush of these copper-colored varmints; so always fix yourself -right before you go to sleep.” - -The men talked and smoked their pipes about the fire for an hour or -two after supper; then, after a guard had been set, they, one by one, -rolled themselves in their blankets and soon were asleep. For some -time, however, the boys lay awake; the crackling of the logs on the -fires, the stamping of the horses, and the stirring of the breeze in -the trees was new to them; and then from the hills and the forests the -faint voice of the wilderness called to them as it calls to every one, -telling of its rushing rivers, its trackless wastes, its splendid game, -its breathless dangers. And, also, somewhere ahead was Spotted Snake, -and as they grew heavy eyed and slow of thought, they seemed to realize -for the first time what the pursuit of him in such a region as this -might mean; months might go by without a sight of him, and many and -nameless perils might be met by the way. - -At dawn on the following day the camp was astir; breakfast was cooked -and eaten, packs were adjusted and made fast; then the party mounted -and began the day’s journey. It was a picturesque cavalcade; each man -led or rode beside a packhorse or mule; across his back was slung -his rifle, in his belt was his hunting knife, his whetstone and his -hatchet; his clothing was of soft buckskin, fringed and ornamented -with porcupine quills, dyed in many and brilliant colors. - -The country through which they passed was an ever changing one; streams -were crossed; paths were forced through green ravines; mountainsides -were conquered; thick woods were encountered everywhere. - -Toward the middle of the day the boys found themselves riding ahead of -the trapper company, with Kit Carson; after a time he grew silent and -seemed to be studying the ground as they went along. At length he drew -in his pony and waited until Mr. Young came up. - -“The signs say that a company of trappers went over this route not long -ago,” he said to his chief. “And I think it might be Spotted Snake and -the party he engaged with.” - -“Like as not,” replied the other, his eyes searching the ground. - -“The trail leads away to the left a little piece on,” observed Kit. “I -think I’ll have a look at it with the boys. We’ll bring up with you in -a little while.” - -Upon a nod from Mr. Young he rode forward, the two eager lads at -his side; they also studied the ground; hoof marks there were to a -certainty; but what told Kit they had been made by a trapping party, -they were puzzled to know. - -“It’s plain enough,” said the young man when Joe had put the question -to him. “Each man in the party rode a pony and led a pack-mule; no -other party but a trapper’s is ever made up like that.” - -Off to the left they turned, following the trail as it led toward a -distant range of hills. - -“It’s rather a peculiar move,” spoke Kit after a time; “and no -direction for a company to take which aims to trap on the Gila River.” - -For a full hour they rode in the track of the strange preceding -expedition; they had reached a section covered by small knolls or -hillocks, some crowned by growths of dwarfed trees, others bald and -desolate. Suddenly Kit Carson reined in his pony and swung himself from -the saddle; without waiting to be told, both boys did the same. They -quickly led their mounts behind one of the knolls; and when the trapper -halted, Dave Johnson asked: - -“What is it?” - -“Tie up your mustangs,” was the only reply. - -The boys did so; then, following the cautious example of the trapper, -they scrambled up the steep sides of the hillock; it was one of those -upon which the dwarf trees grew so thickly; they lay among these and -looked toward the east. - -“Take a steady look now, off toward the southeast,” said Kit, one hand -pointing in that direction. “Do you see a hill which looks something -like a horse’s head--right against the sky?” - -The thick mass of dark growth which topped a distant knoll was -unmistakable; and both lads replied in a breath. - -“Yes!” - -“Well, strike a line to the left again--on a hill farther away--a bald -hill something higher than the others.” - -Joe Frazier was the first to catch the object indicated. - -“A horseman,” said he. - -“An Indian!” cried Dave Johnson, an instant later, and with a keener -vision. - -“An Indian it is,” spoke the trapper, his eyes holding to the distant -figure. - -There was something in his manner which caught the attention of the -boys. - -“There were Indians a-plenty back at San Gabriel and at the Pueblo,” -said Joe, “but you did not pay much attention to them.” - -Kit Carson smiled. - -“No,” said he, quietly. “Those redskins didn’t call for much attention. -But this is one of a very different kind. You never catch his sort -planting or plowing or tending cattle; he’s a warrior, and if you were -close enough to him I think you’d find that he is armed with lance, bow -and arrow and tomahawk.” - -The savage horseman was so far away that he made but a tiny speck -against the sky; but for all that he was an ominous figure in that -desolate land, a sort of symbol of the danger it held for the intruding -paleface and an unspoken threat of what would befall if he dared to -press further into a region never meant for him. - -For some time the warrior sat his horse in perfect stillness; it was as -though he were surveying the country round about for signs of danger, -or, more probably, for signs of prey. Then he suddenly turned his horse -and disappeared from the summit of the knoll. - -The three mounted once more and continued in the trail they had been -following; the boys noted that the trapper looked at the priming of -his rifle, and they did the same. They had no notion of what to expect -ahead; but that their guide considered it more or less serious was -plain. Another hour went by; then they reached the bald hillock upon -which they had seen the solitary brave. In a hollow about a hundred -yards away was the remains of a large camp, the fires of which were -still smouldering; all about it the ground was trampled by the hoofs of -hundreds of horses. From the top of the hillock Kit Carson studied the -scene. - -“There must have been four or five hundred redskins camped here up to a -few hours ago,” said he. “The brave we saw was about the last to leave.” - -“But the trappers with Lopez, or Spotted Snake, are among them,” said -Joe. “They have walked right into a trap, for their trail leads into -the Indian camp.” - -But the trapper shook his head. - -“There were Indians and half-breeds in that company of trappers,” he -said, “and they are mostly on good terms with the others of their kind. -And the fact that they left the track that would have taken them to -their hunting grounds, and took one leading straight to the big redskin -camp, shows that they knew of it and made for it of their own accord.” - -“But why?” asked Dave. - -The trapper shook his head. - -“I don’t know,” said he. “There may be a thousand reasons for it; but -we’d never guess one of them, like as not, if we tried for a month.” - -They spent a few minutes examining the Indian camp; then they rode back -at a smart pace until they struck the trail of their own party. When -this was overtaken it was found to be encamped for the night. - -After supper, Dave and Joe noticed Kit in earnest conversation with -the chief trapper. The two men talked in low tones, but now and then -the boys caught a disconnected word. “Indian” was one of frequent -occurrence, “war party,” “trail,” and such fragments gave them -something of the color of the conversation. - -“They seem to think that there’s danger in the air,” said Joe in a -whisper. - -The two, having in mind Kit’s warning, sat beyond range of the -firelight; the trappers were as usual gathered in groups; a vigilant -guard was stationed off in the darkness upon each side of the camp. - -“I suppose it’s the size of the Indian party,” spoke Dave to Joe. “Here -there’s only a score of us; what chance should we have against, say -five hundred, if they made up their minds to attack us?” - -“Not much, I guess,” replied Joe, soberly. “But, after all,” with a -hopeful note in his voice, “it’s not likely that the redskins know -we’re around. And their trail as they left their camp led directly away -from us. I noticed that particularly.” - -However, the trappers’ camp was one of precautions that night; the -horses were not only picketed, but hobbled as well to prevent a -stampede. - -“That’s a fav’rite little game with the reds,” the grizzled old -trapper, whose name was Matthews, informed Dave. “You see, we couldn’t -get along without horses to carry our camp stuff and traps and pelts; -so if they can scare the critters and set ’em off wild with fright, -they’ve broke up our trip and got us at their mercy.” - -But the night passed peacefully enough, as did the next and the next. -Nine days after leaving Los Angeles, the company sighted the Colorado -River. All thought, or all fear at least, of redskins had left the -trappers; a camp was pitched near the river and the traps were made -ready for an operation against the beaver. - -“I’ll send a party of seven up-stream and the same number down,” said -Mr. Young on their first night on the Colorado. “The others with the -two boys I’ll leave with you to guard the camp.” - -“Right,” said Kit Carson, quietly. - -Next morning the parties, taking a few of the horses, set out to range -the river according to the leader’s plans. When they had gone, Kit, -with the help of old Matthews, the boys and the two other men left -behind, picketed the horses upon one side of the camp; the small bales -of fur were built up in a complete circle, forming a sort of breastwork. - -“An arrow would never get through these bundles of pelts,” said Kit as -he regarded the “walls” of the camp with critical approval. “Even a -bullet would have something of a job doing it.” - -Everything belonging to the expedition, except the horses, was brought -into the circle of hides. This had scarcely been done when the camp was -startled by a sudden shout from old Zeke Matthews. He had been seeing -to the mules, and now ran toward the enclosure, his rifle ready in his -hands. - -“Injuns!” he shouted. “A whole tribe of them!” - -Startled, the little party leaped upon the rampart of hides. Advancing -at a slow, swinging gallop across the soft turf that stretched away -from the river was a perfect cloud of redskins. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -WHITE VERSUS RED ON THE COLORADO - - -The feathered head-dress of many colors waved gaily above the advancing -braves; the streamers of their long lances danced in the breeze; their -lithe ponies covered the ground in cat-like leaps. - -“Not a war party!” said Kit Carson, as he eyed the horde keenly. “But -that makes little difference in this country; they use the Mexicans -they come upon much as they please--rob them--make them prisoners, or -turn them adrift unarmed. Sometimes even worse has happened.” - -“Well,” said old Zeke, grimly, as he looked to the priming of his -rifle, “we ain’t Mexicans, and I reckon there’ll be nothing like that -happen here.” - -With one accord, as they reached a point within a hundred yards of -the camp, the Indians threw their mounts back upon their haunches and -leaped to the ground; then about a dozen of them came forward, signaled -the whites, and with much ostentation laid aside knife and tomahawk, -long bow and quivers of arrows. Then with upraised hands and every -gesture of good-will used by the red men upon such occasions, they came -toward the fort. As no protest came from Kit Carson, old Zeke Matthews -looked at him with eyes of wonder. - -“I say, Kit,” said he, “when do you reckon it’ll be time to wave them -varmints back?” - -The other shook his head. - -“I’m thinking of letting them come in,” said he. - -The old trapper’s eyes grew bigger than ever. - -“Wal,” said he, “I’ve lived most of my life with Injuns near at hand; -but I ain’t never got so as I could trust ’em. These braves look as if -butter wouldn’t melt in their mouths; but give ’em a chance and they’ll -have their scalping knives at work amongst us, quicker’n you could say -Jack Robinson.” - -“I think,” said Kit Carson, to the boys, “this is the band our friend -Spotted Snake and his friends joined some days ago. If it is, we may -have a chance of getting back your map. And if it isn’t, why, we’ll try -to see that no harm is done, anyway.” - -The half dozen or so redskins who formed the “talk” party were now -close at hand; Kit called to them to halt, and spoke to them in one of -the several Indian dialects which he knew. In after years this great -frontiersman could hold a conversation in their own language with any -of the nations which roamed the plains. He was but twenty years of age -during the trapping venture of Ewing Young to the Californias, and so -had not become as familiar with the red men as was the case later. - -And so when the “talk” party failed to understand him, he tried them -in another tongue. This too failed; and so he invited them within the -enclosure so that he might converse with them in the sign language -which almost all Indians know. A tall brave, evidently a chief, was the -first to enter the fort; he was a sullen-browed fellow enough, flat -nosed, and with a face pitted by smallpox. But he gestured his perfect -good-will, as did his companions, holding out their empty hands to show -that they were unarmed. - -Curiously they inspected the enclosure; the great quantity of furs -plainly interested them; the pack-mules, the arms and camp equipment -excited nods and grunts of appreciation. - -Kit was engaged with the chief, endeavoring to make him understand his -signs; the savage comprehended slowly, his mind apparently being more -given to the treasures of the camp than what the trapper was saying to -him. As Kit was asking for information with regard to Spotted Snake, -both Joe and Dave were eagerly interested, watching the signs and -trying to interpret the chief’s replies. - -In a little while the trapper felt a hand placed upon his fringed -sleeve; looking around he saw Zeke Matthews at his side. - -“Judging from the indications,” spoke the old trapper, “I reckon this -here chief don’t know English. And that being the case, I make bold to -tell you in that language that there’s about forty more of them come -inside the fort since you began to talk.” - -That the men would admit any more of the savages to the enclosure, -or even allow them to approach the wall, had never occurred to Kit; -however, now that he was aware that they had done so, he showed no -signs of haste or alarm. His quiet gray eyes ran around among the -Indians who had adroitly wormed their way within the circle of pelts; -coolly he took in all the details of the scene; calmly he gauged its -possibilities. - -The savages, grinning and with growing aggressiveness, were thronging -up and down within the little enclosure; a second glance showed the -trapper that though the “talk” party may have entered unarmed, the -others had only made the appearance of doing so. Under their clothes -they carried hatchet and knife, sure testimony of their intentions. The -swift, cool brain of the young trapper took in this fact and valued it -properly in an instant; and almost as quickly his plans were made to -meet the peril. - -The odds were overwhelming; within the fort there were ten redskins to -each white man; in all, the savages outnumbered the hunters almost a -hundred to one. But this fact had little effect upon Kit Carson; his -arrangements were as quiet and methodical as they would have been had -the numbers been equal. - -“Go quietly among the men,” said he to old Zeke. “Get them over here -with all their arms; but, whatever you do, don’t let the bucks get an -idea of what’s going on.” - -The veteran trapper nodded and leisurely made his way through the -throng of savages. - -“It looks bad,” said Dave Johnson. “There’s enough of them to crush us -into the ground just by sheer weight.” - -Kit Carson nodded. - -“If they were white men,” said he, “there wouldn’t be anything to do -but wait till we were sure of what they were going to do--and then -surrender. But, they being Indians, the thing’s something different. -Redskins will never take a chance with death, and that’s a fact that’s -saved the lives of many a band of trappers. Let them be sure that some -of them are to die, and they’ll begin to play ’possum. Their style of -fighting is to always have the upper hand. Otherwise there’s no fight.” - -Old Zeke passed the word calmly to his comrades; and one at a time the -men sauntered across the circle and joined Kit and the boys. It was as -though they had no object in the movement except to dawdle about, talk, -and encourage their visitors to make themselves at home. When all six -of the whites were finally together, rifles in hand, alert and ready -for the desperate chance which meant life or death to them all, Kit -Carson said quietly: - -“Now, boys, when I give the word, each pick out a head man and cover -him with your rifle. I’ll take the chief with pock-marked face. At the -slightest movement that looks like resistance--fire!” - -The men nodded; the steady gripping of the rifle stocks alone told of -their purpose; their thumbs were on the triggers; their eyes were upon -the redskins. Then Kit’s soft, drawling voice said: - -“Now!” - -As he spoke his rifle came to a level, the muzzle within a few feet of -the stalwart chief; the three trappers and the two boys followed his -example; each of the grim black tubes stared a savage in the face. - -With dismay the Indians fell back into a huddled mass at one side; not -for an instant did the long rifles waver; in the barrel of each was a -messenger which meant death; they knew the deadly aim of the palefaces -of the border and that they seldom missed their mark. The chief with -the pitted face now found a fund of halting Spanish, and he addressed -the trappers. - -“We come as friends! Are not the white men our brothers?” - -With his cheek against the stock of his rifle and his gray eye glancing -down the barrel, Kit Carson replied: - -“Leave this camp! And leave it at once. Stay and you are all dead men.” - -There was an instant’s pause--an instant full of suspense; then the -chief spoke to his braves. They made no answer, but gathered their gay -colored robes about them and sullenly filed out of the little fort; and -they never paused or looked behind until they were safely out of rifle -shot. - -“There will be a grand pow-wow,” said Kit, as they watched the great -band of savages join those just expelled from the fort. “And if the -chief who spoke has the say, I wouldn’t wonder if we had a little fight -on our hands before sunrise. He had fire in his eye as he left.” - -One by one a chief or head man harangued the redskins; suddenly there -was a chorus of shrill yells and a scattering for their ponies; then, -mounted, they formed a half circle, and with lances held high and bows -ready for deadly work, they sat facing the camp of the whites like so -many graven images. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -TWO NIGHTS OF DANGER - - -At sight of the great array of armed and mounted savages facing the -little fort, the two lads from the East felt that sinking sensation -which usually comes to those not bred to physical danger. At the crisis -within the camp neither had felt the slightest fear; the thing was so -sudden and so desperate that they had no time to think of themselves. - -But this new situation was different; their minds had time to grasp the -consequence of the attack and they felt uneasy. It is probable that Kit -Carson understood something of what they were feeling; more than likely -he had once gone through it himself; at any rate, he said: - -“This doesn’t mean much, lads; the reds are going to run rings around -us, maybe, and do a little fancy shooting. But they’ll keep out of -range of our guns, and so, of course, we’ll be out of reach of their -bows. They are great fellows for that kind of exhibition.” - -But Kit was mistaken. Instead of making the attack expected, a man -rode out the half circle of horsemen and approached the camp--one hand -uplifted, the palm toward the whites. - -“It seems to me,” said Kit, his eyes upon the horseman, “I know that -gentleman.” - -Dave Johnson uttered a cry. - -“It’s Lopez!” exclaimed he. - -“Down, lads, behind the wall; don’t let him see you; I’ll palaver him -and maybe strike some kind of a bargain for your property.” - -Accordingly the boys crouched behind the bales of pelts; Lopez advanced -easily upon his pony until he was within a dozen yards of the camp. -Then he drew rein and sat grinning amiably at the trappers. - -“Well, Spotted Snake,” said Kit Carson, leaning upon his rifle and -quietly surveying the half-breed, “how is it I find you in company with -a band of hostiles?” - -Spotted Snake grinned more widely than ever. - -“They are not hostiles,” he said, in Spanish. “Very good Indians. Mean -no harm. You got frightened.” - -“They may be very good redskins, as you say,” replied Kit; “but good or -bad I’d rather not have many of them around with hatchets and scalping -knives hidden in their blankets.” - -The half-breed laughed. - -“They didn’t know you’d take anything they did in bad part,” said he. -“They are not used to dealing with white men, and so don’t know their -ways.” - -Kit pointed to the crescent of armed warriors facing the camp. - -“I suppose that, too, is a sign of good-will,” said he. - -“Red Cloud is a big chief,” said the half-breed, “and he is very angry -at the way you’ve treated him. He’s mounted his men and put them in -fighting formation just to show you what he would look like if he -really wanted to do you harm. He told me to tell you that his five -hundred braves would dash over you as the waters of a mountain stream -dash over the rocks in the time of freshets.” - -“You’ve lived long enough among whites and have enough white blood in -you, Spotted Snake, to know that talk of that sort won’t carry very -far. If Red Cloud wants to see how far his young men can dash over us -let him have them try it on. We can guarantee him twenty-five dead, and -himself among them.” - -The half-breed grinned and nodded. - -“I’ve told him that already,” said he. “But he was bound to have me -come and ‘make talk.’ If he could have scared you in the first place -your furs, traps, horses and rifles would have satisfied him, I think. -He’s not a half bad sort of fellow when you come to know him.” - -“A while ago I asked you how you came to be in company with this band,” -said Kit. “I don’t think you answered me.” - -“The trapping party I went out with fell in with them about ten days -ago. They made us a good offer of pelts if we’d join them in a big -buffalo hunt, they not having any rifles. As it was good business, the -chief trapper agreed.” - -“The last time I saw you was at Taos,” said Kit. “How is it I find you -away up here?” - -“I got out on the coast,” said the half-breed, “and joined a ship. But -the work was too hard,” with his ever present grin. “I left them at Los -Angeles.” - -“Ah! you were the fellow, then,” spoke the trapper as though surprised. -“I heard about your desertion.” - -“You heard?” and even from that distance Kit saw the man’s lids narrow -into slits through which his sharp eyes peered. - -“A couple of the ship people were looking for you; they hinted that -you’d sort of clung to some property which wasn’t altogether yours, -when you left.” - -The half-breed nodded. - -“They told you that, eh? Well, maybe it was true and maybe it wasn’t. -But, anyway, I’m not sorry for my little voyage on the sea; it promises -to be something that will pay very well; and that’s the kind of thing -Manuel Lopez is looking for these days.” - -“Suppose,” said the trapper, “the ship people were willing to pay -something down for what was taken. Would you consider it?” - -Lopez, or Spotted Snake, snapped his fingers airily. - -“This is a thing that could hardly be paid for,” he said. “It’s only a -chance, of course, but it’s such a big one that ready money is not much -temptation.” - -“It happens that the folks who lost this property on the ship are -friends of mine,” said Kit. “And being friends, I’m willing to help -them out. Maybe, if money can’t buy back the things you’ve stolen, lead -can.” - -As he spoke he threw forward his rifle, the stock against his hip, the -muzzle covering the half-breed. But the latter calmly sat his horse and -looked at the trapper. - -“Don’t forget,” said he, “I came here under what the Indians regard as -a flag of truce; don’t forget that I am their spokesman, and that if -anything happens to me they will take their revenge.” - -This result was very well understood by Kit; to shoot or otherwise harm -a man sent forward to parley by the savages was a very great indignity -and one which would excite them to the limits of their fury. But that -he held the matter at all seriously was kept hidden from Lopez. - -“You saw us drive them out of camp a while ago,” said he, coolly; “that -ought to have shown you how much we fear them.” - -“Another thing,” said the half-breed, equally calm, “even if I had -taken the things you speak of, would I be so great a fool as to carry -them about with me? If they were of value, wouldn’t I have cached them -somewhere along the trail?” - -Kit Carson knew that Spotted Snake was a cunning, covetous fellow, -brave and willing to go a long way to carry out his desires. As the -matter stood, he feared that he had spoiled any chance that the boys -might have had to recover the map, by putting the man on his guard. He -was considering what he had best do under the circumstances, when the -half-breed shook his rein and rode nearer the barrier. - -“In Santa Fé,” said he, “there is an old man by the name of Diaz--Goat -Beard, the Indians call him. He keeps a storeroom at one side of the -town, buys furs and sells goods of all sorts to the Indians.” - -“I know him,” said the trapper. “An old rascal.” - -Lopez grinned. - -“Maybe,” said he. “But he is very useful at times. He has often -transacted little matters of business for me in a very capable way.” - -The trapper got a glimmer of the man’s meaning, but more by his manner -than his words. He nodded, as though he understood; but he said nothing. - -“Maybe,” proceeded the half-breed, “if you were to go to old Diaz -during the summer when the trapping season is done, some arrangements -could be made in any matter that you care to speak of.” - -Again the trapper nodded. - -“California is a fine country; but I don’t care as much for it as I do -for New Mexico,” said Lopez. “And, then, trapping is my business and -not----” but he stopped short, as though not willing to commit himself -to anything that would definitely incriminate him. “Anyway,” he -continued, “look for old Diaz in the hot months; he may have something -to say to you.” - -Here he wheeled his horse, calling over his shoulder: - -“And remember, Red Cloud is a friend to the paleface. His brother does -him wrong when he thinks Red Cloud means anything but good feeling.” - -The spotted pony which the man rode raced back to the solid crescent -of braves. Whatever Lopez reported had the effect of dismounting them; -they picketed their horses and went into camp, outside the range of the -white man’s fire. - -The fire at which the supper of the six was cooked after nightfall was -masked so that the light might not attract a flight of arrows from any -of the bucks who might be lurking in the darkness. The horses were well -within rifle shot and were hobbled so that to stampede them would be -impossible. However, a guard was kept over them; and during the night -not more than one of the whites slept at a time. - -Morning dawned, and they saw the smoke ascending from the redskins’ -camp-fires; apparently the warriors had remained all night as they -had been at sunset. During the day Red Cloud and one of his braves -visited the fort and were admitted; the chief in his halting Spanish -protested the utmost friendship; but all the time the whites noted his -evil little eyes coveting everything he saw in the camp, and so their -suspicions were not abated. The second night passed much as the first; -the little party did not dare sleep, for there was no telling at what -moment the quiet of the night would be broken by the yells of the red -horde, a sleet of arrows, and the leaping of demon figures over the -barricade. At the beginning of the second day there was a stir in the -Indian camp; preparations were being made for a movement of some sort. - -“They mean either an attack, or to break camp,” said Kit Carson, as he -watched them for a space. “I am not sure which.” - -The braves swung themselves upon the backs of the ponies, fully armed -as before; in a sweeping line they faced the little fort, the ponies -snorting and prancing, the grim riders as still as death. - -“Fire when they reach a distance of seventy-five yards,” said Kit, -resting his rifle barrel upon the wall of furs, and throwing himself -upon the ground. “You’ll then have time to reload. And make every shot -tell.” - -The five remaining rifles were also rested upon the wall, and the -five riflemen sought cover behind it. The air was charged with the -electricity of a coming struggle; and when the very moment seemed -to have arrived, there was a shout from the river, the sound of -hoof-beats, and up dashed the chief trapper, Young, and his six -buckskinned followers. At the sight of these reinforcements the -redskins fell into a sort of confusion. And while this lasted Kit -explained the situation to Young. - -“I don’t think they’ll make any movement against us now,” said the head -trapper. “What do you say?” - -“I think you’re right,” replied Kit Carson. “If they took two days to -make up their minds to tackle six men, it’ll take ’em a week to get to -the point of facing twice that many.” - -“Well, by that time,” said Young, grimly, “there will be still more of -us; for I mean to break camp, move down the stream, pick up the rest of -the boys and then strike for the Gila.” - -Half the party set to work, adjusting the bundles of pelts upon the -backs of the mules; the remainder, with ready rifles, watched the -Indians. When everything was in marching shape the trappers started -along the river bank. The band of savages followed in their track -during the entire day; but one by one the remaining trappers were -picked up; and when at last the sun went down it showed the hostile -band encamped upon a hillside not more than a half mile away. But now -instead of six there were a full score of deadly rifles between them -and their prey. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -HOW THE TRAPPERS RETALIATED - - -The Indian band lighted large fires upon the hillside that night; -the tall figures of the braves could be seen flitting to and fro in -mysterious activity. The trappers watched the unusual spectacle for -quite a long time without comment. - -“They are fixing up some kind of a disagreeableness for us,” spoke old -Zeke Matthews, at length. “And I opine, Cap’n Young, that I’d better -take a little scout out in that direction and see what it is.” - -“All right,” said the head trapper. “If you care to take the risk, -Zeke, go ahead. But I’m not asking you to do it, mind you.” - -“I’m going to do this little pilgrimage for my own private amusement,” -said the veteran, humorously. “I always did get a lot of fun out of a -passel of redskins when they were getting downright serious at their -work.” - -He took up his rifle; and a heavy pistol was stuck in his belt. Then he -crept out of camp and away into the darkness. - -Two hours had elapsed when he returned. He put down his gun and warmed -his bony hands at the cheerful blaze. - -“The varmints are having a mighty interesting time of it,” he said. -“That’s a council fire you see blazing up there on the hill; and -they’re sitting all around it, smoking their pipes and making speeches -to each other. Old Red Cloud is anxious to get his hands on our outfit, -I guess; but his braves want to see their way to getting it without -being hurt.” - -“Council, eh?” said the chief trapper. “Well, we’ll have some kind of -action before long. It will be either one thing or the other.” - -A powerful guard was placed all about the camp; but the night went by -without any hostile sound from that of the Indians’; toward dawn the -council fire upon the hillside died down; when the sun finally showed -its great, round, red face over the top of a distant mountain, the -whites, to their astonishment and relief, saw the camping ground of the -foes deserted. Not a savage was to be seen anywhere. - -“It was a good council!” spoke Kit Carson, grimly. “Either Red Cloud is -a wise chief, or his young men have good eyes for danger.” - -But there was no trusting the red men, who were known to be cunning -foes; a party of the trappers set out upon their trail and followed it -for some hours. There was no sign, by the end of that time, that the -retreat was a ruse; so the trailers returned to camp. The mules were -burdened with their packs of furs and camp equipment once more, and -again the outfit moved down the river. - -“It seems a hardship to move away from the place where I know Lopez to -be,” said Dave Johnson to Kit, as they rode side by side. - -“I feel the same way,” said Joe Frazier. “In the last hour I’ve had -it on my tongue a dozen times to say to you: ‘Let’s stay where we are -until we make that rascally half-breed give up his plunder.’” - -Kit Carson shook his head. - -“I understand just how it is, I think,” said he. “But to stay behind -here, just the two of you, would be to throw your lives away.” He -regarded them seriously for a moment, and then continued: “I’ve been -thinking over this little affair of yours, and about what Spotted Snake -had to say; and I’ve made up my mind that the best thing you both could -do would be to go right on to Santa Fé.” Again he paused for a moment, -then continued: “Your father’d be willing to pay a little to have this -map returned, wouldn’t he?” - -“Yes,” said Joe. “That is, if we couldn’t get it any other way.” - -The trapper laughed. - -“Of course,” he said. “And we’ll try that other way first. I think it -is wrong to knuckle down to the half-breed’s demands. But Santa Fé is -the place to get in touch with him again, one way or the other; and I -think you can ease your mind and leave this section, knowing that it’s -the best thing you can do.” - -This sounded like logic to the boys; and so they put all uneasy -thoughts behind them, and gave themselves up to the labor and -excitements of the trappers’ life. Day by day the expedition continued -down the Colorado, setting their traps and reaping a big harvest -of beaver fur. When they reached tide-water they changed the scene -of their efforts to the Gila River, which enters the Colorado at -about this point; and they trapped along the Gila day after day with -wonderful success until they came to the mouth of the San Pedro. - -At this point the saddle-horses of the trappers had been pressed into -service to carry the treasure of furs. So fortunate had the trappers -been that with hundreds of miles of stream before them they had already -reached their transporting capacity. - -“It is a hardship for us to have to let this great chance slip,” said -Young one night at the camp-fire. “Beaver has never been so plentiful, -and I feel sure that it will continue so all the way up the river. But -there is no sense in our going on taking furs if we have no way of -carrying them; so the only thing I can see to do is to take the trail -for New Mexico and sell what we’ve got.” - -Old Zeke Matthews sat listening to the head trapper, honing the edge -of his great hunting knife and nodding his head in agreement with him. -But at the proposition that they leave the remainder of the stream -untouched, and make for their market, he protested. - -“It’s just flying in the face of Nature, that’s what it is,” said he, -earnestly. “Here we have luck raining down on us; and we’re going to -turn our backs on it.” - -Kit Carson smiled at the old man’s indignation. - -“Well, Zeke,” said he, “what else is there to do? If we have no horses -to carry the pelts, what’s the use of taking them?” - -“Get horses,” returned the old fellow, laconically. - -There was a general laugh from the men lounging about the fire. - -“Where can we get them?” asked Young, good-naturedly. - -“The Injuns have ’em,” declared Zeke. “There’s a village less than two -hours’ ride from this camp where there’s a whole drove of horses and -mules that the reds have stolen from the Greasers.” - -There was a silence; Zeke rubbed away at his knife and went on: - -“They’re a thieving lot, and it’d be a just punishment on ’em to lose -the nags. And that ain’t all! When we set out on this trip who went -for us tooth and nail but this same gang of varmints? We punished ’em -for it, but we didn’t punish ’em enough. If white men are to come into -this country the redskins must be taught to go easy on the bow and -arrow, and the hatchet and knife. So I’m for giving ’em a lesson before -we strike this camp.” - -A murmur went up from the men. The idea pleased them. They had not -forgotten the attack of the Indians upon their venturing into the -wilderness; and to strike a blow in retaliation, more especially such a -businesslike blow as that suggested by Zeke, appealed to them. - -Long and earnestly the matter was discussed; and finally it was agreed -upon. It was a savage country and a rough time; and the thoughts and -opinions of men are always moulded by their surroundings and their -needs. However it may look to us to-day, to impress the herd of mules -was not from the trappers’ point of view at all contrary to the laws -of justice. They regarded it in the same light as the commander of an -army did the requisitioning of supplies in the country of the enemy. - -Next day a half dozen men were left to guard the camp; the balance -of the party, with Dave and Joe pressing joyously on in their midst, -set out upon their errand. After a ride of a couple of hours the band -sighted a large mixed herd of horses and mules. These were grazing some -little distance up the San Pedro; and a scout or two was sent to locate -the Indian village. - -“It’s off to the west, there,” said old Zeke. “I was there once, -trading; and the varmints robbed us of everything we had.” - -After a short time the scouts returned. The village, a clutter of -dirty huts, lay in the direction indicated by Zeke; and the band of -buckskin-clad trappers rode toward it under cover of the timber. - -“There it is,” said Kit Carson, at length pointing through the trees. - -The village lay quietly in the sun; it was a barren, neglected place; -the bucks lolled in the doorways of the low huts; in the narrow fields -the women were preparing to plant the scanty crops. - -At a word of command the trappers shouted to their mounts; at full -speed they dashed into the village, their firearms rattling and -snapping briskly. Yells of fear and rage went up from the savages; they -grabbed up their arms, and their deadly arrows began to hiss through -the air. - -“Open order,” called the chief of the trappers. “Don’t ride so close -together. Load and hold your fire until I give the word!” - -The horses were brought to a standstill outside the town; the trappers -reloaded their rifles and looked to the state of their pistols. During -this pause in the attack the savages recovered from their surprise; -and upon a sort of plain, stretching away to the river, they rallied -their forces. The village was quite a large one; several hundred -warriors faced the trappers, and from their furious actions it was -plain that they meant to make a most desperate defense. - -“Ready?” called the head trapper. - -“All ready,” was the answer from his men. - -“Hold your fire till I give the word,” said the leader, once more. Then -lifting his hand: “Charge!” - -Down rode the trappers upon the redskins; and the latter bent their -bows with practiced hands, the keen eyes of each selecting a mark. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -KIT REACHES SANTA FÉ ONCE MORE - - -The open order of the whites and the rifle fire which came like a -thunder clap at the command of their leader discomfited the savages; -the arrows flew wild, and as the horsemen came plunging at them, their -small arms crackling, they broke and ran toward the river. - -For perhaps a mile the trappers pursued them, more to keep them on the -run and discourage another rally than anything else; then at a shout -from Young they wheeled about and made for the herd on the other side -of the village. - -Calmly the victors selected the best of the animals, some of their -number watching for the possible approach of the redskins. But the -latter were too completely demoralized to venture an attack, so the -trappers rode away to their camp leading a full score of pack animals, -sufficient to carry all the fur they’d be likely to take, even with the -best of luck, during the remainder of their work upon the Gila. - -“That kind of a little lesson ain’t lost on the reds,” said old Zeke, -after they had reached camp and were settled down watching their meat -cooking over the coals. “They won’t be so ready to pitch into every -company of whites they see for some time to come.” - -From then on the party continued up the Gila River until they reached -New Mexico; luck had continued to favor them and when they finally -entered Santa Fé they had two thousand pounds of beaver fur. - -“At twelve dollars a pound,” said Kit Carson, “that’s about----” - -“Twenty-four thousand dollars,” spoke Joe. - -The trapper looked at him admiringly. - -“I never had any schooling,” said he, “except what I got from old -Kin Cade one winter up north of Santa Fé. It’d take me some time to -calculate that; and here you do it in your head, like a shot.” - -“Was this Kin Cade a schoolmaster?” asked Dave. - -The trapper laughed. - -“No; he was an old fellow I stumbled on once, away up in the hills when -I first came here. He lived all alone in a hut; and he knew more about -the mountains, about Indians, animals and fish than anybody I ever met. -He taught me Spanish and a couple of the Indian languages; also he -showed me how to tan deerskins so that they would be soft and pliable, -to dye them, to make them into hunting shirts, leggins and moccasins. -Indian feather and bead work I also got from him. Kin was a wise old -man.” - -The trappers who had followed Ewing Young so hardily through all the -perils of the mountains and deserts, of field and flood, were now -given their share of the money brought by the pelts; they at once -proceeded to Taos and there the company disbanded. - -However, Kit Carson and the two boys remained in Santa Fé. - -“Spotted Snake is or will be here,” said the trapper. “So we’ll just -look around a little and see what we can see.” - -Santa Fé then had a mongrel population of some three thousand; its -sun-baked adobe buildings, its gaily clad Mexicans in trousers slashed -to the knees and adorned with rows of buttons, great sombreros and high -colored mantles; the barbarous peoples from around about, who came in -to trade, the half-breeds, the picturesquely clad frontiersmen from the -north, all served to give this city, renowned in the history of the -Great West, a most unusual appearance. - -The first morning there Kit Carson sought out a bronzed old trader who -was outfitting for a trip among the Indians. - -“Buck,” said the trapper, after they had greeted each other, “have you -seen anything lately of that ‘breed’ they call Spotted Snake?” - -“What do you want of him?” demanded the trader, surprised. “I should -think you’d be well satisfied to let varmints like that alone.” - -“This is a little matter of business,” said the trapper. “I’m not -hunting him from choice, but because I must.” - -The trader grunted. From his manner it was plain to the boys that he -held Spotted Snake in no great esteem. - -“Well, if you must see him, I’ll do my best for you,” he said. “The -Snake was seen in the town only a few nights ago; a couple of my men -met him and heard him doing a lot of wild talking about making a -fortune--about gold which came so thick that you could gather it up -in buckets. The sun must have struck through his sombrero,” added the -trader, drily. - -The trapper looked at the boys, and they returned the look with -troubled eyes. - -“I reckon though,” went on the trader, “if he did have anything -valuable, he’d put himself in the proper company to get rid of it. -Remember that fellow they called ‘Moccasin’ Williams up in Taos? Well, -he was one of them; and,” with a nod of the head, “I think that speaks -for itself.” - -Kit and the two lads walked slowly down the narrow street. - -“Moccasin Williams, eh?” said the trapper, thoughtfully. “Yes, as Buck -Morgan says, he speaks for himself. There’s not a bigger rascal in the -southwest. Once was a miner in old Mexico, I believe; and later lived -among the Blackfeet and the Comanches. I’ve even heard it said that -he was a renegade and took part with the redskins in attacking many a -wagon train.” - -That the man had been a miner interested both Dave and Joe vitally. -A chill struck their hearts as they thought of the brave old veteran -of MacDonough’s victory who waited away there in the Mission of San -Gabriel for news of his boys and the map of the treasure country. - -“Maybe we’d better go to see the man Lopez mentioned to you,” said Joe. - -“Goat Beard?” said Kit. “Yes, I’d been thinking of that. It won’t -do any harm to go talk to him. The ‘breed’ must have heard that our -company’s got back, and so knows we’re around somewhere.” - -They passed quickly through the town; at the far side was a squalid -section mostly occupied by Indians and the riff-raff of a frontier -settlement. A wretched sun-baked adobe house with very low doorways and -a generally forlorn aspect bore some straggling lettering across the -front. - -“This is old Diaz’s storehouse,” said Kit. - -Inside, the place was deep with shadows. Cured pelts and buffalo hides -were heaped in corners; traps hung from the ceiling; rifles, clothing, -knives, hardware, pottery and examples of feather work were displayed -for sale. - -A fat old woman, a Mexican half-breed, came waddling forward. - -“A blessing on the brave Americanos,” wheezed she in Spanish. “You are -our first patrons of the day. Good luck be with you; and what will you -have?” - -“Where is Diaz?” asked the trapper. - -The old woman threw up her fat hands and wagged her fat head. - -“Diaz!” she cried. “He is here; but he is almost mad! Never have I seen -him so wrought up, and I have been married to him for forty years. -But,” with the facility of much practice, “what will you have? I can -buy, sell and trade as well as Diaz. What will you have?” - -“We want to see your husband,” said Kit. - -“See him!” Again the old woman flourished her hands. “Impossible, -señor! He will see no one. He has met with a misfortune!” - -From the back of the storehouse they now heard a wailing voice lifted -to a pitch of great distress. - -“Oh, a blight is on me,” it droned. “A darkness is shut down upon me. -Never again will such a chance be mine. To think of it! A river running -with gold--clear, yellow, beautiful gold!” - -At this the three Americans looked at each other with quickened -interest; the old woman wrung her fat hands and took up the wail. - -“Running with gold, señors--a large river whom no one but the Indians -have any knowledge of. And now the paper is gone. We shall never see it -again.” - -Kit Carson leaned his rifle against a heap of wolf skins; to the woman -he said: - -“We must see your husband, señora; the matter is of great importance.” -Then, as she shook her head stubbornly, he added: “It is about this -paper; tell him that.” - -The woman gave him a greedy look; then as fast as her unwieldy body -would permit, she scuttled to the rear of the storehouse and through a -curtained doorway. Beyond this there came a babble of excited voices; -then the woman reappeared followed by an old man with bent shoulders -and a long, chin beard. - -“Señors,” squeaked this latter, in a thin, trembling voice, “I welcome -you. You have come to bring joy to my old heart, have you not? You have -come with an offer from the señor of the moccasins?” eagerly, as his -ratty old eyes ran from one to the other. “Sit down. Be comfortable. -Let us approach this business quietly and with freedom.” - -The trapper folded his arms across his chest and leaned his shoulders -against the bare clay wall. - -“We were told by Manuel Lopez to seek you out when we arrived in Santa -Fé,” said he. “It is on a business about a paper which he has--a paper -which he took from the schooner ‘Gadfly’ at Los Angeles.” - -The quaking hands of Goat Beard began to gesture; his halting old -tongue was striving to form a reply, when the curtains at the rear -doorway were once more pushed aside--and Lopez himself stood before -them! - -The half-breed’s eyes were bloodshot and feverish; his brown hands -trembled as badly as those of the old man. - -“So you are here, are you?” said he, after he had stood staring at them -for a moment from the doorway. “You are here, and looking for the map.” - -He threw up his hands, pressing them tightly to his forehead; then he -began to laugh in a way that made the flesh of the two lads creep. - -“He’s like a madman,” whispered Dave to his cousin. - -[Illustration: “SO YOU ARE HERE?”] - -“Something has happened,” replied Joe, in the same low tone. “And -something that means ill luck for us, I’m afraid.” - -Kit Carson made no movement nor answer; he continued leaning against -the adobe wall, his strong arms folded across his chest. After a few -moments the half-breed recovered from his frenzy; but his eyes still -gleamed, his fingers opened and shut like the claws on an animal. - -“Yes,” said he, nodding his head slowly. “I did ask you to come here; -and I meant to deal honestly with you, too. But it’s too late! I’ve -been an idiot; and I’ve been robbed!” - -“Of the map!” Dave Johnson made a step forward. - -“Yes; of the map,” replied Lopez. “I began to boast of the great -luck I had. I showed the map to Moccasin Williams. He is a miner of -experience. He had heard stories of gold in California, and had always -wanted to go there. Later, while I was asleep, he robbed me.” - -He sank down upon a heap of hides, his hands covering his face; from -his manner one who did not know the merits of the case would have -considered him an honest man grievously wronged. - -“A river of flowing gold,” wailed Goat Beard. “Yellow, beautiful gold! -And now we will never know where it is. We shall never see it--never -gather a nugget, never a grain of its dust.” - -After this outburst there was a moment’s silence; then Kit Carson spoke. - -“So Moccasin Williams now has the map,” said he. “Have you any idea -where he is?” - -The half-breed leaped up. - -“If I had, would I be here?” asked he, his eyes aflame. “Would I not be -stepping in his tracks and hoping for the moment which would bring me -up with him?” - -“Have you searched the town?” - -“I have. To-morrow I go to Taos. Then the settlements all through the -hills will be searched. I have friends who will help me. There’s not -an Indian village but will come under our eyes, or hide him from us. -And when I find him----” - -Here his gesture finished the sentence--a gesture as deadly in its -meaning as the coiling of a rattlesnake. - -After a few moments more in the storehouse of Goat Beard, the three -Americans left. - -“The map is gone, sure enough,” said Kit, as they went slowly down the -street. “And that this blackguard Moccasin Williams has it, is more -than likely.” - -“But is Lopez to escape punishment?” asked Dave, who tingled with a -desire to bring the half-breed to book for what he had done, and the -labor, the anxiety, the peril he had caused them. - -Kit shook his head. - -“Santa Fé is only a frontier town,” said he. “And what little law -there is is Mexican, and Mexican law don’t go very far in favor of an -American. There are men who’d take the thing in their own hands and -deal with Spotted Snake as Spotted Snake says he’ll deal with this man -Williams if he ever puts his eyes on him; but we are not that kind. -We’ll wait; for who knows what will happen, and maybe before a great -while.” - -That evening the three held council; and it was not long before they -came to an agreement. Joe and Dave each wrote a long letter telling of -what they had done and what they meant to do. These were addressed to -Joe’s father at the San Gabriel Mission. They told him to be of good -heart and to remain where he was until he heard from them again. - -“We are going to search for Moccasin Williams until we find him,” wrote -Joe to his father. “And to help us we have the finest fellow you ever -saw--a dead shot, and one of the quickest brains on the frontier. It -may be some time before we see you again; but don’t worry, dad; we’ll -be all right, and will come through it all with credit to you.” - -“Buck Morgan’ll be trading up as far as the Colorado this summer,” Kit -told the boys. “And he’ll be sure to find a Mexican or a Pueblo who’ll -carry the writings to the mission.” - -Next day this was seen to; the trader, who was the same Kit had -interviewed on the previous morning, readily agreed to see to the -forwarding of the letters. - -“And I’ll send a little word of my own,” said he kindly to the boys. -“You see you’re only youngsters and he might think you’re plunging into -some harum-scarum thing that’ll bring you nothing but danger. But if an -outsider tells him it’s the best thing to be done, it might hearten him -up a little.” - -The boys thanked Mr. Morgan for his good-natured offer and begged him -not to let the idea slip his mind; then, with Kit, they rode off toward -Taos. - -This latter town was even of a more primitive cast than Santa Fé; it -was smaller and the population was less law abiding. Into Taos poured -all the trappers, teamsters and other wild spirits of the country; and -from Taos set out almost all the expeditions in search of fur, trade -and adventure. A week was given to the search for Moccasin Williams; -but they failed to find him. - -They were careful to make but guarded inquiries for the man; to have -him learn, in case he was skulking anywhere about, that he was being -sought, would have no other effect than to frighten him away. - -However, the search was thorough for all their secrecy; and the end was -that Taos was given up as a possible hiding place. - -Then they took up Lopez’ idea of the settlements off among the hills; -weird barbarous places where the Mexicans and half-breeds lived in a -most primitive condition; failing to find any trace of the man the -Indians were tried at their lonely villages; but all to no purpose. - -“He’s gone,” said Kit, with conviction, one day at the end of summer; -“he’s gone as sure as shooting. But where?” - -Then one day, on the main street of Taos, they encountered old Zeke -Matthews. - -“Just now joined Fitzpatrick’s company to trap on the Salmon River,” he -told them, after they had exchanged greetings. “Lot of trapping going -to be done this season. Old Cap’n Gaunt went out already. Got some of -Young’s old men; I’d have gone too, but you see I’ve got so’s I pick my -company very carefully these days.” - -The trapper and the two boys smiled at the old fellow’s manner. - -“You didn’t like some of Gaunt’s men, then?” said Kit. - -“Hardly. There’s some right down scalawags among them,” said Zeke. -“Good trappers, mind you. But that ain’t everything. I’ve had too many -hard rubs from the Injuns in my day to join a company that’s got a -renegade among ’em.” - -“A renegade,” said Kit, and there was a quick snap in his eyes. - -“Moccasin Williams,” said Zeke. - -“So he’s gone out with Captain Gaunt’s party, has he?” said Kit. “And -what country does the captain propose to trap?” - -“Oh, the Laramie and the Snake Rivers, I hear,” replied Zeke. “About -the same section as Fitzpatrick’s crowd.” - -That evening Kit and his two young friends held another council. - -“Williams’ going out with Captain Gaunt shows one thing very plainly,” -said the trapper. “Either he’s heard of us searching for him, or -Spotted Snake’s been so hot on his trail that there was nothing else to -do. He didn’t dare make for California to prove the truth of the map, -because he felt that somebody would be sure to be watching for him at -the missions or towns.” - -“What do you suppose his plans are?” asked Joe. - -“It may be,” said the trapper, looking thoughtfully at them both, -“that he’s gone out with Gaunt just to wait till the search for him -dies down. Or it might be that he means to make for the coast by a -longer way.” - -Dave thought of the grim mountain chains, the trackless prairies, the -roving bands of Indians, some of whom had never seen a white man. - -“A single man could never make his way by that route,” said he. - -Kit shook his head. - -“Maybe not,” he said, slowly. “But, at the same time, don’t forget that -Moccasin Williams has lived among the redskins; he knows their ways and -talks their languages. What would be death to any other might be smooth -going enough for him.” - -“We must reach him before he leaves the trapping company he went out -with,” said Joe, excitedly. “If we don’t he’ll get away from us for -good.” - -“Well,” said Kit, thoughtfully, “we can’t follow Gaunt’s track by -ourselves. The Indians would be down on us before we’d been out a week. -But old Zeke says Fitzpatrick’s company is going to trap in much the -same country as Gaunt. What say if we join Fitzpatrick, and in that way -get within striking distance of our man?” - -Both lads jumped at the idea; and next morning the three went to see -Mr. Fitzpatrick, a trapper and trader well known in the southwest. He -was pleased to see them, for men were rather difficult to secure at the -time. - -The result was that in an hour all arrangements were made; and in a few -weeks Kit Carson and his boy comrades had turned their faces toward the -wilderness once more. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES - - -Fitzpatrick, the head of the fur hunting expedition of which Kit Carson -now made one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good trapper, and knew the -country and its signs as well as any other man of his time. - -He led his party almost north; this course they held until they reached -the head waters of the Platte. - -Winter was now upon them in the midst of the mountains; the snow filled -the defiles, the icy wind moaned in the naked trees and among the -crags. But besides their buckskins the trappers now wore thick furs; -and the warm blood of a vigorous life in the hills and on the prairies -made the experience only one of increased pleasure to the hardy border -men. - -At each camp enough “half faced” houses were erected to shelter the -men from the wind and snow. These were made of boughs, barks and skins -and were of three sides and a roof. The front was open, toward the -fire; the men slept on fur robes or blankets, their feet turned to the -blazing logs. - -The Platte was followed slowly, the party taking furs all the way to -the Sweet Water, one of its tributaries; and this stream in turn was -trapped until they reached Green River. From there they progressed to -Jackson’s Hole, a fork of the Columbia; then on to the Salmon River -where a part of their own band, which had left Taos some days in -advance, joined them. - -Old Zeke Matthews was among these new men; and at once Kit and the boys -began questioning him with regard to any news which he might have heard -of Gaunt’s men. - -“Nothing at all,” replied the old fellow. “A couple of Injuns came -into camp one night and told us that some trappers were at work a -little west of us; but from what they said I’m pretty nigh sure they -were Sinclair’s party who left about the same time we did.” - -The entire Fitzpatrick expedition now having gathered, a group of warm -huts was erected in a sunny valley, protected from the sweep of the -winds; and as the trappers meant to spend the remainder of the winter -there, they were at more pains to arrange the camp, and make themselves -comfortable. - -Most of the time in this long encampment was spent in dressing pelts -and mending and making equipment and clothing. The only hunting done -was for food. They were in the country of the Blackfeet, a daring -nation of red marauders, but because of the cold the trappers did not -expect any troublesome attention from them. - -“They’ll stick to their lodges,” said Zeke; “the varmints don’t like -hard weather.” - -But that they had all reckoned without the wile of the red man and his -desire for the property of the whites was soon made evident. A herd -of buffalo was sighted one day on a plain, and a party of four of the -trappers mounted and went in pursuit. Just how their fate overtook them -will never be known; but that it was sudden and dreadful was plain to -their comrades. A band of Indians dashed down upon them and all four -lost their lives. - -Vengeance shook the camp on the Salmon River; in a fury the trappers -armed; but for all their swiftness the savages escaped; not even an -eagle plume was seen; and their tracks were lost in the falling snow. - -When the spring opened operations were commenced on the Salmon; at -length they reached the Snake or Shoshone River; and the giant falls -one day burst upon the vision of the boys. The lava peaks rose in wild -grandeur all about it; the mighty rush of the water awed and amazed -even the hardy spirits of the buckskinned adventurers. - -Along the Snake they trapped to the Bear; and from there to the Green -River once more. Here they encountered a trapper band which proved to -be that of Sinclair, of whom Zeke had spoken. - -“Captain Gaunt,” said head trapper Sinclair to Kit. “Why, yes, I’ve -heard of him now and then since we got up into this country. He put in -the winter on the Laramie River; and if I’m not much mistaken he’s now -trapping somewhere in the South Park.” - -At once Kit sought out Mr. Fitzpatrick; he told the adventurous -Irishman as much as he saw fit of the hunt for Moccasin Williams and -the desire of himself and the boys to hunt up Gaunt’s band without -delay, now that it was located. - -“Why, then,” said the chief trapper, “go, and good luck to you. And -it’s catch the thief of the world I hope you do. For the like of him is -a bigger danger than the Blackfeet themselves.” - -Zeke Matthews and another seasoned adventurer named Gordon elected to -follow Kit and his young friends in their journey to the South Park. - -“The Fitzpatrick company are about through their trapping,” said the -first of these veterans, “and there’s no use taking a long ride back -to Taos, only to turn about and make for the rivers again in a little -while after. Gaunt’s going to stay; he’ll cache his pelts until he’s -put in a couple of seasons.” - -So the four, well armed, set out; and without any notable adventures -reached the trapping ground of Captain Gaunt. The latter was a hearty -man past sixty, a true type of the Westerner of the time. He welcomed -the visitors to his outfit with the utmost warmth. But when Kit spoke -of the object of their journey he frowned blackly. - -“Moccasin Williams, do you say?” he almost shouted; before he could -continue Kit laid a warning hand upon his arm. - -“Not so loud,” said the young trapper; “he’ll hear you.” - -“Well, if he does, he’s got mighty good ears,” said the downright -Captain Gaunt. “For he’s away somewhere in the hills with the redskins. -And stole some of my best horses when he went.” - -For a moment Dave and Joe felt that the mountains had toppled over upon -them; they had counted so strongly upon the result of coming up with -this particular trapping expedition that the shock of disappointment -was harder to bear than it had been at any other time. Gone! And they -had possibly been within a few days’ journey of him frequently; if they -had known where Gaunt’s men were working they could have set out for -his camp while there was still hope of success. But now that was at an -end. - -“We’ve got it to do all over again,” said Joe in a weary sort of way, -for the long anxiety had told on him. - -“Yes; we must begin at the beginning,” admitted Dave. “But,” and there -was a flash in his eyes, “we’ll find him for all that, and we’ll find -the map too.” - -Kit and Captain Gaunt were conversing aside. - -“I was warned against the fellow,” said the head trapper. “They told -me he wasn’t to be trusted.” Then with some curiosity in his voice, -“Anything particular you wanted of him?” - -“A kind of private matter,” said Kit. - -“Some sort of rascality, I’ll venture to say,” was the captain’s -comment. - -Then the five wanderers from Fitzpatrick’s outfit held council -together. Zeke and the other trapper, as has been noted, intended to -join Gaunt’s party from their start for the South Park; and now Kit and -the lads could see nothing but the same process for themselves. Gaunt -was glad enough to secure them, as he had come out with fewer men than -he intended, so the routine of camp and trap and rifle was taken up -once more. - -They had been with Gaunt’s men for some time, ever on the outlook for -news of a white man among the savages of the region, when one night a -band of marauders crept up to the camp. The guard was slack, perhaps; -but that the night was a dark one was a certainty. At any rate the -Indians managed to get among the horses without being detected; and -when dawn came, nine of the very best animals were missing. - -Zeke Matthews made the discovery, and his whoop startled the camp. - -“Injuns,” stated he, pointing to the ground, where the “signs” were -plentiful enough. “And they’ve driv’ off a lot of the hosses.” - -From some articles of equipment lost by the savages, it was learned -that they were Crows; and their trail led broad and plain into the -hills. Captain Gaunt surveyed his men. - -“I want a party to take the trail, bring back the nags and show the -thieves that there’s a punishment waiting for every one who doesn’t -respect the law of the wilderness,” said he. “Who will go?” - -Kit Carson stepped out from among the men; the boys, who would have -followed him anywhere, did the same; in a moment there was a party of a -dozen saddling their mustangs and making ready for the chase. - -“We’ll hold this camp until you return,” said Gaunt. “And bring back -the horses.” - -Along the trail sped the twelve, Kit Carson riding silently ahead, his -eyes searching the ground. That the Crows were a rather numerous party -was evident from the hoof-prints of the ridden horses. - -“They’re ten to one against us,” said old Zeke, who was one of the -pursuers and whose experienced eyes also searched the trail. “But that -ain’t of no account. A white man ought to be good for twice that many -redskins, any day!” - -After following the trail something like five miles it grew greatly -confused. During the night a huge herd of buffalo had crossed and -recrossed it; but the genius of the wilderness was strong in Kit Carson -even at that early time; in spite of everything he never failed to pick -up the track each time it was lost. - -“The foot of a horse is different from a buffalo’s,” said he, briefly, -in answer to a question of Dave’s. “And if you keep a sharp eye on the -trail, you’ll see the print of a horse every now and then, even among -all the buffalo tracks.” - -All day they rode at a good pace; and by late in the afternoon they -had covered some forty miles. The horses were jaded, and if they were -to be kept fit to continue the trail the next day they must be rested -and fed. - -There was a clump of trees near by their halting place which seemed an -excellent spot for a camp. - -“We’ll take a rest here,” said Kit, “and have a snack. The nags can -pick up a little green stuff, too, maybe.” - -Winter had come again, and the horses, from lack of herbage upon which -to feed, were in poor condition. There was a promise of soft boughs and -young bark in the grove; the trappers’ animals lived upon such fodder -in the cold months, and the prospect made them as eager and restive for -the camp as their riders. - -They were within a hundred yards of the timber when a sound caught -their ears. There was a low command from Kit, and the trappers drew -rein instantly. Again the sound came to them, a sharp yelp as of an -animal in pain. - -“A dog,” said Kit; “and on the other side of the timber.” - -The presence of a dog in the wilderness is a positive indication of the -presence of man at no great distance. There was not one of the seasoned -trappers but knew this; and the minds of Dave and Joe seeing the effect -upon their companion grasped the fact instantly. - -“Redskins!” said Kit Carson. “Look there.” - -Above the tree tops two towering columns of smoke were ascending; that -a camp of some size existed among or upon the opposite side of the -trees the whites were now convinced. - -[Illustration: “REDSKINS!”] - -“This way,” said Kit, as he turned his horse. Some little distance -back, there was a rise in the ground; behind this he remembered to have -seen a clump of timber something like that which had just been the -object of their attention. Reaching the trees, they dismounted; the -horses were tied and then Kit said quietly: - -“Boys, we don’t know what’s ahead of us; so the best thing is to have a -look over the ground before we make another move. I’m going across this -bit of prairie and have a look at that camp over there. It may be the -band we are after, or it may not be. In an hour you’ll know. Anyhow, -get yourselves ready for action, for we don’t know what may be the -outcome.” - -He left them among the trees and advanced toward the timber from which -the smoke was still ascending. The prairie was a rolling one; here and -there cover was to be had; and Kit cautiously advanced from place to -place, his woodcraft making him invisible for the greater part of the -time from the grove ahead. - -At length he reached the edge of the clump; upon his hands and knees he -crept forward, parting the undergrowth and low hanging limbs that his -body might slip noiselessly through. Finally he sighted the camp, and -as he did so he settled down with a quick intake of the breath. - -Two large fires were burning; and at each was roasting a butchered -horse. A company of painted savages, full armed and with the feathers -of their war bonnets hanging down their backs, were grouped about. A -couple of lodges, strengthened so as to be used as places of defense -in case of need, were erected at one side; a little distance away were -tethered the horses stolen from the camp of Captain Gaunt, minus the -two roasting to provide a feast for the Crows. - -Usually keen to suspect the proximity of a foe, the Indians now -displayed surprising laxity. Perhaps the great distance they had put -between themselves and the trappers was the cause of this; they thought -themselves beyond the reach of pursuit, and so were giving themselves -up to the enjoyment of their enterprise. - -Kit watched them for some time; then as the shadows began to thicken, -he crept away across the stretch of prairie to the place where he had -left his friends. - -“It’s the party we are after,” said he. “I saw the horses. The reds are -making preparations for a big feast, and haven’t any thought of danger.” - -“Feasting, eh?” said old Zeke. “Well, boys, it seems to me we ought to -have a little to say in these festivities. Captain Gaunt reckons on a -trifle of powder being burned by way of protest against horse-stealing -in general, and it’s as little as we can do to go according to his -will.” - -At nightfall the sound of barbaric song came across the prairie; and -as the trappers stole toward the Indian camp they saw the red glow of -the fires, and through the trees the swaying, contorting forms of the -warriors going through a savage dance of triumph. - -The Indians had come from the north with their booty of horse-flesh, -and from the north alone they looked for pursuit; the trappers knew -that this would be the case, so they took care to approach the camp -from another side. When close enough to see all that went on at the -camp-fires of the Crows, they crouched down in sheltered places and -waited for the end of the feast. - -It was a cold night, and there was some snow upon the ground. And as -they waited the whites grew chilled and stiff; their limbs quaked and -their teeth chattered. But when the braves had finally eaten their fill -and danced themselves tired they laid themselves down to sleep; and -soon a torpor overtook the camp. - -This was the time for which the trappers had been waiting; Kit, with -five others, slipped away to the place where the horses were grouped, -freed, and drove them away. Some little distance away the remainder of -the party joined them; then a council in low pitched voices was held -as to what was the next step. - -“We’ve got our horses,” counseled one of the men. “The redskins are -a pretty powerful band and we’re a long way from support. So it’s my -opinion that we ought to be satisfied with our good luck and start back -for camp right away.” - -A number of the others agreed to this; but Kit Carson said: - -“The thieves should be punished. Another thing, our nags are pretty -well done up and we’ll have to go slowly. Our trail will show the Crows -that there’s only a few of us; and they’ll pursue us. In a thing like -this there’s a big chance against us; so if we can, we had better shift -things around in our favor.” - -“How’s that to be done?” asked the trapper who had favored letting well -enough alone. - -“We have them now just where an attack would scare them most. Let us -throw a volley into their camp and charge them; they’ll start running -then, and the chances are we’ll have nothing more to fear.” - -“Them words is words of wisdom!” declared Zeke Matthews, slapping the -butt of his rifle emphatically. “Strike hard now and we needn’t be -afraid later.” - -The trappers, an adventurous lot by nature, at once fell in with the -idea. They looked to their weapons carefully; then with steps trained -to softness, they stole upon the Crow camp. - -The fires had been allowed to die somewhat; the plumed head of a lonely -guard nodded at the edge of the firelight; the sleeping warriors, laden -with food, never stirred. - -Then suddenly a lean dog arose; his ill shaped head lifted, and he -began to sniff, suspicion in every hair. Then he sprang forward, -barking loudly to arouse his savage masters. Trained to awake at such -an alarm, some of the Indians sprang up; and as they did so the long -rifles of the trappers lifted, and a volley went whistling into the -camp. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -A DESPERATE EXPERIENCE WITH GRIZZLIES - - -As the bullets of the trappers sang their way into the Crow encampment, -the warriors began to fall; the whites stationed themselves behind -trees and reloaded; and while they were doing so the savages sought the -cover of the two fortified lodges which they had erected. From this -shelter the arrows began to dart; but the thick tree trunks protected -the trappers from their barbed heads. - -At early dawn the Indians saw how few in number the whites were; at -once they poured forth, with tomahawk, war club and scalping knife, to -crush them. But at a discharge of the rifles five of the band dropped -in their tracks; the others fled into the forts once more. - -“I guess that’s about all we’ll hear of them,” said old Zeke, as he -rammed a fresh charge of powder home and topped it with a bullet. “They -ain’t got the stomachs for such work as that.” - -“Hold your places,” ordered Kit Carson; “they will attack again.” - -A very little while proved that he was right, and Zeke, veteran though -he was in Indian warfare, was wrong. Out of the strongholds rushed -the Crows, and with yells of fury charged the hunters. So fierce was -their attack that the white men were forced to fall back; but the -deadly rifles continued to ring through the dawn and savage after -savage fell before them. Three trappers had been left with the horses; -these, hearing the continuous fire, now joined their comrades. The -additional rifles were more than the redskins could stand; completely -defeated, they drew off. The trappers did not wait for them to ponder -the situation, but fell back to their horses; mounting in haste and -leading the recaptured animals they headed for the Arkansas River, -where the camp of Captain Gaunt was then located. - -For some time longer Kit and the boys remained with the Gaunt -expedition; then, as nothing seemed to develop in the matter of -Moccasin Williams, and as the fur taking had grown poor, the three made -up their minds to a desperate venture. This was nothing less than to -leave the company of trappers and make their way back to Taos. - -“It’s a dangerous journey,” said Captain Gaunt; “but if your minds are -made up, go ahead. You are under no obligations to me.” - -By great good fortune along the whole of the long route through the -wilderness they did not sight a single Indian. Now and then they came -upon a cold encampment and other signs of the red man’s presence; but -never a plume of the warrior himself. - -On the way they trapped and had rare good fortune; when they reached -Taos they had a rich taking of beaver pelts which just then were in -great demand and consequently high in price. At once their inquiries -were put afoot as to Moccasin Williams; neither of the lads had ever -seen the man, but Kit Carson’s description of him was so complete and -they bore it so thoroughly in mind that they were confident that they -would know him if they ever met with him. - -But the result was the same as before. Old Diaz, whom they visited, -shook his head and tugged at his goat’s beard sorrowfully. - -“I have never laid eyes on him, señor,” said he. “Not once since you -were here last. And not once have I seen Lopez either since that day. -He is away, there,” one trembling hand indicating the north, “away -among the Crows and Blackfeet searching for the Americano, Williams.” - -After a week in Taos, Joe grew restless. He had heard of an expedition, -much like that of Young’s, which was to head secretly for California. - -“It’s been two years since we saw my father,” he said to Dave. “And -it’s been almost as long since we wrote to him. Let us go out with this -party; after we see him, and if he is willing, we will come back and -take up the trail once more.” - -Seeing how Joe felt in the matter, Dave gave a ready consent; they -spoke to Kit, and though the trapper was sorry to lose them, he saw -that this was the right thing for them to do. - -“Maybe,” said he, as he clasped their hands at parting, “you’ll be back -just as you say. And maybe again you won’t, for you might find Williams -among the missions up there where you’re going, looking for that river -of gold that old Goat Beard talked about. But, however it turns out, -don’t forget that I’ve got to care a good bit about you two boys; and -I’m only sorry that I couldn’t do something for you that’d help you to -get what you’re after.” - -And so the lads went off on another journey through mountain, plain and -desert. - -Shortly after this, Kit joined a fur hunting expedition sent out by the -celebrated firm of Bent & St. Vrain, under the leadership of Captain -Lee, once of the United States Army. Later he spent some time on the -Laramie River with old Zeke Matthews and two other men, the venture -being one of his own. It was returning with this that Kit met with the -most desperate adventure that he had taken part in up till that time. - -The party had gone into camp one afternoon, and being short of meat, -Kit took his rifle and started out to look for game. A mile from camp -he came upon elk signs; he followed their tracks until he came in sight -of them feeding upon a hillside. Craftily he advanced upon them; but -fine as was his skill the elk got scent of him, tossed their antlered -heads and broke into a run. Up went the never failing rifle, and a -noble buck dropped upon the brow of the hill. - -“A lucky shot,” spoke the trapper, as he stood with the empty rifle -smoking in his hands, his eyes upon the fallen buck. But hardly had he -spoken the words when he heard a most terrific series of roars; like -lightning he turned and saw a pair of enormous grizzly bears, their -eyes red with rage, and their cruel teeth gleaming, charging down upon -him. - -There was no time to think out a plan of defense; the grizzly is an -immense brute, weighing more than a thousand pounds, and often swift -enough to outrun a horse. So Kit dropped his empty rifle, turned about -and ran. - -The great beasts came lumbering after him, to all appearances awkward -and slow, but in reality with astonishing swiftness. Kit knew their -speed, having had previous experience with them, though none so -desperate as this; and he knew that in a few moments, at most, he would -be overtaken. - -As he ran his eyes went here and there for a place of safety; then, -straight ahead, he saw a tree, the branches of which were fairly low. -As he came under it, he grasped a limb and with a mighty pull swung -himself upward, a blow from the foremost grizzly barely missing him. - -The tree had been the only thing the hard-pressed trapper could think -of; and no sooner had he gotten settled in a branch than he realized -that he was in a sort of trap. Bears are noted climbers; even the -enormous grizzlies can ascend trees with ease. - -“Yes,” muttered Kit, as this came to him, “and they’ll be after me like -a couple of tornadoes in a few minutes. So I’d better find something or -some way of defending myself.” - -He still retained his heavy hunting knife, but though the blade was -broad and keen he knew that it would be but poor weapon with which to -meet the attack of such brutes as the two growling and staring up at -him from below. - -But still, the knife would be useful, for all. He drew it from its -sheath, and began cutting furiously at a thick, short branch which grew -at his hand; this was soon trimmed, and as he balanced the heavy club -which it made, he said with satisfaction: - -“Here’s something, anyhow! I’ll not have to meet them empty handed. So, -come on, my lads, I’m ready for you.” - -The bears needed no invitation, however; they had been measuring the -situation from their places beneath the tree; and one of them had risen -upon his hind legs, dug his great claws into the trunk and begun to -climb upward. - -The foremost part of a bear, in climbing a tree, is his nose; and the -noses of most animals are very tender and easily hurt. The grizzly -bear’s is no exception. So as the climber came within reach, Kit swung -his club; the blow landed fair and true, the bear yelled with pain, -and slipped back to the ground. But the other stood ready to take his -place; Kit cleared away the small boughs which might entangle his -weapon and so interfere with his stroke. Once more the heavy club -swished downward, and again it landed upon an eager, uplifted snout. -There was another roar, and the second bear slid to the ground. They -stood together, and glared at the trapper, their roars and shrieks -making the lonely mountains ring. Then, their pain easing somewhat, -they attacked once more. Again and again the club struck the tender, -bleeding snouts, again and again the bears roared in agony and fell -back. - -At length they lost heart in the matter and sat watching him sullenly -and pawing their noses; but as he made no move to come down, they -finally gave up the vigil just as the long shadow of night began to -fall; and with many looks over their shoulders they lumbered away into -the woods. - -Kit waited for a space; then he slid down the trunk of the tree and -ran softly and swiftly toward the spot where he had dropped his rifle. -The piece was still unharmed; and the trapper reloaded it and stood -listening. From the depths of the forest came the sound of the bears -crushing through the underbrush; then this died away in the distance -and all was still. - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -THE BULLY OF THE TRADING CAMP - - -After making sure that the bears were not returning, Kit Carson -shouldered his rifle and made his way back to camp through the -gathering dusk. It was dark when he reached there, and this made it -unadvisable to take a packhorse after the carcass of the elk; so the -trappers had to be content with rather short commons until the next -day, when their rifles came into play and meat was had for the larder. - -Joined by a trapping party under Bridger, Kit went to the rendezvous -of the Rocky Mountain trappers on Green River. There were about two -hundred men in this big camp, which was for the purpose of selling -their furs and buying supplies. The trading being done, Kit joined a -trapping company journeying into the Blackfoot country at the head -of the Missouri River. But the redskins made such determined and -persistent attacks that the party was forced to retire from their -country. - -They fell back to the Big Snake River, where they wintered. But the -Blackfeet still held the trail; in a desperate battle with this -dangerous tribe Kit was seriously wounded in saving the life of a -comrade named Markhead; in this fight the savages received a terrible -beating. - -The spring season was a most fortunate one; beaver was very plentiful -and their taking of the fur was rich. Kit’s wound got well rapidly, -thanks to his strong constitution, and he was soon able to set his -traps with the rest of them. - -The long journeys through the wilderness to Taos and Santa Fé were too -great a strain upon both horses and men; the dangers of the journey -were too grave to be undertaken several times a year; and so the big -trading camp on Green River grew very popular with the trappers. So, -the season being over, the different companies all headed toward this -station; the one which Kit Carson was with among them. - -As the ponies pranced along the long street of the camp, and the pack -animals moved more soberly under their burden of furs, the bronzed -trappers waved their coonskin caps and shouted joyously to friends -whom they recognized by the way. This great fair of the Rocky Mountain -trappers occupied quite a beautiful site; circling it were the giant -hills, crowned with mighty forests; the huts of the trappers and -traders were built among the trees; some were after the fashion of -Indian lodges, others were of bark and poles and sod. But the traders -had structures of hewn logs to hold their stores. - -Kit rode through the camp, speaking to his friends among those who -came forward to greet the newcomers. He was dismounting when there -came a rush of feet and he was seized by two pairs of strong arms. Two -enthusiastic voices cried, joyfully: - -“Here you are, at last!” - -“We’ve been waiting for you a whole month!” - -“I knew you’d come, Kit!” - -“We’re back again; and we’ve got news!” - -The young trapper wriggled out of the clutch of his assailants; and one -look showed him that they were Dave Johnson and Joe Frazier. - -Gripping their hands in welcome, he cried: - -“Why, lads, this is a surprise, sure enough! I never expected to see -you so soon.” - -“We came back with the same party we went out with,” said Dave. “We -heard at Taos that you were out in this region and that you would -probably put in the summer at this trading camp. So there was a chance -with a trader helping with the packhorses, and we jumped at it.” - -“How did you find your father?” asked Kit of Joe. - -“I never saw him looking better,” replied the boy. “But come over to -our place; we’ve got a shanty big enough for the three of us. And -hurry! We left a pair of prairie chickens roasting over the fire; and -we’re to have flap-jacks and coffee.” - -Dave hurried to their hut, which was in a shaded place on the edge -of the camp, to see to the chickens; Joe and the trapper followed at -a slower pace. The two lads helped to unsaddle the mustang, and Joe -picketed him where the grass was rich and thick. Then they all sat down -and watched the fowls brown on the spit and the coffee-pot send up its -jet of steam. - -“Your father wasn’t against your leaving him again, then?” said Kit. - -“Father has gone back home,” said Joe. Then seeing the trapper’s -astonishment, he added: “You see, while he was at San Gabriel he -learned quite a lot of things. One of them was that even if we did -recover the map and find the place it indicated, we’d hardly be -permitted to wash the gold. The Mexican government and population are -afraid that the Americans will some day overrun California; and so they -do everything they can to discourage them, hoping to keep them away. So -father thought there was no use remaining and neglecting his business -at home.” - -“But how does it come that you two were left behind?” asked Kit. - -“Well,” laughed Dave, “we objected to going back so strongly and made -such a general fuss that uncle made up his mind that he’d let us have -another try. He took an American ship which sailed from San Francisco -and will land him in New York. If we have no success, we are to follow -next season.” - -“I see,” said Kit. There was a pause, then he asked: “But the news you -spoke of? What is it? Did you find something out, among the missions?” - -“Not a word,” said Dave, “and we spent a couple of months prowling -around among them. But,” and here he lowered his voice, “on our way -here with the trading party we stumbled upon something--as real a piece -of news as you could wish for.” - -“Good,” said Kit, his gray eyes snapping, “and what is it?” - -“There was a French Canadian named Shunan with the train, a big man, -very quarrelsome and ready with his weapons.” - -“I know him,” nodded Kit. “He’s a trapper, and,” in a puzzled tone, “I -don’t see what he was doing with the traders.” - -“He was making for this fair,” said Joe. “He had been to the -settlements on a sort of mission.” - -“A mission!” said Kit. - -Both boys nodded. - -“He’s quite loose with his tongue,” said Dave, “and we got the whole -thing, bit by bit, at night by the fire. He’d talk to the men, you see, -boasting of what he’s done and meant to do. He’d been sent in to Santa -Fé to look about and ask questions. The person who sent him was away in -the Blackfoot country, afraid to venture into civilization himself.” - -Instantly Kit Carson’s quick mind grasped the situation. - -“Moccasin Williams!” he cried. - -“Right! And the person he was inquiring about was Lopez, the -half-breed.” - -“Asking if he was in Santa Fé, or in the region round about?” - -“Yes; and he found, as we did, that the half-breed was away north, also -in the Blackfoot country. This seemed to amuse him. Williams feared to -go back to Taos or Santa Fé; he feared to go to California; for there -he might meet Lopez.” - -“According to what the Frenchman said, Williams is in mortal dread of -the knife of the man he robbed,” said Joe. - -“And instead of being safe in the place he selected for hiding, he is -really in great danger, with Lopez searching for him, as Shunan heard, -from one Indian village to another. It would have been much better if -he had returned, or had gone to California.” - -“Much better for him, perhaps,” said Kit, grimly. Then his expression -changed and he added: “Well, it’s good news enough, lads; and we’ll see -what can be done with it. The map is still in the hands of Williams; -if it were not he’d not be so anxious to get to California. And so, if -nothing else, it shows us that we still have him to look for. You were -in luck to meet this man, Shunan.” - -At this the trapper noted the faces of the boys change in expression. - -“I don’t just know about that,” said Dave. - -“We were lucky, in a way,” admitted Joe; “but in another way we were -not so much so.” - -“Something’s happened,” said Kit. - -Dave and Joe nodded. - -“Somehow,” said the former, “Shunan got to know of our interest in what -he said in his boasting. It may be that he had heard of us, and, now -that we’d got his attention, he’d placed us for the first time. Ever -since then he’s been trying to get up some sort of a quarrel with us.” - -“Ah!” said Kit Carson. - -He sat looking at the boys steadfastly; and they saw a dangerous, -narrowing light in his gray eyes. - -“I know Shunan,” said he. “I’ve known him for some time; and as you -said when you first mentioned him, he’s quarrelsome and ready with his -weapons. For him to try and pick a fight with a man means only one -thing--and that’s a deadly one.” - -The prairie chickens were done, the flap-jacks nicely browned and the -coffee piping hot when old Zeke Matthews came along. Immediately the -boys sprang up and greeted him; he was invited to join them and did so -with alacrity. - -“Roasted birds we get out in the trapping country,” said he. “But -flap-jacks seldom, coffee seldomer, and coffee with reg’lar sugar in -it, never at all.” - -And as Zeke ate of these delicacies, Kit told him of Shunan’s desire to -quarrel with the boys, though he did not mention the reason for it. The -veteran was indignant. - -“What!” demanded he. “Can’t he find no one but a passel of youngsters -to fight with. Well, all I got to say is, let him look out for himself!” - -Released from the restraint of the wilderness where they were ever on -the lookout for attacks of savage beasts or savage men, the trappers -relaxed; the trading camp was a hubbub of sounds. Songs, the squeak of -a fiddle, blustering talk and high pitched contention grew constant as -each night passed and the day began. - -During one afternoon there was a turmoil at one end of the camp, a -clash of fists and the sight of bloody faces. Later there was still -another outbreak of the same sort. Then little by little the thing -increased until the camp roared steadily with strife. - -“It’s all Shunan,” said a trader to old Zeke. “Fellows like that make -more trouble than a tribe of thieving Indians.” - -Once or twice during the day Kit Carson caught sight of Shunan. He was -a burly fellow with the air of a bravo; his face was flushed and his -eyes gleamed with menace. - -“A wolf,” said Kit to the boys. “So, to avoid trouble and keep the -peace, lay low. If you can avoid it, don’t let him see you.” - -Both Dave Johnson and Joe Frazier were naturally boys of spirit; and -their two years in the wilderness with the trappers had given them a -confidence in themselves which they might not have had otherwise. -So the idea of concealment, of practically hiding from a bully, was -galling to them. - -Kit saw this and said: - -“Your keeping out of his way won’t be a mark against you boys. -Nobody’ll think the worse of you for it, for more seasoned men than -either of you will be for many years are dodging this man just now. So -take my advice. Lay low. I don’t think it will make any real difference -in the end,” as an afterthought, “for if he wants to force trouble on -you, he will. But, when the time comes, you’ll have the satisfaction of -knowing that it’s not your fault.” - -The lads acted upon this suggestion; and the result was that some time -went by without the bully encountering them. But his purpose was plain -enough; frequently he came to that part of the camp where the boys’ -hut was located, and his remarks when any one happened to be in the -vicinity were brutal and offensive. Kit Carson, Zeke Matthews and some -others had erected lodges near that of the lads; and they frequently -listened to the bully’s boasts and threats and insults without a sign. - -But finally the thing grew unbearable. - -“Human nature,” said the veteran, Zeke, “can’t stand no more. He’s -getting worse. He thinks we’re afraid of him. Let him talk like that -just once more, and my rifle’ll answer him.” - -At length the day came which brought the climax. The bully had kept the -camp in hot water all morning; he had engaged in a half dozen fights -with men weaker than himself, and beaten them; and so he came, roaring -like a mountain bear, toward the spot where Kit sat with his friends. -As it happened the two lads were in the party. Both looked up at the -Frenchman from where they lay stretched upon the ground; and neither -made an attempt to avoid him. - -He had grown accustomed to their dodging him; and now that they failed -to move it seemed to inflame him more than ever. - -“It’s a camp full of coyotes,” announced he, squaring himself before -them all. “Every one runs when a man comes along.” - -There was an ominous silence on the part of the trappers; and he -proceeded: - -“Did you hear me speak?” he demanded. “Did you hear me mention coyotes? -Where’s the Indian fighters that I’ve heard about? Where are they? Did -they ever fight a white man? Well, here’s their chance, if they’ve got -the stomachs to take it up. Here’s a man that’s willing to give them a -chance to make a reputation.” - -The silence of the group was still unbroken and the bully’s sneering -look ran around the circle. - -“All Americans, eh? Every one an American! Well, I’ve beaten all the -Frenchmen in the camp; and as for the Americans, I’ll cut a stick some -day and switch them around their own lodges.” - -Again his sneering glance went over them; then he shrugged his huge -shoulders contemptuously, turned and started away. But he had gone -hardly half a dozen steps when a voice called sharply: - -“Shunan!” - -The man halted and wheeled. Kit Carson stood facing him. The difference -in the two was very great. The Frenchman was a Hercules; a towering -man, with a great chest and massive limbs; the American trapper was -small and quiet in manner and seemed in no way a match for him. - -But Kit Carson was never a man to stand back because the odds were not -in his favor; so he advanced toward the camp bully. - -“Shunan,” said he, coolly, his gray eyes fixed steadfastly upon the man -before him, “we’ve all listened to you talk for some time; and we’ve -said nothing. There are twenty men in this camp who could beat you in -any kind of fighting you could name. But they are not trouble seekers; -and so they’ve stood back. Now, I consider myself the least among them; -and being such I take it on myself to say that we are all tired of you -and your bullying. And, further, I want to say that you will, from this -time on, stop your threats, or I’ll shoot you.” - -For a moment the Frenchman stood staring at the speaker, his eyes -glowing with fury; then he turned again without a word toward his own -quarters. - -“Gone for his gun,” said old Zeke. “And from his looks he means -business.” - -The group of trappers broke up immediately; sharp action was in the -air, and to meet this their experience told them to be prepared. But, -seeing, from their faces, what they meant to do, Kit shook his head -negatively. - -“This is my affair, boys,” he said. “So I must ask you all to stand -aside while I go through with it.” - -“But he’s got friends in camp,” protested old Zeke. “They’ll all be out -to see him through.” - -“If they interfere,” said Kit, “then I rely on you to see me through. -But I don’t think they will. Shunan has had the run of this camp too -long to think he needs help in a little matter like this. It’ll be a -matter of pride with him; and you’ll see, he’ll handle it alone.” - -Like lightning the news of the impending conflict ran through the camp. -The trappers and traders carefully drew out of what they thought would -be the line of fire, or placed themselves behind trees or the heavy log -houses. - -The boys went after Kit and found him tightening his saddle-girth, a -little distance from his lodge. - -“By all rights,” said Dave Johnson, “this fight should be mine or -Joe’s. We brought the man down this way; he was always looking for us -when he came. And now that trouble has come of it, I don’t see why you -should shoulder it.” - -Kit slapped him on the back and laughed. - -“The whole thing is a public one,” said he. “The man has come to be a -nuisance and a danger, and so a stop of some sort must be put to him. -We have no law in the wilderness, nor law officers. But we know what we -want, and somebody always comes forward to put a thing right. In this -case it is Kit Carson.” - -Having saddled his pony to his satisfaction, he took out a heavy -dragoon pistol and looked at its priming with much care. This he placed -in his belt, then swung himself into the saddle. And as Kit rode out -from the line of the lodges, the sound of hoofs came to him. His quick -eye turned in the direction of the sound; and he saw the Frenchman -mounted on a powerful horse, a rifle in his hands, riding toward him. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -LOPEZ RIDES INTO CAMP - - -It is written boldly in the records of the great west that Kit Carson -was a man without fear; and never before did he show this fact as he -did when he turned his horse’s head and rode toward the Frenchman, -Shunan. His pony went at a slow, swinging lope; Kit sat him as quietly -as though he were on his way to try a shot at a flock of prairie -chickens, and there was no enemy on that side of the range. - -And the bully was in no way backward. But his bluster was gone; all the -cunning in his nature was called upon to aid him in the crisis. His -horse advanced at a swift pace; and the heads of the two steeds almost -touched when their riders drew rein. - -“Shunan,” said Kit, “am I the man you’re looking for?” - -The eyes of the bully shifted under the steady gaze of the American. - -“No,” said he. - -Then almost instantly the muzzle of his rifle lifted and covered Kit. -But quick as was his action, Kit’s was quicker. The dragoon pistol -flashed, and its heavy bullet struck Shunan in the arm, shattering the -bone; the man’s weapon exploded a second after the trapper’s; and its -missile grazed Kit’s scalp; then it fell to the ground, and the man’s -horse, unchecked, turned and dashed away. - -Calmly Kit rode back to where he had left his friends. - -“He meant to kill you,” stated old Zeke. “I saw the way he threw up his -rifle barrel that nothing else would please him.” - -And that the American trapper, lightning quick and of deadly aim, only -shot to disable his foe was evident to all; had he so desired, Shunan -would have dropped from his saddle never to rise again. - -“Peace in camp is all we want,” said Kit, quietly. “And I think as far -as Shunan’s concerned we’ll have it in the future.” - -There was no expedition going that fall into the Blackfoot country; but -one was organizing for a trading trip in that direction. - -“We’ll join that,” said Kit. - -“But,” said Joe, “we’ll be taking you away from work that will be -profitable.” - -“This matter of the map has me on my mettle,” said Kit. “I’m going to -see it through now, no matter how long it takes.” - -They accordingly went out with the traders as far as the Big Snake -River. Here they met a Hudson Bay trader named McCoy who had about -abandoned his operations because of ill luck, and was about to take up -a trapping venture. They joined him, thinking to get finally into the -region they desired. But after a series of adventures, one of which -saw them on the verge of starvation in a journey to Fort Hall, they -were forced back to the Green River once more to await another season. - -“It’s the last try,” said Dave, soberly. “If we don’t get up into that -country this time we’ll have to give it up.” - -“That’s what I promised dad in the letter I sent off to him yesterday,” -said Joe. “One more attempt; and if we fail, we go home.” - -As the fall grew near there was much talk of expeditions into the far -regions; the near-by streams had been trapped so long that the beaver -had become very scarce; and if success were desired the hunters must -seek new waters. - -And in the midst of this, Kit one evening came to the lodge which the -boys had erected. There was a gleam in his eye which told them that -something of a pleasing sort had happened. - -“Well,” said he, “it looks at last as though we were going to have -a chance. An expedition, one hundred strong, is to go as far as the -Yellowstone.” - -“And do we go with them?” asked Dave, leaping up in his excitement. - -“We do.” - -Both boys swung their caps in the air and leaped about in a series of -acrobatic antics. But Kit sobered them in a moment. - -“Not only do we go,” said he, “but Shunan goes also.” - -“Ah!” said Dave; and he sat down in the door of the lodge. - -“That means something, I should say,” said Joe. - -“All last season he was laid up with a maimed arm,” said Kit; “and now, -as soon as he’s able, he engages for the Blackfoot region. I know he’s -specially set on going there, because he refused a number of offers to -go out with parties who are to head in other directions.” - -Shunan was a very much changed man; his manner was subdued, and he -gave little or no trouble to the camp. Kit Carson he treated with much -respect, and the boys he was careful not to molest. One day, however, -shortly before the big expedition was to start, he met them in the camp -street. - -“I hear you’re going up north,” said he. - -“Yes,” said Joe. “We thought it might be a useful trip--and maybe -profitable.” - -Shunan looked at them with something like his old ferocity. - -“Take my advice and go somewhere else,” said he, slowly. “It will be a -dangerous journey for people looking for anything but beaver fur.” - -He was about to pass on, but Dave Johnson placed himself in his path. - -“What do you mean by that?” said he. - -“Just what I say,” replied the man. “Nothing more and nothing less.” - -Then he passed on, never giving them another glance; and when the boys -found themselves at their lodge that night with Kit Carson, they -mentioned the matter. The trapper seemed pleased. - -“I think,” said he, “that that proves he’s going to carry news to his -friend, Moccasin Williams. Anyway, it shows that he expects to meet -him, and doesn’t want any one in the party who has a knowledge of his -errand.” - -The chief trapper of the big expedition into the Blackfoot country -was named Fontenelle; he was an experienced woodsman, and of a very -determined character. With the packhorses loaded and the trappers -mounted upon their mustangs, he addressed them. - -“Every time we’ve gone into the region round about the head waters of -the Missouri,” said he, “we’ve been attacked, our horses have been -stolen, our traps taken, our men killed; and in almost every case it -has ended in our being driven out.” - -A murmur went up from the men. The Blackfeet were a hardy and warlike -people who claimed a vast extent of country as their hunting ground. -The tribe was at that time some thirty thousand strong and counted the -finest of the many races of American Indians. As hunters they were -unexcelled; their marksmanship was deadly; and as riders and horse -breakers they were only led by the Comanches. - -“This time they’ll not drive us back,” said old Zeke Matthews, who had -engaged to go out with Fontenelle. He slapped the stock of his long -rifle as he spoke. “It’s our turn now; and we’ll make the red thieves -run.” - -It is doubtful if any such band of trappers ever left the Green River -before; they were hardy, seasoned mountaineers, inured to the wild life -of the Rockies, expert in the craft of beaver taking, and accomplished -in Indian warfare. - -Straight on they pushed through the wilderness, day after day. In the -country of the Crows they met with friendly greetings; perhaps it was -the unusual size of the party, and perhaps it was because it was headed -for the hunting grounds of the Blackfeet--for years the deadly foes of -the Crows. On the Yellowstone, which was in the heart of the Blackfoot -region, they set about the serious business of taking fur. The company -was divided--fifty men to attend the traps and fifty to guard the camp. -The men lived with their rifles in their hands. As Zeke Matthews put it: - -“The cook turns the meat on the spit with one hand and has a loaded -pistol in the other.” - -Fontenelle was constantly urging the men not to relax. - -“We can hold our own with them,” said he. “But we must not let them -surprise us. Keep your eyes peeled; don’t overlook a sign.” - -Kit Carson and his two boy friends needed no urging. And they not only -watched for Blackfeet; they kept an eye upon the movements of Shunan as -well. However, it was impossible to watch the man at all times; now and -then he’d be out of their sight for hours at a time. - -One night after supper Kit drew the boys aside. From beneath his -hunting shirt he drew a small, pointed stick, notched here and there in -a peculiar manner. - -“What is it?” asked Dave. - -“As we left the last line of traps this afternoon,” said Kit, “I saw -Shunan lag behind and then drop back among some trees. There were six -of us; but I said nothing to the others. A little later, after Shunan -rejoined us, I made believe I’d sighted a small buck and started off, -away from the river. When I got out of sight, I changed my course, -heading back toward the place where I’d seen Shunan disappear. Hunting -around, I saw Indian signs in plenty; and then I saw this,” holding up -the wand, “sticking in the ground.” - -“A message!” said both boys in a breath. - -Kit nodded. - -“Yes; and I’ll venture there was one waiting for him from Williams or -the redskins.” - -After this they kept a stricter watch than ever upon the Frenchman; but -he seemed to be entirely interested in the work of trapping and curing -furs, and not once did they detect him in any further communication -with the savages. - -“They’ve come to some kind of an understanding,” said Kit, after a -time. “And he’s waiting for a certain time to come around. Like as not -it’s the spring; for it’s too late to jump out now and try to get back -to Santa Fé. Winter’d overtake them.” - -Winter came on at last, the streams were frozen and the trappers gave -up their labors. They left the Blackfoot country determining to winter -in a more friendly section. A band of Crows guided them to a sheltered -valley, and the two parties camped side by side during the severe -months. - -The Crows were mostly young warriors, and splendidly athletic; in good -weather they arrayed themselves against the white men in games of -strength and skill; hunting was the favorite test, but horsemanship, -running and leaping, were also well liked. In these contests the boys -grew very intimate with a stalwart young brave whose name was Tall -Thunder. - -One night they sat beside him at a lodge fire in the Crow camp; a -number of the young warriors were also present, but they rarely spoke, -knowing little of the white man’s language. Tall Thunder, however, -could make himself understood without much difficulty. He related many -of his hunting exploits, and some of the deeds of his tribe in their -wars with the Blackfeet. - -“Your English is good,” praised Joe. “How did you learn it?” - -“Um--much teach!” explained Tall Thunder. “Half-breed speak much -Englees. Him Spotted Snake.” - -The boys looked at each other. Here was verification of the story of -old Diaz, the trader at Santa Fé, and of the news gathered by Shunan. -Lopez, or Spotted Snake, was, or had been, in the northern wilderness. - -“Do you know where Spotted Snake is now?” asked Dave. - -“Um! Crow village--four suns. Live like chief!” - -The boys understood from this that Lopez was then in a Crow village -four days’ journey from where they were; and also that he was much -honored. They were discussing this fact in some excitement, when the -young Crow, who could make nothing of the rapid English, said: - -“Spotted Snake is your friend?” - -Dave Johnson shook his head. Tall Thunder seemed to turn the denial -over for a space; then he said: - -“Um! Spotted Snake keep away from white men. Only want to see one.” He -nodded his head. “Him with Blackfeet. Much hate.” - -“He hates the white man who lives among the Blackfeet?” - -Tall Thunder nodded once more. - -“Much hate!” he repeated. Then as though to show the extent of the -man’s hatred: “Want Crow to go on war-path. Against Blackfeet. Chiefs -and old men hold council. Say no.” - -Later in the evening the boys spoke to Kit about this. He was -interested. - -“Lopez has his enemy placed,” said he. “And maybe, through the news -brought by Shunan, Williams knows something about the whereabouts of -Lopez.” Then, after a moment, during which he stared into the fire: “It -seems to me, boys, that your long hunt is going to come to something at -last. Unless an accident happens Williams will get out of this region -in the spring; Shunan will go with him. Watch Shunan; don’t let him -make a move that we don’t see, and we can overreach them.” - -It was a hard winter on the horses; soft branches and bark, the inside -layer of the cottonwood, was the only fodder the poor animals had for -weeks; but the fresh green of the spring soon began to put them in -condition when that anxiously looked for season arrived. - -While waiting for the horses to pick up some flesh, Fontenelle, the -chief trapper, sent two men to Fort Laramie for some much needed -supplies. The news came later that they had been ambushed and killed by -Blackfeet. - -It was in no very soft mood that the trappers set out for their hunting -grounds; but, though they did not know it, the time for the striking of -a retaliatory blow was at hand. - -As they drew near to the source of the Missouri, they one evening -camped on the fork of a small tributary. The setting sun was slanting -across the stream, the camp-fires were lighted and the trappers were -cooking their supper, standing guard or caring for the horses. Suddenly -a shout came from one of the pickets, together with the sound of -hoof-beats. In a few moments a couple of fur hunters came into camp -with a horseman. In spite of the Indian trappings worn by both mustang -and rider, both Dave Johnson and Joe Frazier recognized him at a glance. - -“Lopez!” they exclaimed in a breath; and then the trappers closed in -around the half-breed. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -THE VILLAGE OF THE BLACKFEET - - -The throng of buckskin-clad trappers crowded about the half-breed -Lopez; every eye was on him; all were curious to hear the nature of his -errand. - -“I came to warn you,” he said in Spanish, to Fontenelle. “Directly -in your path, one day’s ride from here, is the main village of the -Blackfeet. Hold to your present course and you’ll have them swarming -around you like bees.” - -For a moment there was a dead silence. Then the many grievances they -held against that particular tribe, and more especially the fate of the -two messengers to Fort Laramie, came to the minds of the trappers. As -one man they gripped their rifles and there arose a cry for vengeance. -The half-breed sat his mustang quietly; he said nothing, but in his -eye was a satisfied gleam. Kit Carson touched Dave Johnson’s sleeve. - -“Moccasin Williams is in that village. That is why the half-breed is -here. Failing to get the Crows to attack them, he now tries our men.” - -“And with what result, do you think?” asked Dave. - -For answer Kit pointed to the trapper band; to a man, almost, they were -gathered about Fontenelle; their voices were lifted in a harsh hubbub; -their rifles were waved about; they clamored for war. - -It was a wild scene, and one neither of the boys ever forgot; the -rough, bearded men, buckskin-clad, their weapons gleaming in the flare -of the camp-fires, while all around was silence and the darkness of the -wilderness. - -When the clamor died down, the chief trapper spoke. - -“We have suffered at the hands of the Blackfeet,” said he. “And now -that a chance has come to strike a blow, we will not let it pass.” - -There was a wild hurrah, and the men scattered about the camp, -gathering at the various fires, cleaning their rifles, oiling the locks -of their pistols, seeing to the edge of knife and hatchet. - -“And see that there’s plenty of good black powder in your horns,” -advised old Zeke. “Bullets and flints will be things you can’t have too -much of either; for unless I’m much mistaken we’ve got a day of days -ahead of us to-morrow, lads.” - -As the half-breed slipped from his horse and approached a fire at which -Kit and the boys stood alone he nodded as though not at all surprised -to see them. - -“I saw all three of you a dozen times during the winter,” said he. -“But you did not see me. I often rode through the passes when the snow -melted, and looked down at your camp in the valley from the hills.” - -“And it was then, I guess, that you thought how well it would fit in -with your plans if you could get our party to attack the Blackfeet.” - -The half-breed smiled the disagreeable smile natural to him. - -“But,” said he, “I never hoped to have it happen, until the two riders -going to Laramie were killed. After that,” and he snapped his fingers, -“I knew it would be nothing.” - -“If you were so anxious to revenge yourself on Williams, why have you -waited so long?” asked Kit. “A man who really wanted satisfaction would -have tried for it single-handed.” - -“Do you think I have not?” asked Lopez, quietly. “Do you suppose I have -been lying by all this time waiting to be helped? I spent months in -trying to find out where he was. Twice I was taken by the Blackfeet -and once almost lost my life. That I could speak their language and -claimed to be related to their tribe was all that saved me. At last I -located him in the village which you will see to-morrow. The Pueblos -call me Spotted Snake,” and he laughed, harshly. “Well, I tried to earn -the name in my lookout for Moccasin Williams; for never a snake held so -close to the ground, or crawled so silently through the grass as I did. -But I never got him as I wanted him. A hundred times I had him under my -rifle, but he was never near enough for me to be sure. To-morrow,” and -there was a deadly meaning in his voice, “I will try again; and I think -I shall succeed.” - -The fire at which they stood was one removed from the others, having -been kindled by a horse guard to roast a particularly prized piece of -buffalo tongue while he was on watch. The trees threw huge, dancing -shadows all about; and their own movements were grotesquely mimicked -by the giant shades flung from them by the changing light. There was a -silence after the half-breed’s last words; then, as he stood staring -into the red of the blaze, Dave Johnson fancied he heard a sound behind -him. Trained, by this time, to respond to sounds which he did not -understand, Dave was about to turn; but he felt the grip of Kit upon -his arm--a grip which asked for silence as plainly as words could have -done. - -Kit, facing the half-breed, spoke quietly: - -“The map which belongs to these boys, now? What about that?” - -The half-breed gave a gesture of contempt. - -“If I can find the man who stole it from me, that’s all I ask,” said he. - -“Well, all right,” said Kit. Then he added, drily, “But seeing that you -stole it yourself, Spotted Snake, I think you’re making a mighty big -complaint.” - -“He claimed to be my friend. He is a traitor,” said the half-breed, -sullenly. - -“As I have said, all right,” repeated Kit. “You can look at the thing -just as you see fit, and I’ll not say a word against it. But,” and here -there was a ring in his voice like that of steel, “the map belongs to -these two lads, and I’m going to see that they get it. It belongs to -them and no one else shall have it; neither you, Lopez, who stand there -grinning at me; nor you, Moccasin Williams, away there in the Blackfoot -town; nor you, Shunan, who are behind me in the bushes!” He wheeled as -he spoke these last words, and faced the darkness. “Come out,” said he. -“We know you’re there, and we know why you’re there.” - -There came a swishing and clattering among the thick growth, and the -burly Frenchman made his appearance. - -“I was looking for fuel,” he growled, sullenly. “I didn’t know you were -here.” - -Kit regarded him steadily. - -“I never told the rest of the men how you were in communication -with the Blackfeet in the fall,” said he. Then as the man tried to -interrupt, he lifted a hand for silence. “If I had,” he went on, “I -guess you know what would have happened--for they don’t love that -people. But,” and the ring in his voice was as hard as before and the -menace was as clear, “if you make an attempt to leave camp to give -warning they will be told now. So, if you value a whole skin, you’ll -sit tight and say nothing.” - -“I never meant to----” began the bully, but Kit stopped him. - -“It makes no difference what you meant,” he said. “The thing is there, -just the same. I’ll give Fontenelle a hint, and there will be a quiet -guard over you until our little business with the redskins is done. So -mind what movements you make when away from the camp. You’ll not know -which one’ll draw the bullet from some pistol.” - -And that there was something behind this warning was soon made plain -to the bully; as he sat by the fire, as he rolled in his blanket, he -felt the watch held over him; not once during the long night did it -relax; and though he desired ever so much to warn his confederate among -the Indians, he did not dare to make a move. - -Long before dawn the camp was astir, breakfast was cooked and eaten, -and the entire party of one hundred trappers, under the guidance of -Lopez, started in the direction of the Blackfoot village. After a march -of some six hours they struck a broad and well-defined trail. - -“This leads straight to the village,” said Lopez. “Two or three hours -more and we are there.” - -But at this point Fontenelle halted the column of trappers. - -“I think it would be best,” said he, “if a small party went ahead and -reconnoitered. In marching on blindly this way there is always danger -of a trap.” - -Lopez protested loudly; but the trappers as a body thought well of the -suggestion. - -“Carson,” said the head trapper to Kit, “take five men and go have a -look at the trail and the village. We’ll camp here until you return.” - -Accordingly, with Zeke Matthews, the two boys and a pair of seasoned -woodsmen, Kit started off. Silently they rode along the narrow Indian -trail, being careful to make a note of every spot that would afford -a chance for an ambuscade; at length they drew near the village, a -perfect city of lodges; creeping among the rocks and trees they managed -to get a close view of what was going on. - -From the opposite side of the town a great drove of horses was being -driven in; camp equipment was being brought together as though for a -move. - -“We’re none too soon,” said Kit in a whisper, to Dave. “By this time -to-morrow they’d be gone.” - -“Look!” said Joe, in a low voice, his rifle barrel indicating a place -near to the end of a row of lodges. “A white man!” - -“Moccasin Williams,” were Kit’s words, as his eyes rested upon the -renegade. “Well, Spotted Snake was right, wasn’t he?” - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -THE LAST BATTLE - - -Making sure that the savages were merely in the first stages of their -preparations for departure, Kit and his little party of scouts crept -away through the trees and grass to the place where they had left their -horses. Mounting, they gained the trappers’ camp just after nightfall. - -When the news was broken, the woodsmen gathered about their fires in -council. After some discussion a plan was agreed upon. - -“Kit will take half of you,” said the chief trapper, “and ride to the -attack. The other half will stay behind with me to guard the pack -animals and the furs.” - -“But don’t stand still,” was Kit Carson’s advice. “Advance slowly in -our track. Then you’ll be a kind of reserve in case we need you.” - -Everything agreed upon, the trappers rolled themselves in their robes -and blankets around the fires; and at dawn next day they divided -according to their plan; Kit and his fifty taking the Indian trail at a -swinging pace, every man in the advance eager for the fight. - -“After to-day,” prophesied Zeke Matthews, “those varmints of Blackfeet -won’t be so quick with their monkey shines. They’ll get a lesson -they’ll remember for some time to come.” - -They approached the Indian town without being discovered; the savages -were in the heart of their own country, never dreaming of attack, and -therefore had out no sentinels. The trappers, each well mounted, rifle -in hand and side arms ready to be grasped at a second’s notice, drew up -in a line. - -“Now, men,” said Kit, his eyes running over them, to make sure that -all were prepared. “At full speed! Charge!” - -Like a thunderbolt the woodsmen struck the Blackfoot village; a -volley from the long rifles swept among the warriors and a dozen of -them pitched headlong. A shrill yell arose; the savages gripped their -weapons and fell back from their town, fighting every step of the way. - -The Blackfoot was a fighting man of craft, courage and generalship. -Unlike the Crows and more southern tribes, he did not go mad with -excitement when he faced the superior weapons of the white man. On the -contrary he always fought them according to a carefully laid out plan. - -From behind rocks and stumps and fallen trees the long arrows began to -wing their deadly way; taking the cue the trappers protected themselves -in much the same fashion, and their rifles continued to speed bullets -wherever a tufted head showed itself. - -For fully three hours this sort of warfare continued; the Blackfeet -fought with courage and judgment; craftily they drew the fire of the -trappers until the supply of ammunition began to grow low. - -As this latter grew apparent to Kit he passed the word to slacken the -fire. - -“Don’t press a trigger unless you are sure of a redskin,” was his -command. - -And as the rifle fire slacked the Indians grew more bold. They -understood what had happened, and crept forward from tree to tree, from -rock to rock, meaning to get near enough for a grand rush and then to -engage the whites hand to hand. - -“I notice,” said Dave Johnson, as he lay at full length behind a stump, -his rifle advanced, his eyes on the dark-skinned enemy, “that there’s -a bullet comes now and then from over there to the right. One of the -braves must have a rifle.” - -“It’s Moccasin Williams,” replied Kit Carson, from behind a near-by -tree. “He’s behind that big cottonwood at the mouth of the ravine, -trying some sharpshooting.” - -“I’d like to get a----” but Dave never finished the sentence, for Kit’s -rifle cracked and the bark flew from the big cottonwood in a shower, -leaving a deep seam to show the track of the bullet. - -“Missed!” said Kit, coolly. “But better luck next time.” - -In a little while the Indians pressed forward under cover; then, -thinking themselves near enough for a rush, they leaped from behind the -trees and with shrill yells and brandished hatchets and knives, darted -at the trappers. - -The long rifles greeted them once more; but as they still came on, the -pistols were discharged in their very faces with terrible effect. This -was more than savage fortitude could bear up under, and they sought -cover once more with howls of rage and a fresh flight of arrows. - -Then closer and closer they drew and slower and slower grew the fire -of the whites. There were but few charges of powder left. Another rush -of the savages, and there would be no more. - -“It looks bad,” said old Zeke, as he drained his powder-horn of its -last grain. “But we’ll give a good account of ourselves for all.” - -But a last desperate struggle with knife and clubbed rifle was not to -come, for as the powder was quite exhausted, word was brought to Kit -that the reserve of trappers under Fontenelle had arrived. And soon -after, each horn was refilled, each rifle recharged, and with the -confidence of increased numbers the trappers advanced, firing as they -went. - -In the van of the whites was the half-breed, Lopez; he held his rifle -ready, but seemed to reserve his fire. Kit Carson, firing and loading -and firing and loading, noticed this. - -“Anything wrong with your shooting iron, Spotted Snake?” asked the -trapper. - -“No,” replied the half-breed, never taking his eyes from the flitting -line of savages as they moved from cover to cover. “But the bullet -that’s in it is meant for Moccasin Williams, and him only.” - -Steadily the trappers pressed forward; quicker and quicker grew the -flitting of the savages from rock to tree and from tree to stump; and -at length the crafty retreat began to weaken, then to waver. There was -less purpose in it; finally the braves at one side broke and ran; then -the entire line followed suit. - -Now for the first time since he entered the action, the rifle of Lopez -lifted. The boys saw an ungainly white man in the rush of the fleeing -savages; he had sandy hair and a thin, fox-like face. A dozen steps he -took, the fox-face turned over his shoulder to observe the pursuers, -then Lopez’ piece crashed and the man pitched forward to the ground. - -With a shrill, throaty cry of exultation, Lopez darted forward; the -boys saw him reach the prostrate form, a knife in his hand. But as he -bent over it the form showed unexpected life. Moccasin Williams sprang -to his feet, drawing an Indian hatchet from his belt as he did so, and -both men struck at each other. Both blows took effect; then their arms -encircled each other, there was a frenzied clutching at each other’s -throats, and they fell to the earth. - -And when Kit Carson returned from the pursuit of the Indians, which was -but a short one, he found the boys standing above the two dead bodies. - -“Your property?” he asked, his swift eyes telling him what had occurred. - -“Here,” said Joe, and he held up a folded paper. - -“Good!” said the trapper. “Take care of it, for you’ve had a hard fight -to get it back; and the next time you might not be so lucky.” - -The blow dealt the Blackfeet that day was a heavy one; and they -remembered it, as Zeke Matthews had prophesied, for a long time after. - -Great good luck followed the Fontenelle band in their labors after -this; and when they finally journeyed to the trading camp, held that -year on Mud River, they took with them a great wealth of furs. - -And it was on Mud River, some weeks later, that Kit Carson parted with -the boys, who proposed to join an ingoing party as far as Santa Fé, and -then take ship at one of the Gulf ports for New York. - -“Good-bye, lads,” he said, as he pressed their hands. “Some day I may -go east, and if I ever do, I’ll be sure to look you up.” - -“East!” exclaimed Joe. “West, you mean, Kit. In a year we’ll be in -California again, digging and washing along that wonderful river which, -as old Goat Beard said, runs with gold.” - -And Joe was right as to place. But he was wrong about the time. - -The next time the three met it was in California; but fifteen years or -more had passed. The boys had become bronzed men and were accounted the -richest in the New Eldorado. And Kit Carson was then the most famous -man in the great west; his fame as an Indian fighter and pathfinder had -gone around the globe. - -“You found your river of gold then,” said he, as they gripped hands -once more. - -“Yes,” laughed Dave. “It proved to be the Sacramento.” - -“But we had to wait until the United States took California over, after -the war with Mexico,” said Joe, rather ruefully. “It was a long time, -but,” and his eyes laughed much as they used to do, “it was worth the -waiting.” - -“I should think so, indeed,” said the trapper. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -SKETCH OF CARSON’S LIFE - - -Christopher or “Kit” Carson was born in Madison County, Kentucky, in -December, 1809. The great state had been opened only a few years and -was, in many parts, still a trackless wilderness. - -Kit was reared in the log house of the frontier; and like most noted -frontiersmen grew accustomed to the rifle at an early age. - -But however primitive Kentucky may have been there were apparently too -many settlers to please the elder Carson; for a year after the birth of -Kit, he packed his effects upon the backs of his horses, and with his -family took up the trail for the more distant west. They crossed the -Mississippi and settled in that vast country later ceded by Napoleon to -the United States, and then known as Upper Louisiana. - -Here Kit grew up among the wild spirits of the border, accustomed to -the idea of danger and renowned even in his boyhood as a rifle shot, a -hunter and the possessor of invincible resolution. He served two years -as apprentice to a saddler; then the stories of the Santa Fé trail, the -dangers and wonders thereof, appealed to him so strongly that he joined -a party about to start over it. - -This was the day when vast herds of buffalo roamed the great plains, -when the Rocky Mountains were almost a thing of fable. And at the age -of eighteen we find Kit Carson in the Mexican city of Santa Fé, with -the whirl of the wonderful southwest all about him. The fur trade was -approaching its height and the commerce of the prairies had centered -about the town. To it came all the wonderful characters of the border, -and from it started more expeditions than from any other city in the -west. - -Young Carson fell in love with the wild country; with rifle, hatchet -and knife, he penetrated the hills to the north and there fell in -with Kin Cade, an old mountaineer who taught him much of the lore of -the West which afterward proved so useful to him. Later, Kit joined -the train of a trader going back to Missouri. The Santa Fé trail was a -thousand miles long, and through a savage region of wolves and Indians, -and waterless deserts. But Kit did not mind this; he liked the toil -of it and the danger. But, half-way over the trail, the thought came -to him that he was going back “East.” At a ford on the Arkansas River -they encountered another band of traders on their way to the west; Kit -joined them and returned to Santa Fé. Reaching the fur market once -more, Young Carson engaged with a Colonel Trammel, who was leading a -trading expedition southward to the rich mines of Chihuahua. Having -learned Spanish from Kin Cade, he was now to serve as interpreter. - -Returning from this venture he went to Taos, a trapper’s town about -a hundred and fifty miles north of Santa Fé. Here he met the trapper, -Ewing Young, for the first time, and was engaged as a camp cook. But -Young was not long in seeing the qualities of his youthful recruit, and -when he took up his march for California, where we find his party in -the first chapter of “In the Rockies with Kit Carson,” Kit was a full -fledged trapper. - -After the great battle with the Blackfeet, as related in the last -chapter of the story, Kit Carson joined a body of trappers at the -summer rendezvous. Later he joined a trading party going into the -country of the Navajos, a highly intelligent tribe who cultivated the -arts and were quite rich. After a profitable venture among these people -he became the hunter, or meat provider for the fort on the Platte River. - -But he preferred trapping, it would seem; and after some smaller -ventures joined a large party and once more ventured into the -Blackfoot country. In the winter traces of Indians were seen near their -camp; knowing that the savages must be in large force to venture so -near to them, Kit Carson proposed that the whites strike the first -blow, and so plant terror in the hearts of the Blackfeet. - -Forty trappers took the trail; Kit was given the command. A band of -savages were encountered and attacked. They fled, falling back upon -a still larger band. A desperate battle followed, fought from behind -trees and rocks, and as night fell, the Blackfeet, with many of their -braves dead or disabled, retired across a frozen stream to an island in -its middle, where they had erected a log fort. Under the cover of the -darkness, however, the Indians left even this and hurried away. - -Returning to camp a council was held. The trappers were sure the -savages would return in great numbers, and they began to prepare for -them. Intrenchments were prepared; trees, brush, stumps, fallen logs -and boulders were cleared away from the camp upon every side. If the -savages advanced, they must do so in the open. - -At daybreak one morning the Indians came, a thousand or more in number, -and advanced to crush the whites for good and all. But at the verge -of the cleared space they halted, astonished. They could not advance -without exposing themselves to the deadly fire of the long rifles; to -take the fort meant an awful sacrifice. A council was held in which -there was much speech-making. Then the host broke into two bands and -moved away over the mountains; and after this that particular body of -trappers were troubled no more. - -But Kit was destined to have many encounters with the Blackfeet and -other hostile tribes; and at the same time there were numerous others -with whom he became quite friendly; indeed, many was the village into -which he could ride and be greeted as a brother. In spite of all the -opposition of the Indians of the mountains, the trappers persisted. But -at length the price of furs fell to such a degree that hunting them -grew unprofitable. And so Kit abandoned the pursuit and began a career -as a hunter, during which he pushed his acquaintance with the nations -of the Cheyennes, the Kiowas, the Arapahoes and the Comanches. Once he -was instrumental in preventing a deadly war between the powerful Sioux -people and the Comanche. The Sioux had intruded upon the hunting ground -of the other tribe; this was resented; fights followed; the Comanches -were beaten. Kit Carson was the friend of both peoples; he went to -their chiefs; he parleyed and argued. The result was that the Sioux -left the Comanche hunting ground, their chiefs giving their word that -they’d never return. - -Among the Comanches, Kit Carson found a wife--a beautiful Indian girl -with a mind much superior to that of the women of her race. They had -a daughter. Afterward the wife and mother died of a plague which had -broken out; and when the child grew a little older, Kit took her to St. -Louis to be educated and brought up amidst civilized surroundings. - -Bound up the Missouri River from St. Louis, Kit fell in with Lieutenant -John C. Frémont, of the Topographical Engineers Corps. This officer had -been sent by the War Department to explore on the line of the Kansas -and Great Platte Rivers, and between the South Pass in the Rockies and -the frontier of Missouri. Frémont had a party of twenty-one boatmen who -knew the western life; he had also engaged a guide, but this latter -man had failed him. Learning this, Kit Carson offered his services -as one who knew the mountains and streams, having trapped among them -for sixteen years. He was accepted; and thus began that series of -explorations that made the name of Frémont, the pathfinder, known the -country over, and that of Kit Carson, frontiersman, famous throughout -the world. - -Three separate expeditions into the wilds were required before Frémont -completed his work, and in each of these Kit Carson acted as his guide. -They were expeditions crowded with Indian battles, with perils and -escapes by flood and field. - -After years of adventure, Kit began to farm and raise sheep, organizing -a hunting party of his old friends now and then; later the government, -because of his knowledge of the tribes, made him an Indian agent. - -This difficult post he filled as probably it had never been filled -before. During the rebellion he was of much service to the government -on the border; and at the close of the war was breveted a brigadier -general of volunteers. He died at Fort Lyon, Colorado, in May, 1868, in -the sixtieth year of his age. - - Another Book in this Series is: - IN KENTUCKY WITH DANIEL BOONE - - - - -TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES: - - - Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_. - - Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. - - Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized. - - Archaic or alternate spelling has been retained from the original. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN THE ROCKIES WITH KIT CARSON *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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McIntyre</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: In the Rockies with Kit Carson</p> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: John T. McIntyre</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Illustrator: Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: December 26, 2021 [eBook #67018]</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: D A Alexander, David E. Brown, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by the Library of Congress)</div> - -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN THE ROCKIES WITH KIT CARSON ***</div> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/cover.jpg" width="40%" alt="" /></div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_0"></span> -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i_frontispiece.jpg" alt="" /></div> -<p class="caption">“IT’S AN INDIAN,” SPOKE THE TRAPPER</p> -</div> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> -<div class="chapter"> -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i_title.jpg" alt="" /></div> -</div> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="titlepage"> - -<h1>IN THE ROCKIES<br /> -<span class="small">WITH</span><br /> -KIT CARSON</h1> - -<p><i>By</i><br /> -<span class="large">JOHN T. McINTYRE</span></p> - -<p><i>Illustrations by</i><br /> -Ralph L. Boyer and A. Edwin Kromer</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i_titlelogo.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p><span class="large">THE PENN PUBLISHING<br /> -COMPANY PHILADELPHIA<br /> -1913</span></p> -</div> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center"> -COPYRIGHT<br /> -1913 BY<br /> -THE PENN<br /> -PUBLISHING<br /> -COMPANY</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i_logo.jpg" alt="" /></div> -</div> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[3]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">Contents</h2> -</div> - -<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" summary="table"> - -<tr><td class="tdr">I.</td><td> <span class="smcap">The Trapper of Taos and Santa Fé</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_7"> 7</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">II.</td><td> <span class="smcap">Around the Camp-Fire</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_24"> 24</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">III.</td><td> <span class="smcap">The Trappers Take the Trail</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_39"> 39</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">IV.</td><td> <span class="smcap">Indian Signs—and Indians!</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_53"> 53</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">V.</td><td> <span class="smcap">White Man Versus Red on the Colorado</span> </td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_67"> 67</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">VI.</td><td> <span class="smcap">Two Nights of Danger</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_77"> 77</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">VII.</td><td> <span class="smcap">How the Trappers Retaliated</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_91"> 91</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">VIII.</td><td> <span class="smcap">Kit Reaches Santa Fé Once More</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_102"> 102</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">IX.</td><td> <span class="smcap">In the Country of the Hostiles</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_124"> 124</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">X.</td><td> <span class="smcap">A Desperate Experience With Grizzlies</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_145"> 145</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">XI.</td><td> <span class="smcap">The Bully of the Trading Camp</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_156"> 156</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">XII.</td><td> <span class="smcap">Lopez Rides Into Camp</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_175"> 175</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">XIII.</td><td> <span class="smcap">The Village of the Blackfeet</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_191"> 191</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">XIV.</td><td> <span class="smcap">The Last Battle</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_202"> 202</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">XV.</td><td> <span class="smcap">Sketch of Carson’s Life</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_212"> 212</a></td></tr> -</table> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[4]</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[5]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">Illustrations</h2> -</div> - - -<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" summary="table"> - -<tr><td> </td><td class="tdr"><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> - -<tr><td><span class="smcap">“It’s an Indian,” Spoke the Trapper</span> </td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_0"> <i>Frontispiece</i></a></td></tr> - -<tr><td><span class="smcap">“What Is It?” Asked the Boys</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_43"> 43</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td>“<span class="smcap">So You Are Here?</span>”</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_113"> 113</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td>“<span class="smcap">Redskins!</span>”</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_137"> 137</a></td></tr> -</table> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[6]</span></p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[7]</span> - -<p class="ph2">In the Rockies With Kit -Carson</p> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER I<br /> - - -<small>THE TRAPPER OF TAOS AND SANTA FÉ</small></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">Late</span> one afternoon when the sunlight -was slanting through the trees and wavering -upon the adobe walls of the Pueblo of -Los Angeles, when the only sounds were -the whispering winds in the higher boughs, -and the thrumming of a stringed instrument -from the soldiers’ quarters, a tall Spanish -mule came clattering into the village -with two boys astride its back. They were -bronzed, sinewy looking youngsters; each -held a long barreled rifle.</p> - -<p>A barefooted sentry, his piece over his -shoulder, looked up at the sudden sound;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[8]</span> -and as the mule was abruptly checked beside -him, and the two lads slipped from its -back, he whipped his weapon about and -with a brown thumb upon the trigger, -cried:</p> - -<p>“Halt!”</p> - -<p>The elder of the two lads wiped his forehead -with his sleeve; then to the other he -said:</p> - -<p>“Hold tight to that old chap, Joe; we -may have further use for him, you know.”</p> - -<p>“I hope not,” declared Joe, ruefully. -“He’s got a back like a buck-saw, and a -gait like a dromedary. And between the -two he’s the worst thing I ever rode.”</p> - -<p>The elder boy saluted the sentinel.</p> - -<p>“We are strangers,” he said, in good -Spanish. “We belong to the trading -schooner ‘Gadfly’ now off the coast; and -we are in pursuit of a man named Lopez -who ran away.”</p> - -<p>The sentry grinned.</p> - -<p>“A deserter?”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[9]</span>“He is. But we don’t object to that so -much as we do the fact that he’s a thief as -well. He robbed us, swam ashore, and the -last seen of him he was heading toward -this village.”</p> - -<p>The sentry placed the butt of his musket -upon a stone and leaned socially upon the -barrel.</p> - -<p>“There are some strangers in the Pueblo -now,” he said. “But they are Americans. -And they are not sailors, but trappers. -They came from Taos in New Mexico,” -wonderingly; “they crossed the desert -where they might have died of thirst. And -all to trap beaver.”</p> - -<p>“Lopez is a half-breed,” said the youth. -“And he has a scar, made by the slash of a -knife, across his left cheek.”</p> - -<p>The sentry shook his head.</p> - -<p>“I saw no such man,” said he. “It may -be that he went with the Hudson Bay men -who I hear were at work on the streams -not far from here about a week ago.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[10]</span>“The man we are after left the schooner -only this morning,” said the boy.</p> - -<p>“The señor captain may have seen him,” -spoke the soldier, helpfully. “It is his -duty to ask all strangers for their passports.”</p> - -<p>“Where is the señor captain to be -found?” asked the boy.</p> - -<p>The soldier shook his head, shouldered -his piece and prepared to resume his tramp -up and down.</p> - -<p>“At this hour,” said he, “the captain is -always asleep. It is his habit. Later, you -can see him.”</p> - -<p>Joe Frazier, from his post at the tall -mule’s head, laughed.</p> - -<p>“The habit is a bad one,” said he in reply -to an inquiring look from his friend. -“And I think the quicker the señor captain -is broken of it the better. So I think, -Dave, it’s your plain duty to do it.”</p> - -<p>Dave Johnson turned soberly to the sentry. -In careful Spanish he said:</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[11]</span>“I am grieved to hear that your officer -is asleep. Also I am sorry that under the -circumstances we shall be forced to awaken -him. Give him our compliments and say -that two Americanos are here in a matter -of much haste.”</p> - -<p>The sentry stared.</p> - -<p>“Wake the señor captain! Never! He -would beat me!”</p> - -<p>Dave considered, still gravely.</p> - -<p>“That would be awkward,” he decided. -“And I wouldn’t care to see it done. So to -save you trouble, I will awaken him -myself.”</p> - -<p>And before the astonished soldier could -prevent him, he strode to the door of the -adobe dwelling and began thundering upon -the door. A sleepy muttering was the -answer.</p> - -<p>“Take care!” cried the dismayed sentry, -apparently at a loss as to how to deal with -the situation. “He has an evil temper, -señor!”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[12]</span>As the knocking went on, the muttering -within swelled into a roar; then the door -was flung open and a squat, heavy-faced -man with small, angry eyes, and a brass-hilted -sword in his hand, appeared. He -glared at Dave, the little eyes seeming to -snap.</p> - -<p>“And so,” said he, “you will come -knocking, will you, my brave fellow! -Nothing will do but I must be disturbed, -eh? Not a wink must I get after all the -labors of the day. Very well, señor; we -shall see.”</p> - -<p>He spoke quietly, but there was a menace -in his tone which did not escape Joe Frazier.</p> - -<p>“Careful there, Dave,” he called in -English. “I think he’s up to something.”</p> - -<p>The little eyes of the Mexican officer now -went to the sentry.</p> - -<p>“And my commands are worth nothing, -are they, my man? I waste my breath -telling you that I must not be disturbed, -and you allow the first rascally Americano<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[13]</span> -who comes along to come thundering at my -door. Very well! It will be your turn -later!”</p> - -<p>Again his glance shifted to Dave. The -young American saluted in stiff military -fashion.</p> - -<p>“Pardon me, señor,” he said. “It is my -misfortune that I had to break in upon -your slumbers. The fact is——”</p> - -<p>But the man stopped him sharply.</p> - -<p>“Enough!” said he. “Who are you?”</p> - -<p>“We belong to the schooner ‘Gadfly.’”</p> - -<p>“What are you doing here?”</p> - -<p>Dave related in a few words the same -story he had told the sentry. The officer -listened, all the time prodding the sun-baked -earth before the door with the point -of his sword; there was a scowl upon his -heavy face, and the small angry eyes looked -red and threatening.</p> - -<p>“A pretty story,” said he. “Your passports!”</p> - -<p>“They are on board the schooner. In<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[14]</span> -our hurry to pursue Lopez we forgot -them.”</p> - -<p>The captain showed his teeth in what was -meant for a smile. Unquestionably this -fact pleased him.</p> - -<p>“Give the sentry your arms,” he said. -“You are under arrest.”</p> - -<p>Dave fell back a step or two.</p> - -<p>“He means business,” he called over his -shoulder to his friend in English. “And -once he gets our guns there’s no knowing -what will happen.”</p> - -<p>“Well, we don’t give them up until we’re -sure,” answered Joe promptly, throwing his -weapon forward as he spoke, and covertly -preparing for any action that might be -forced upon them. “Talk to him, old boy; -maybe you can bring him around.”</p> - -<p>The Mexican had followed Dave with -cat-like tread; his sword was now held at -arm’s length, the point not more than a foot -from the lad’s chest.</p> - -<p>“Halt!” commanded he. And as Dave<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[15]</span> -turned his face toward him once more, the -man went on: “I have met with impudent -Americanos before this. And I know the -way to deal with them. Lay down your -rifles!”</p> - -<p>Instead of doing so, Dave’s grip tightened -about the stock of his weapon; the officer -saw this and without another word his arm -drew back for a swinging cut. Dave threw -up the barrel of his rifle to guard his head; -the barefooted sentry saw the motion and -read in it peril for his officer, for his musket -lifted instantly, pointing at Dave. But -Joe, in his turn, saw this, leaped forward -and grasped the sentry’s arm; the muzzle -of his piece was thrown up just as it exploded; -and the captain went staggering -back, fear in his face.</p> - -<p>“Guard! Guard!” he shouted. “Help! -Would you see me murdered! Guard!”</p> - -<p>From the soldiers’ quarters straggled the -guard, as unkempt a lot as one would wish -to see; each grasped a musket, and each<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[16]</span> -was much excited by the shot and the sudden -alarm. A horde of Indians, men, -women and children, also made their appearance -and pressed toward the scene of -action. There was an excited hubbub of -voices; the musket barrels shone in the -sun; and the tattered soldiery eagerly fingered -the locks as though anxious to take -up their duties at once. At a word from the -excited captain they formed a slovenly line.</p> - -<p>“Disarm those Americanos!” directed -the officer. “And put them under a close -guard. We shall see if our lives are to be -threatened by intruders in this way.”</p> - -<p>The grim mouths of the Mexican guns -were turned upon the two lads who now -stood with their backs to an adobe wall; -for a moment or two things looked very bad -for them; but then a new element showed -itself which put a new face upon things.</p> - -<p>Through the press of Indians, who made -no offer to take a part in the proceedings, a -half dozen buckskin-clad men shouldered<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[17]</span> -their way. From their coonskin caps to -their moccasined feet they looked a hardy -lot; and in their faces was that resolution -which comes in time to all those who are -accustomed to face danger.</p> - -<p>Each carried a rifle in the hollow of his -arm; and silently they placed themselves -between the two boys and the soldiery. -One of them, a rather small young man -with sandy hair and mild gray eyes, stepped -toward the captain.</p> - -<p>“Just a moment, señor,” said he, in -Spanish. “If you’d like to listen, we’ve -got a word or two to say for the boys, before -your men carry the matter further.”</p> - -<p>For a moment it seemed as though the -Mexican officer would order his guard to -fire upon the intruders; but the cool, resolute -air of the men in buckskin caused him -to alter his mind. Holding up a hand in a -gesture which bid his men await his further -commands, he said surlily:</p> - -<p>“Well, señor, and who are you?”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[18]</span>The young spokesman of the party -smiled.</p> - -<p>“What! and is it possible that you’ve -forgotten me so soon?” said he.</p> - -<p>“Are you the Hudson Bay man?”</p> - -<p>“No.”</p> - -<p>A light seemed to break upon the Mexican.</p> - -<p>“You are of Young’s band of trappers,” -said he with a smile which held an under-current -of cunning. “To be sure. I had -all but forgotten you.”</p> - -<p>The young spokesman nodded, good-humoredly.</p> - -<p>“That you’d done so, señor, shows that -we’ve been giving you little trouble,” said -he. “And now,” with a certain bluntness -of manner, “let us come to the present -matter. As it happened, we saw the affair -between you and these lads. As far as I -can see they are in no way to blame. It -was your sentry who fired the shot, -and——”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[19]</span>“Wait!” interrupted the commander of -the village. To the sentry he said: “Rascal, -did you fire your piece?”</p> - -<p>“My officer,” replied the man, “I -thought you were——”</p> - -<p>“Enough!” snapped the captain. “I -will see to you later.”</p> - -<p>With a wave of the hand he dismissed -the guard; the men went straggling back -to their quarters; the group of Indians, -puzzled and disappointed, also melted -away; then the captain turned to the -spokesman of the trappers.</p> - -<p>“You see, señor, I am fair. I want to -do only what is right. Please so inform -your comrades, for I see they know little -Spanish. And then——” here he leaned -forward, with a cunning look in his eyes, -and whispered the remainder of the sentence -into the young trapper’s ear.</p> - -<p>But the latter, a frown wrinkling his -forehead, cut him short.</p> - -<p>“No,” said he, “nothing like that.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[20]</span>“But consider,” pleaded the captain; -“out of good fellowship.”</p> - -<p>The young man paid no heed; to his -comrades he said:</p> - -<p>“Now, boys, back to camp.” Then to -Dave and Joe he added, “Get your mules -and come along. I reckon you’re not just -what I would call safe in this village.”</p> - -<p>The two lads, Joe with his arm through -the bridle rein of the tall mule, trudged -along at their new friend’s side.</p> - -<p>“I’m a thousand times obliged to you,” -said Dave Johnson. “There’s no telling -what might have happened to us if you -hadn’t come along.”</p> - -<p>The trapper smiled boyishly.</p> - -<p>“Well,” said he, with a little drawl in -his voice, “I reckon the captain was a -trifle anxious about you two.” Then inquiringly, -“Know much about these -parts?”</p> - -<p>“No,” replied Joe Frazier. “We’re just -from on board ship.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[21]</span>The other nodded.</p> - -<p>“I thought it was something like that,” -he said. “If you had known the lay of -the land, you’d not have been so ready to -tackle the captain. He’s just the very -person you’d ’a’ fought shy of. You see, -the Mexican government has these pueblos, -or Indian villages all along here, and they -don’t like Americans to come prowling -around and finding out things. If you -haven’t a passport they’ll arrest you, steal -everything you’ve got and drive you out -of the country. Or it might even be -worse.”</p> - -<p>“We knew that passports were needed, -but we left the schooner in a hurry, and -never gave them a thought. And,” added -Dave, “they were very difficult to get in -the first place.”</p> - -<p>The trapper chuckled.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know much about getting -them,” said he. “Fact is, I never tried. -None of Young’s men have ’em, and the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[22]</span> -captain back there’s been walking on -thorns ever since we’ve been here trying -to find a way of arresting us.” Seeing the -boys’ inquiring look, he added, quietly, -“There’s eighteen of us in all, and each -one knows a trifle about shooting. So you -see, the captain hasn’t found the job an easy -one.”</p> - -<p>They had walked on some little distance, -when he continued:</p> - -<p>“A couple of days ago the captain hit on -a neat little plan. You see some of our -men,” and his voice lowered a trifle so that -the trappers in advance might not hear, -“are a kind of a rough lot, and they’ll drink -if they get the chance. The captain’s plan -is to give them liquor, and then when -they’re helpless, take away their rifles and -hatchets and knives, and pen them up -somewhere. Young got wind of it, and -we’re keeping our eyes skinned until we’re -ready to take the trail back to Taos.”</p> - -<p>About a mile south of the Pueblo of Los<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[23]</span> -Angeles they came upon the trappers’ camp, -a row of huts made of boughs, sod and bark. -A number of buckskin-clad men lay about -upon blankets or buffalo robes; others were -cooking the evening meal at the camp-fire; -while others again were cleaning their rifles -or honing their broad-bladed hunting -knives.</p> - -<p>“There’s Young, the trader who took out -this expedition,” said the young trapper. -“What are your names, boys? I’ll introduce -you.”</p> - -<p>“Mine’s Dave Johnson; I’m from Boston,” -announced that young gentleman.</p> - -<p>“And I’m Joe Frazier, from Charleston,” -said the other. Then, curiously: “What’s -yours?”</p> - -<p>“My name’s Kit Carson,” the trapper -informed them; “once of Kentucky, later -of Missouri, but now of Taos and Santa Fé.”</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[24]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER II<br /> - - -<small>AROUND THE CAMP-FIRE</small></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> two lads were warmly greeted by -Mr. Ewing Young, the Taos trader and -leader of the trapper band.</p> - -<p>“A rather narrow squeak,” was his comment, -when told of their misadventure; -“the captain back there at the Pueblo is -anxious to get his revenge upon an Americano -because of the trouble he’s had with -us, and you lads would have pleased him -well enough.”</p> - -<p>Ewing Young was a very well-known -trader and trapper. Some time before he -had sent out a company in search of fur -from Santa Fé toward the Colorado River -country. On their way they were attacked -by an Indian war party; after a desperate -fight against great odds, the hunters were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[25]</span> -forced to fall back and make their way -toward New Mexico once more.</p> - -<p>“But that just made me fighting mad,” -said the trapper chief to the boys, “so I got -together a party of forty Americans, Canadians -and Frenchmen. At about the head -of the Salt River we came on that identical -war party which had so roughly handled -my first company.”</p> - -<p>Kit Carson laughed as though at some -amusing reminiscence.</p> - -<p>“I never saw any parsel of humans so -tickled as those redskins were,” said he. -“They had licked us once, and they figured -they’d do it the second time even quicker -than the first.”</p> - -<p>The boys were seated upon a bearskin -which one of the men had thrown upon the -ground for them; night was settling and -the camp-fires blazed cheerily; strips of -venison, from the tenderest portions of -bucks which had fallen before the rifle that -day, were being roasted at each fire, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[26]</span> -the savory smell filled the air. The horses -and mules belonging to the outfit were -safely picketed a little distance off; the -adventurers laughed and chatted and performed -the duties of the camp in high good -humor.</p> - -<p>“I reckon, Cap’n,” said one old grizzled -fellow with a wrinkled, weather-beaten face -and the clear eyes of a boy, “that them -thar reds hadn’t any idee how many there -was of us. If they had they’d not been in -such a precious hurry to come to hand -grips.”</p> - -<p>“And the captain didn’t want them to -know,” Kit Carson informed the boys. -“He picked out a nice likely place and put -about twenty-five men there in ambush. -The Indians off there in front noticed us -halt to do this, and got it into their heads -that we were kind of chicken-hearted in -the matter. And as the rest of us started -toward them they made a charge. We fell -back until they were well into the trap.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[27]</span> -Then the boys in the ambush jumped up -and gave them one volley; and away went -the whole band of warriors as fast as they -could go, and never once looked back to -see what had happened to them.”</p> - -<p>“I counted fifteen braves who’ll never -draw another bow ’cept in the Happy Hunting -Grounds,” said the grizzled old trapper. -“And besides that, there were the wounded. -That’s the way to hit at the varmints; and -it’s the only way to make it safe for a white -man to set his traps along the streams in -this region. Teach ’em a lesson, says I; -and make it one that they’ll not forget, -while you’re about it.”</p> - -<p>But while the savages were defeated they -were not altogether discomfited; for they -doggedly held to the trail of the trappers. -Along the Salt to the San Francisco River, -they had pursued them, and all the way -along this stream to its very head waters; -their depredations were secret and under -cover of darkness; the men learned to avoid<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[28]</span> -the camp-fires, for at any moment a deadly -arrow might come hissing from the darkness; -horses and mules were killed and -maimed; traps were stolen constantly.</p> - -<p>“The loss of the traps crippled us,” said -Kit, “and at the head of the San Francisco, -Mr. Clark split the party in two; only what -you see here continued on through the -desert; the others took what pelts we’d -trapped and turned face about for New -Mexico.”</p> - -<p>During all the talk of the company’s adventures -and through the supper which -shortly followed, Kit Carson noticed that -the two boys were strangely silent. Now -and then they showed an interest in what -was said by the trappers about them; but -for the most part they sat looking into the -fire or talking in a low tone. But when -the meal was done and the men broke up -into small knots about the fires, the two approached -the young trapper. They talked -for a space upon different topics, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[29]</span> -finally, after some little hesitation, Dave -Johnson said:</p> - -<p>“Being from Taos, you might know a -half-breed Mexican named Lopez.”</p> - -<p>Kit Carson smiled.</p> - -<p>“Well,” said he, “seeing that half the -Mexicans down that way are half-breeds, it -would be a hard way to pick a man. But -the name Lopez is not the same as Smith -or Jones,” he added thoughtfully. “What -kind of a man is your half-breed for looks?”</p> - -<p>“Rather well made, wears rings in his -ears and has a knife cut across his left -cheek.”</p> - -<p>A gleam of surprise came into Kit Carson’s -face.</p> - -<p>“Has the man anything to do with your -being here?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“He has,” said Joe Frazier. “We are in -search of him.”</p> - -<p>“I thought something was wrong from -the way he acted when I saw him at noon.”</p> - -<p>“You saw him!” Both lads came to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[30]</span> -their feet, their rifles in their hands. -“Where?”</p> - -<p>“Sit down,” said the trapper, quietly. -“Don’t get excited. It’ll do you no good, -for you couldn’t go looking for him to-night, -anyway.”</p> - -<p>And as the boys resumed their seats on -the bearskin, he went on.</p> - -<p>“I didn’t know this breed by the name -of Lopez. I’d seen him often at the trading -posts and the Indians called him Spotted -Snake. To-day as I was riding back to -camp here, with some small game that I’d -been after, I met him on a badly winded -horse. I was surprised to see him so far -away from his usual hunting grounds.</p> - -<p>“‘Hello, Spotted Snake,’ says I to him. -‘What are you doing here?’</p> - -<p>“At first he set out to make believe he -didn’t know me and that I must have made -some kind of a mistake. But in a couple -of minutes he saw that it wouldn’t do, and -climbed down to real facts.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[31]</span>“‘You with some trappers?’ says he.</p> - -<p>“‘Young’s crowd,’ says I.</p> - -<p>“‘Does he want another man?’ he says.</p> - -<p>“Now I know that Spotted Snake is a -good trapper, so I says to him:</p> - -<p>“‘Maybe.’</p> - -<p>“‘Good,’ says he. And then: ‘Going -away from here soon?’</p> - -<p>“‘Not for a week,’ says I.</p> - -<p>“And with that,” said Kit Carson, his -eyes on the boys, “he lost all interest in -joining us. A few hours later I saw him -headed south with a band of Pueblos and -Mexicans who had been making ready for a -big hunt.”</p> - -<p>There was a moment’s silence; then Dave -Johnson asked:</p> - -<p>“What sort of a country is it to the -south?”</p> - -<p>“Fine country if you stick to the water-courses. -Lots of game; and,” as an afterthought, -“lots of redskins.”</p> - -<p>“To-morrow,” said Dave to his friend,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[32]</span> -“we’ll send the mule back to the man we borrowed -it from. Then we’ll each buy a horse -and some other things that we need, and -we’ll be off to the southward after Lopez.”</p> - -<p>Kit Carson regarded the lads quizzically.</p> - -<p>“It’ll take a good trailer to follow that -party with any chance of overtaking them,” -he said. “And outside that, it’s a mighty -dangerous thing for two people to get out -there without anything to back ’em up. -The reds would gobble ’em quicker’n it -takes to tell it.” He studied them for a -moment longer and then said quietly, “If -the thing’s not too much of a secret, let’s -hear it. You’ve got a reason for wanting to -come up with Spotted Snake; and, who -knows—maybe if it’s a good enough one—I -might be able to help you.”</p> - -<p>“It seems to me,” said Joe, sturdily, -“every person we’ve met to-day has to -listen to our troubles. But I guess,” comically, -“we’ll have to saddle you with the -story, too, Mr. Carson, if you’re to understand<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[33]</span> -how we came here and what we’re -after.”</p> - -<p>“It has been all of six months ago,” -spoke Dave, “though I’ve about lost track -of the time, that we left New Orleans in the -bark ‘Gloria Santos.’ She traded all along -the coast until we came to Rio Janeiro; -then we shifted to the English square rigger -‘North Star,’ which carried us around the -Horn and to Valparaiso. At that city we -got passage on the trader ‘Gadfly,’ which -worked along until we reached the mouth -of the Los Angeles River.”</p> - -<p>“You came alone on this trip?” asked -the trapper.</p> - -<p>“No,” replied Joe.</p> - -<p>“That’s what I thought,” said Kit. -“But go on.”</p> - -<p>“My father’s been thinking of making -the voyage for the past five years,” said Joe. -“And he thought he’d wait until Dave and -I were old enough to join him. Dave and -I are cousins, you see.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[34]</span>“But we never knew what his object was -until we reached this coast,” said Dave. -“Then we found that he had a sort of map -or plan of a particular place on a California -river, which had been given him by an -old seaman for whom he had done an important -service while they served under -MacDonough on the Lakes in the last war -with England.”</p> - -<p>“Plan of a place on a river, eh?” spoke -Kit. “Well, I’ve trapped along all these -streams and while they’re good for beaver -and other fur bearing critters, still I don’t -see anything about them that would take a -man all that way a-looking for them.”</p> - -<p>Dave glanced about at the groups of trappers -as though to make sure that he was -not overheard; bending forward he whispered -something in Kit Carson’s ear.</p> - -<p>“No!” exclaimed the trapper, incredulously.</p> - -<p>Both boys nodded a vigorous affirmative.</p> - -<p>“The old seaman who gave my uncle<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[35]</span> -the map,” said Dave, “had visited the country -years ago. He was sure that there were -great quantities of gold in the beds of all -the streams. He was very old when my -uncle met him, and that is why he didn’t -make the venture himself. The map was -made by him on a spot where he had seen -the Indians washing out gold to make ornaments.”</p> - -<p>“It may be so,” said Kit, slowly. “They -find it just that way, I’m told; so why not -in California as well as any other place?”</p> - -<p>“The captain of the ‘Gadfly’ was short -handed when we got to a village down the -coast, and he hired a Mexican and this -half-breed, Lopez, to help work the -schooner. The Mexican deserted at the -next stop, but Lopez remained with us. -In a little while we found why this was. -Things began to be missed. Two nights -ago as I came on deck I found him lying -on his stomach looking down the open skylight -into my uncle’s cabin. There was a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[36]</span> -light burning in the cabin and my uncle -sat at a table with a small metal box before -him, going over its contents. It was in -this box that he kept the map and his -other valuables. I spoke to Lopez; he -got up, muttered something and walked -away. This morning the half-breed was -missed; a half hour later the box was also -discovered to have disappeared. It took us -only a moment to put the two things together; -then Joe and I put out on board -the mule, looking for him.”</p> - -<p>“Your father didn’t join in the hunt?” -said Kit to Joe, and there was an inquiring -note in his voice.</p> - -<p>“My father,” said Joe, “isn’t able to -ride. He’s a cripple; lost his right leg by -a cannon shot at the engagement on Lake -Champlain.”</p> - -<p>“I see,” said Kit. “And if the map was -to be recovered, it was for you two boys to -do it.” There was a short silence; then -the trapper spoke again. “I see now why<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[37]</span> -Spotted Snake was so anxious to get away -from this section as soon as he could.” -Then inquiringly, “Is it your idea that -he took the box just because of the money -value of the things in it?”</p> - -<p>“He couldn’t have known of the -map——” began Joe breathlessly. But -the trapper interrupted him.</p> - -<p>“Don’t be too sure of that,” said he. -“You are never sure of what a fellow like -that knows. He goes sneaking about, peeping -and listening, and often he finds out -more than he’s given credit for.”</p> - -<p>Dave was about to make a reply to this, -when suddenly there was a commotion in -the darkness. The voice of one of the -trappers posted to the north of the camp -as a guard was heard calling sharply:</p> - -<p>“Halt! Stand where you are!”</p> - -<p>Instantly the groups about the fires -melted; each man seized the ever ready -rifle and fell back out of the red glow. -The chief of the trappers, Mr. Young, went<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[38]</span> -forward, and voices were heard in a sort of -parley. Then the two boys saw the captain -of the Pueblo advancing, a half dozen -of his soldiers at his back.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[39]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER III<br /> - - -<small>THE TRAPPERS TAKE THE TRAIL</small></h2> -</div> - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Pardon!</span>” cried the Mexican, jovially, -as he advanced. “I hope I do not intrude, -gentlemen.”</p> - -<p>The chief of the trappers, who had approached -the fires with him, bid him welcome.</p> - -<p>“Sit down,” said Mr. Young. “Glad to -see you.”</p> - -<p>The officer did so; and his men squatted -within the circle of light, blinking like so -many owls and holding their muskets -across their knees.</p> - -<p>“Soon you will be leaving the Pueblo,” -said the captain. “I am sorry. Not once -have you accepted my hospitality.”</p> - -<p>The grizzled old trapper who had spoken -to the boys when the company’s venture<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[40]</span> -was being related, laughed at this declaration -when it was translated.</p> - -<p>“Trouble with that Greaser is that he is -too public in his invitations,” grinned he. -“If he wants to treat us so consarned bad, -why don’t he do it privately? I reckon nobody -here’d refuse.”</p> - -<p>There was a laugh at this; and one of -the Americans who spoke some Spanish -called to the captain across the firelight:</p> - -<p>“Very well, señor, if you want to be -sociable, we’ll not discourage you.”</p> - -<p>The Mexican smiled in an oily fashion -and rubbed his thick, strong hands. He -spoke English very badly, but at once -entered into a conversation with some of -the men.</p> - -<p>Kit Carson, who, with the two boys, had -not returned to the camp-fire at the officer’s -approach, stood leaning upon his rifle, -watching the strangers.</p> - -<p>“Up to some of his games,” the lads -heard him mutter. Then to them he said:<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[41]</span> -“Move quietly and follow me; I reckon -I’ll be able to show you the reason for the -captain’s visit.”</p> - -<p>Softly he stole away westward from the -camp, the boys following in his steps; when -about two hundred yards distant he made a -détour toward the south and after some -little time paused.</p> - -<p>“I think the Greasers took this way when -they approached,” said he.</p> - -<p>Then slowly he stepped along in the -direction of the distant firelight; the night -was a moonless one, but the stars twinkled -in the light-colored sky and they were -enabled to see without difficulty. Quietly -they paced along among the trees, until at -length the trunk of a giant cottonwood -reared itself a little to one side.</p> - -<p>“Ah!” said the trapper, “I think I -noticed that tree before.”</p> - -<p>They approached it; upon the far side it -showed a large hollow at the base. The -long rifle barrel was poked into this and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[42]</span> -struck something that gave out an unusual -sound.</p> - -<p>“I thought so,” said Kit, and with that -he put down his gun, reached into the -crevice and rolled out a heavy looking keg.</p> - -<p>“What is it?” asked the boys, in a -breath.</p> - -<p>“Liquor!” replied the trapper. “And -put here by that Greaser a while ago. And -before he leaves camp to-night he’ll see to -it that our men know where the stuff is -hidden.”</p> - -<p>“But what is his object?” asked Joe, -puzzled.</p> - -<p>There was a little pause; the trapper’s -moccasined feet prodded the keg; then he -said:</p> - -<p>“You see, all this region is claimed by -the Mexican government. A license is -needed to hunt and trap hereabout. And -they refused to grant one to an American. -When we reached here the captain undertook -to arrest us, but we showed fight. -Ever since then he’s been trying to get our -fellows intoxicated; once let him succeed, -and the rest will be easy for him.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[43]</span></p> -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i_43.jpg" alt="" /></div> -<p class="caption">“WHAT IS IT?” ASKED THE BOYS</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[44]</span>He drew a heavy, short-handled hatchet -from his belt. With one blow the head of -the keg was stove in; the strong liquor -rushed out and sank into the ground.</p> - -<p>“And so,” said Kit, humorously, replacing -the hatchet in his belt, “there’s that to -set against the captain’s little game. There’s -not enough left to make even a tarantula -feel lively.”</p> - -<p>They took the same way back to camp; -no one had missed them; and they found -the Mexican officer all smiles and ready to -leave.</p> - -<p>“Good-night, Señor Young,” he was saying -to the leader of the trappers, as he -shook his hand. “Good-night and pleasant -dreams. To-morrow, in the morning, I will -come again.” He said this with an unpleasant -smile which made Kit Carson -nudge Dave Johnson meaningly. “In the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[45]</span> -morning I will come again; and from then -on, señor, I hope to see much more of you.”</p> - -<p>“Good-night,” said Young.</p> - -<p>The Mexican hitched his sword belt into -a more comfortable position.</p> - -<p>“Good-night, gentlemen,” said he, with -a wave of his hand to the trappers. “You -are all brave fellows; and like brave fellows -the whole world over, you accept all that -circumstances put in your hands.”</p> - -<p>As this was put into English for them by -the comrade who knew Spanish, the men -laughed and exchanged mysterious nods -and winks.</p> - -<p>“You see,” said Kit, “he’s got them -primed to fall into his trap. And they’d -do it as sure as shooting—if”—and he -laughed softly—“the trap was not already -sprung.”</p> - -<p>With a final wave of the hand, the Mexican -officer strode away followed by his -men; and no sooner had he disappeared -than Kit was at the side of his employer<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[46]</span> -telling of the plot. Mr. Young’s face grew -dark with anger.</p> - -<p>“I’d like to repay him for that,” said he. -“But,” with a gesture, “what’s the use? I -suppose, after all, it’s his way of doing his -duty.” Then with sudden resolve, “There -will be a constant danger of that kind all -the time we are here; so at sunrise to-morrow -we break camp and head for the -Gila River.”</p> - -<p>As the leader turned away, Kit Carson -turned swiftly to the boys.</p> - -<p>“And, so there you are!” said he. “You -have the luck with you, boys. It’s the best -chance that could turn up. Come with us -and you’ll be following right in the trail of -Spotted Snake.”</p> - -<p>“But my father,” cried Joe, as he caught -his breath.</p> - -<p>“We’ve got an Indian boy here that’s -been hanging around camp,” said Kit. -“He’s to be trusted. Send him back with -your mule, and also write a message to your<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[47]</span> -father. Tell him to come ashore and hire -a couple of Pueblo Indians to carry him in -to the Mission of San Gabriel. The priests -will look after him; they have good food -and he’ll be safe.”</p> - -<p>“But,” said Dave, “couldn’t we start for -the coast now and make arrangements with -him in person? It’s only a little more than -thirty miles there and back. We could -make camp again by sunrise.”</p> - -<p>This seemed to strike Kit as a good notion; -he sought out Mr. Young and put the -case of the boys before him. The chief -trapper nodded, slowly.</p> - -<p>“I don’t like the idea of greenhorns,” -said he. “And then we’re out to catch fur, -and not to trail thieving half-breeds. But -if the thing’s important and there’s no -other way of doing it, all right.”</p> - -<p>“Well,” said Kit, to the boys, “as there -isn’t any time to lose, let’s see to your -mounts.” He led them to the place where -the horses were picketed; the animals lifted<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[48]</span> -their heads at the approach of the trapper; -some snorted and pawed the ground as -though anxious to be off on the trail once -more. Mr. Young pointed to a pair of fair -sized mustangs which stood side by side.</p> - -<p>“They ought to do,” said he. “They -are sound, not excitable and have speed.”</p> - -<p>“Couldn’t have made a better pick if -you’d gone over the entire lot,” said Kit, -approvingly.</p> - -<p>“But won’t we be depriving some one of -a mount?” asked Joe.</p> - -<p>“Horses are plenty in this country; and -cheap, too. You can have these for the -price we pay for the ones we buy to replace -them.”</p> - -<p>This was eagerly agreed to; there was -little more said; the mustangs were led out, -bridled and saddled; and the boys, good -riders both, swung themselves upon their -backs.</p> - -<p>“By daylight,” cried Dave, as he waved -his hand.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[49]</span>“And if we’re a little late,” called Joe, -his impatient mount prancing under him, -“we’ll try and pick up your trail.”</p> - -<p>“Good lads,” laughed Kit Carson; and -then with another salute they were gone -into the darkness.</p> - -<p>A strong guard of trusty men was kept -about the trappers’ camp that night; Mr. -Young was an experienced frontiersman -and so took no chances with an enemy of -the Mexican captain’s type. No one was -permitted to leave camp for fear that the -keg discovered by Kit was not the only -one “planted” by the cunning official. -At the first streak of dawn the trappers -were astir; breakfast was cooked, traps and -other equipment packed upon the horses -used for that purpose, and everything was -ready for the start.</p> - -<p>“Looks as though our young friends -were going to fail us,” spoke Mr. Young. -“If they do, I’m out the price of two good -ponies.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[50]</span>“They’ll not fail unless something happened -them on the way,” said Kit Carson, -who had taken a fancy to the cousins. -“They are a clean-looking pair, and I -think I’d back them to do more than hold -to a bargain.”</p> - -<p>The trappers, with their packhorses in -the center of the column, moved off down -the Indian trail; they had gotten entirely -out of sight of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, -when a distant shout caught the ear of -Kit Carson; his sharp eye swept the hills -which rose about them; across a ridge to -the north two horsemen were coming like -the wind.</p> - -<p>The trapper wheeled his mustang and -dashed back; the newcomers were Dave -and Joe, weary and sore from the unaccustomed -labor of the night, but both game -and willing, for all.</p> - -<p>“It was all right,” proclaimed Joe, delightedly. -“Dad didn’t take to the thing -at first, but we had him talked over in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[51]</span> -half an hour. The captain of the schooner -knows a priest at San Gabriel; they are -going to get a party of the mission Indians -with ponies and a litter as you suggested; -and he’ll stay at the mission till we return, -or he hears from us.”</p> - -<p>The cavalcade reached the Mission of -San Gabriel in the afternoon. This mission -was the most wonderful sight in the -Californias of that period. It had farming -land stretching for miles about, tilled by -the thousand Indians which it maintained; -over its ranges wandered seventy-five thousand -head of cattle, also huge herds of -horses, mules and sheep. Mr. Young had -no difficulty in replacing the ponies sold -to the boys; horse-flesh was low as he had -said, and, especially at San Gabriel, very -plenty.</p> - -<p>Kit Carson earned the friendship of a -young Pueblo, loafing on the steps of the -mission building, by presenting him with -a small trinket.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[52]</span>“Some Mexicans and Indians went -through here yesterday,” said he.</p> - -<p>“Trap!” said the youthful savage, laconically. -“Much hunt on Gila River.”</p> - -<p>“A man was with them—much cut on -face,” and the trapper illustrated the character -of the scar.</p> - -<p>The young Indian nodded.</p> - -<p>“Big cut!” agreed he. “Long time -ago.”</p> - -<p>Kit nodded to the boys as they turned -and rode after their party.</p> - -<p>“We’re right behind them! If we have -good luck, Lopez, or Spotted Snake, as we -called him in Taos, will be where we can -get our hands on him by sundown to-morrow.”</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[53]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER IV<br /> - - -<small>INDIAN SIGNS—AND INDIANS!</small></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">That</span> night the trappers camped upon -the banks of a small stream; their supper -was of game shot during the day and corn-cakes -made from the meal in one of the -packs.</p> - -<p>Both boys noticed that much care was -taken as to the picketing of the horses, -also a guard was placed over them. The -camp was laid out with a plain regard for -defense as well as for comfort.</p> - -<p>“You never can tell in the wilderness -just what is going to happen,” said Kit -Carson, in answer to a question of Joe’s. -“The Pueblo Indians are mostly a mild -lot, and never go upon the war-path; and -the other redskins are too well fed around -the mission to make trouble. But war<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[54]</span> -parties of one nation or another are apt to -be met with any time.”</p> - -<p>The trappers placed their saddle pads on -the ground and threw their blankets over -them; these, with saddles at one end for -pillows, were their bed. The boys followed -their example.</p> - -<p>“But keep yourself out of the firelight,” -warned Kit. “It’s a dangerous habit to get -into, this hanging around the camp-fire. -And always keep your rifle where you can -reach it the first grab. Seconds count in a -night rush of these copper-colored varmints; -so always fix yourself right before you go -to sleep.”</p> - -<p>The men talked and smoked their pipes -about the fire for an hour or two after -supper; then, after a guard had been set, -they, one by one, rolled themselves in their -blankets and soon were asleep. For some -time, however, the boys lay awake; the -crackling of the logs on the fires, the stamping -of the horses, and the stirring of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[55]</span> -breeze in the trees was new to them; and -then from the hills and the forests the faint -voice of the wilderness called to them as it -calls to every one, telling of its rushing -rivers, its trackless wastes, its splendid -game, its breathless dangers. And, also, -somewhere ahead was Spotted Snake, and -as they grew heavy eyed and slow of -thought, they seemed to realize for the first -time what the pursuit of him in such a -region as this might mean; months might -go by without a sight of him, and many -and nameless perils might be met by the -way.</p> - -<p>At dawn on the following day the camp -was astir; breakfast was cooked and eaten, -packs were adjusted and made fast; then -the party mounted and began the day’s -journey. It was a picturesque cavalcade; -each man led or rode beside a packhorse or -mule; across his back was slung his rifle, in -his belt was his hunting knife, his whetstone -and his hatchet; his clothing was of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[56]</span> -soft buckskin, fringed and ornamented with -porcupine quills, dyed in many and brilliant -colors.</p> - -<p>The country through which they passed -was an ever changing one; streams were -crossed; paths were forced through green -ravines; mountainsides were conquered; -thick woods were encountered everywhere.</p> - -<p>Toward the middle of the day the boys -found themselves riding ahead of the trapper -company, with Kit Carson; after a time -he grew silent and seemed to be studying -the ground as they went along. At length -he drew in his pony and waited until Mr. -Young came up.</p> - -<p>“The signs say that a company of trappers -went over this route not long ago,” he -said to his chief. “And I think it might -be Spotted Snake and the party he engaged -with.”</p> - -<p>“Like as not,” replied the other, his eyes -searching the ground.</p> - -<p>“The trail leads away to the left a little<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[57]</span> -piece on,” observed Kit. “I think I’ll have -a look at it with the boys. We’ll bring up -with you in a little while.”</p> - -<p>Upon a nod from Mr. Young he rode -forward, the two eager lads at his side; -they also studied the ground; hoof marks -there were to a certainty; but what told Kit -they had been made by a trapping party, -they were puzzled to know.</p> - -<p>“It’s plain enough,” said the young man -when Joe had put the question to him. -“Each man in the party rode a pony and -led a pack-mule; no other party but a trapper’s -is ever made up like that.”</p> - -<p>Off to the left they turned, following the -trail as it led toward a distant range of -hills.</p> - -<p>“It’s rather a peculiar move,” spoke Kit -after a time; “and no direction for a company -to take which aims to trap on the -Gila River.”</p> - -<p>For a full hour they rode in the track of -the strange preceding expedition; they had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[58]</span> -reached a section covered by small knolls or -hillocks, some crowned by growths of -dwarfed trees, others bald and desolate. -Suddenly Kit Carson reined in his pony -and swung himself from the saddle; without -waiting to be told, both boys did the same. -They quickly led their mounts behind one -of the knolls; and when the trapper halted, -Dave Johnson asked:</p> - -<p>“What is it?”</p> - -<p>“Tie up your mustangs,” was the only -reply.</p> - -<p>The boys did so; then, following the -cautious example of the trapper, they -scrambled up the steep sides of the hillock; -it was one of those upon which the dwarf -trees grew so thickly; they lay among these -and looked toward the east.</p> - -<p>“Take a steady look now, off toward the -southeast,” said Kit, one hand pointing in -that direction. “Do you see a hill which -looks something like a horse’s head—right -against the sky?”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[59]</span>The thick mass of dark growth which -topped a distant knoll was unmistakable; -and both lads replied in a breath.</p> - -<p>“Yes!”</p> - -<p>“Well, strike a line to the left again—on -a hill farther away—a bald hill something -higher than the others.”</p> - -<p>Joe Frazier was the first to catch the -object indicated.</p> - -<p>“A horseman,” said he.</p> - -<p>“An Indian!” cried Dave Johnson, an -instant later, and with a keener vision.</p> - -<p>“An Indian it is,” spoke the trapper, his -eyes holding to the distant figure.</p> - -<p>There was something in his manner -which caught the attention of the boys.</p> - -<p>“There were Indians a-plenty back at -San Gabriel and at the Pueblo,” said Joe, -“but you did not pay much attention to -them.”</p> - -<p>Kit Carson smiled.</p> - -<p>“No,” said he, quietly. “Those redskins -didn’t call for much attention. But this is<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[60]</span> -one of a very different kind. You never -catch his sort planting or plowing or tending -cattle; he’s a warrior, and if you were -close enough to him I think you’d find that -he is armed with lance, bow and arrow and -tomahawk.”</p> - -<p>The savage horseman was so far away -that he made but a tiny speck against the -sky; but for all that he was an ominous -figure in that desolate land, a sort of symbol -of the danger it held for the intruding paleface -and an unspoken threat of what would -befall if he dared to press further into a -region never meant for him.</p> - -<p>For some time the warrior sat his horse -in perfect stillness; it was as though he -were surveying the country round about -for signs of danger, or, more probably, for -signs of prey. Then he suddenly turned -his horse and disappeared from the summit -of the knoll.</p> - -<p>The three mounted once more and continued -in the trail they had been following;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[61]</span> -the boys noted that the trapper looked at -the priming of his rifle, and they did the -same. They had no notion of what to -expect ahead; but that their guide considered -it more or less serious was plain. -Another hour went by; then they reached -the bald hillock upon which they had seen -the solitary brave. In a hollow about a -hundred yards away was the remains of a -large camp, the fires of which were still -smouldering; all about it the ground was -trampled by the hoofs of hundreds of horses. -From the top of the hillock Kit Carson -studied the scene.</p> - -<p>“There must have been four or five hundred -redskins camped here up to a few -hours ago,” said he. “The brave we saw -was about the last to leave.”</p> - -<p>“But the trappers with Lopez, or Spotted -Snake, are among them,” said Joe. “They -have walked right into a trap, for their trail -leads into the Indian camp.”</p> - -<p>But the trapper shook his head.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[62]</span>“There were Indians and half-breeds in -that company of trappers,” he said, “and -they are mostly on good terms with the -others of their kind. And the fact that -they left the track that would have taken -them to their hunting grounds, and took -one leading straight to the big redskin -camp, shows that they knew of it and made -for it of their own accord.”</p> - -<p>“But why?” asked Dave.</p> - -<p>The trapper shook his head.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know,” said he. “There may -be a thousand reasons for it; but we’d never -guess one of them, like as not, if we tried -for a month.”</p> - -<p>They spent a few minutes examining the -Indian camp; then they rode back at a -smart pace until they struck the trail of -their own party. When this was overtaken -it was found to be encamped for the night.</p> - -<p>After supper, Dave and Joe noticed Kit -in earnest conversation with the chief -trapper. The two men talked in low tones,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[63]</span> -but now and then the boys caught a -disconnected word. “Indian” was one of -frequent occurrence, “war party,” “trail,” -and such fragments gave them something -of the color of the conversation.</p> - -<p>“They seem to think that there’s danger -in the air,” said Joe in a whisper.</p> - -<p>The two, having in mind Kit’s warning, -sat beyond range of the firelight; the -trappers were as usual gathered in groups; -a vigilant guard was stationed off in the -darkness upon each side of the camp.</p> - -<p>“I suppose it’s the size of the Indian -party,” spoke Dave to Joe. “Here there’s -only a score of us; what chance should we -have against, say five hundred, if they made -up their minds to attack us?”</p> - -<p>“Not much, I guess,” replied Joe, soberly. -“But, after all,” with a hopeful note in his -voice, “it’s not likely that the redskins -know we’re around. And their trail as -they left their camp led directly away from -us. I noticed that particularly.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[64]</span>However, the trappers’ camp was one of -precautions that night; the horses were not -only picketed, but hobbled as well to prevent -a stampede.</p> - -<p>“That’s a fav’rite little game with the -reds,” the grizzled old trapper, whose name -was Matthews, informed Dave. “You see, -we couldn’t get along without horses to -carry our camp stuff and traps and pelts; so -if they can scare the critters and set ’em off -wild with fright, they’ve broke up our trip -and got us at their mercy.”</p> - -<p>But the night passed peacefully enough, as -did the next and the next. Nine days after -leaving Los Angeles, the company sighted -the Colorado River. All thought, or all -fear at least, of redskins had left the trappers; -a camp was pitched near the river and the -traps were made ready for an operation -against the beaver.</p> - -<p>“I’ll send a party of seven up-stream and -the same number down,” said Mr. Young -on their first night on the Colorado. “The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[65]</span> -others with the two boys I’ll leave with you -to guard the camp.”</p> - -<p>“Right,” said Kit Carson, quietly.</p> - -<p>Next morning the parties, taking a few -of the horses, set out to range the river according -to the leader’s plans. When they -had gone, Kit, with the help of old Matthews, -the boys and the two other men left behind, -picketed the horses upon one side of the -camp; the small bales of fur were built up -in a complete circle, forming a sort of breastwork.</p> - -<p>“An arrow would never get through these -bundles of pelts,” said Kit as he regarded -the “walls” of the camp with critical approval. -“Even a bullet would have something -of a job doing it.”</p> - -<p>Everything belonging to the expedition, -except the horses, was brought into the -circle of hides. This had scarcely been -done when the camp was startled by a -sudden shout from old Zeke Matthews. He -had been seeing to the mules, and now ran<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[66]</span> -toward the enclosure, his rifle ready in his -hands.</p> - -<p>“Injuns!” he shouted. “A whole tribe -of them!”</p> - -<p>Startled, the little party leaped upon the -rampart of hides. Advancing at a slow, -swinging gallop across the soft turf that -stretched away from the river was a perfect -cloud of redskins.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[67]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER V<br /> - - -<small>WHITE VERSUS RED ON THE COLORADO</small></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> feathered head-dress of many colors -waved gaily above the advancing braves; -the streamers of their long lances danced in -the breeze; their lithe ponies covered the -ground in cat-like leaps.</p> - -<p>“Not a war party!” said Kit Carson, as -he eyed the horde keenly. “But that -makes little difference in this country; -they use the Mexicans they come upon -much as they please—rob them—make -them prisoners, or turn them adrift unarmed. -Sometimes even worse has happened.”</p> - -<p>“Well,” said old Zeke, grimly, as he -looked to the priming of his rifle, “we -ain’t Mexicans, and I reckon there’ll be -nothing like that happen here.”</p> - -<p>With one accord, as they reached a point<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[68]</span> -within a hundred yards of the camp, the -Indians threw their mounts back upon -their haunches and leaped to the ground; -then about a dozen of them came forward, -signaled the whites, and with much ostentation -laid aside knife and tomahawk, long -bow and quivers of arrows. Then with upraised -hands and every gesture of good-will -used by the red men upon such occasions, -they came toward the fort. As no protest -came from Kit Carson, old Zeke Matthews -looked at him with eyes of wonder.</p> - -<p>“I say, Kit,” said he, “when do you -reckon it’ll be time to wave them varmints -back?”</p> - -<p>The other shook his head.</p> - -<p>“I’m thinking of letting them come in,” -said he.</p> - -<p>The old trapper’s eyes grew bigger than -ever.</p> - -<p>“Wal,” said he, “I’ve lived most of my -life with Injuns near at hand; but I ain’t -never got so as I could trust ’em. These<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[69]</span> -braves look as if butter wouldn’t melt in -their mouths; but give ’em a chance and -they’ll have their scalping knives at work -amongst us, quicker’n you could say Jack -Robinson.”</p> - -<p>“I think,” said Kit Carson, to the boys, -“this is the band our friend Spotted Snake -and his friends joined some days ago. If -it is, we may have a chance of getting back -your map. And if it isn’t, why, we’ll try -to see that no harm is done, anyway.”</p> - -<p>The half dozen or so redskins who -formed the “talk” party were now close -at hand; Kit called to them to halt, and -spoke to them in one of the several Indian -dialects which he knew. In after years this -great frontiersman could hold a conversation -in their own language with any of the -nations which roamed the plains. He was -but twenty years of age during the trapping -venture of Ewing Young to the Californias, -and so had not become as familiar -with the red men as was the case later.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[70]</span>And so when the “talk” party failed to -understand him, he tried them in another -tongue. This too failed; and so he invited -them within the enclosure so that he might -converse with them in the sign language -which almost all Indians know. A tall -brave, evidently a chief, was the first to -enter the fort; he was a sullen-browed -fellow enough, flat nosed, and with a face -pitted by smallpox. But he gestured his -perfect good-will, as did his companions, -holding out their empty hands to show -that they were unarmed.</p> - -<p>Curiously they inspected the enclosure; -the great quantity of furs plainly interested -them; the pack-mules, the arms and -camp equipment excited nods and grunts -of appreciation.</p> - -<p>Kit was engaged with the chief, endeavoring -to make him understand his signs; the -savage comprehended slowly, his mind apparently -being more given to the treasures -of the camp than what the trapper was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[71]</span> -saying to him. As Kit was asking for -information with regard to Spotted Snake, -both Joe and Dave were eagerly interested, -watching the signs and trying to interpret -the chief’s replies.</p> - -<p>In a little while the trapper felt a hand -placed upon his fringed sleeve; looking -around he saw Zeke Matthews at his side.</p> - -<p>“Judging from the indications,” spoke -the old trapper, “I reckon this here chief -don’t know English. And that being the -case, I make bold to tell you in that language -that there’s about forty more of them -come inside the fort since you began to talk.”</p> - -<p>That the men would admit any more of -the savages to the enclosure, or even allow -them to approach the wall, had never occurred -to Kit; however, now that he was -aware that they had done so, he showed no -signs of haste or alarm. His quiet gray -eyes ran around among the Indians who -had adroitly wormed their way within the -circle of pelts; coolly he took in all the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[72]</span> -details of the scene; calmly he gauged its -possibilities.</p> - -<p>The savages, grinning and with growing -aggressiveness, were thronging up and down -within the little enclosure; a second glance -showed the trapper that though the “talk” -party may have entered unarmed, the -others had only made the appearance of -doing so. Under their clothes they carried -hatchet and knife, sure testimony of their -intentions. The swift, cool brain of the -young trapper took in this fact and valued -it properly in an instant; and almost as -quickly his plans were made to meet the -peril.</p> - -<p>The odds were overwhelming; within the -fort there were ten redskins to each white -man; in all, the savages outnumbered the -hunters almost a hundred to one. But this -fact had little effect upon Kit Carson; his -arrangements were as quiet and methodical -as they would have been had the numbers -been equal.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[73]</span>“Go quietly among the men,” said he to -old Zeke. “Get them over here with all -their arms; but, whatever you do, don’t let -the bucks get an idea of what’s going on.”</p> - -<p>The veteran trapper nodded and leisurely -made his way through the throng of savages.</p> - -<p>“It looks bad,” said Dave Johnson. -“There’s enough of them to crush us into -the ground just by sheer weight.”</p> - -<p>Kit Carson nodded.</p> - -<p>“If they were white men,” said he, -“there wouldn’t be anything to do but wait -till we were sure of what they were going -to do—and then surrender. But, they -being Indians, the thing’s something different. -Redskins will never take a chance -with death, and that’s a fact that’s saved -the lives of many a band of trappers. Let -them be sure that some of them are to die, -and they’ll begin to play ’possum. Their -style of fighting is to always have the upper -hand. Otherwise there’s no fight.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[74]</span>Old Zeke passed the word calmly to his -comrades; and one at a time the men sauntered -across the circle and joined Kit and -the boys. It was as though they had no -object in the movement except to dawdle -about, talk, and encourage their visitors to -make themselves at home. When all six of -the whites were finally together, rifles in -hand, alert and ready for the desperate -chance which meant life or death to them -all, Kit Carson said quietly:</p> - -<p>“Now, boys, when I give the word, each -pick out a head man and cover him with -your rifle. I’ll take the chief with pock-marked -face. At the slightest movement -that looks like resistance—fire!”</p> - -<p>The men nodded; the steady gripping of -the rifle stocks alone told of their purpose; -their thumbs were on the triggers; their -eyes were upon the redskins. Then Kit’s -soft, drawling voice said:</p> - -<p>“Now!”</p> - -<p>As he spoke his rifle came to a level, the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[75]</span> -muzzle within a few feet of the stalwart -chief; the three trappers and the two boys -followed his example; each of the grim -black tubes stared a savage in the face.</p> - -<p>With dismay the Indians fell back into -a huddled mass at one side; not for an -instant did the long rifles waver; in the -barrel of each was a messenger which -meant death; they knew the deadly aim of -the palefaces of the border and that they -seldom missed their mark. The chief with -the pitted face now found a fund of halting -Spanish, and he addressed the trappers.</p> - -<p>“We come as friends! Are not the white -men our brothers?”</p> - -<p>With his cheek against the stock of his -rifle and his gray eye glancing down the -barrel, Kit Carson replied:</p> - -<p>“Leave this camp! And leave it at once. -Stay and you are all dead men.”</p> - -<p>There was an instant’s pause—an instant -full of suspense; then the chief spoke to his -braves. They made no answer, but gathered<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[76]</span> -their gay colored robes about them and -sullenly filed out of the little fort; and -they never paused or looked behind until -they were safely out of rifle shot.</p> - -<p>“There will be a grand pow-wow,” said -Kit, as they watched the great band of -savages join those just expelled from the -fort. “And if the chief who spoke has the -say, I wouldn’t wonder if we had a little -fight on our hands before sunrise. He had -fire in his eye as he left.”</p> - -<p>One by one a chief or head man harangued -the redskins; suddenly there was a -chorus of shrill yells and a scattering for -their ponies; then, mounted, they formed a -half circle, and with lances held high and -bows ready for deadly work, they sat facing -the camp of the whites like so many graven -images.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[77]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VI<br /> - - -<small>TWO NIGHTS OF DANGER</small></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">At</span> sight of the great array of armed and -mounted savages facing the little fort, the -two lads from the East felt that sinking -sensation which usually comes to those not -bred to physical danger. At the crisis -within the camp neither had felt the -slightest fear; the thing was so sudden and -so desperate that they had no time to think -of themselves.</p> - -<p>But this new situation was different; their -minds had time to grasp the consequence -of the attack and they felt uneasy. It is -probable that Kit Carson understood something -of what they were feeling; more than -likely he had once gone through it himself; -at any rate, he said:</p> - -<p>“This doesn’t mean much, lads; the reds -are going to run rings around us, maybe,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[78]</span> -and do a little fancy shooting. But they’ll -keep out of range of our guns, and so, of -course, we’ll be out of reach of their bows. -They are great fellows for that kind of exhibition.”</p> - -<p>But Kit was mistaken. Instead of -making the attack expected, a man rode -out the half circle of horsemen and approached -the camp—one hand uplifted, the -palm toward the whites.</p> - -<p>“It seems to me,” said Kit, his eyes upon -the horseman, “I know that gentleman.”</p> - -<p>Dave Johnson uttered a cry.</p> - -<p>“It’s Lopez!” exclaimed he.</p> - -<p>“Down, lads, behind the wall; don’t let -him see you; I’ll palaver him and maybe -strike some kind of a bargain for your -property.”</p> - -<p>Accordingly the boys crouched behind -the bales of pelts; Lopez advanced easily -upon his pony until he was within a dozen -yards of the camp. Then he drew rein and -sat grinning amiably at the trappers.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[79]</span>“Well, Spotted Snake,” said Kit Carson, -leaning upon his rifle and quietly surveying -the half-breed, “how is it I find you in -company with a band of hostiles?”</p> - -<p>Spotted Snake grinned more widely than -ever.</p> - -<p>“They are not hostiles,” he said, in -Spanish. “Very good Indians. Mean no -harm. You got frightened.”</p> - -<p>“They may be very good redskins, as -you say,” replied Kit; “but good or bad I’d -rather not have many of them around with -hatchets and scalping knives hidden in -their blankets.”</p> - -<p>The half-breed laughed.</p> - -<p>“They didn’t know you’d take anything -they did in bad part,” said he. “They are -not used to dealing with white men, and so -don’t know their ways.”</p> - -<p>Kit pointed to the crescent of armed -warriors facing the camp.</p> - -<p>“I suppose that, too, is a sign of good-will,” -said he.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[80]</span>“Red Cloud is a big chief,” said the half-breed, -“and he is very angry at the way -you’ve treated him. He’s mounted his -men and put them in fighting formation -just to show you what he would look like -if he really wanted to do you harm. He -told me to tell you that his five hundred -braves would dash over you as the waters -of a mountain stream dash over the rocks in -the time of freshets.”</p> - -<p>“You’ve lived long enough among whites -and have enough white blood in you, -Spotted Snake, to know that talk of that -sort won’t carry very far. If Red Cloud -wants to see how far his young men can -dash over us let him have them try it on. -We can guarantee him twenty-five dead, -and himself among them.”</p> - -<p>The half-breed grinned and nodded.</p> - -<p>“I’ve told him that already,” said he. -“But he was bound to have me come and -‘make talk.’ If he could have scared you -in the first place your furs, traps, horses<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[81]</span> -and rifles would have satisfied him, I think. -He’s not a half bad sort of fellow when you -come to know him.”</p> - -<p>“A while ago I asked you how you came -to be in company with this band,” said Kit. -“I don’t think you answered me.”</p> - -<p>“The trapping party I went out with -fell in with them about ten days ago. -They made us a good offer of pelts if we’d -join them in a big buffalo hunt, they not -having any rifles. As it was good business, -the chief trapper agreed.”</p> - -<p>“The last time I saw you was at Taos,” -said Kit. “How is it I find you away up -here?”</p> - -<p>“I got out on the coast,” said the half-breed, -“and joined a ship. But the work -was too hard,” with his ever present grin. -“I left them at Los Angeles.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! you were the fellow, then,” spoke -the trapper as though surprised. “I heard -about your desertion.”</p> - -<p>“You heard?” and even from that distance<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[82]</span> -Kit saw the man’s lids narrow into -slits through which his sharp eyes peered.</p> - -<p>“A couple of the ship people were looking -for you; they hinted that you’d sort -of clung to some property which wasn’t -altogether yours, when you left.”</p> - -<p>The half-breed nodded.</p> - -<p>“They told you that, eh? Well, maybe -it was true and maybe it wasn’t. But, anyway, -I’m not sorry for my little voyage on the -sea; it promises to be something that will -pay very well; and that’s the kind of thing -Manuel Lopez is looking for these days.”</p> - -<p>“Suppose,” said the trapper, “the ship -people were willing to pay something down -for what was taken. Would you consider -it?”</p> - -<p>Lopez, or Spotted Snake, snapped his -fingers airily.</p> - -<p>“This is a thing that could hardly be -paid for,” he said. “It’s only a chance, -of course, but it’s such a big one that ready -money is not much temptation.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[83]</span>“It happens that the folks who lost this -property on the ship are friends of mine,” -said Kit. “And being friends, I’m willing -to help them out. Maybe, if money can’t -buy back the things you’ve stolen, lead can.”</p> - -<p>As he spoke he threw forward his rifle, -the stock against his hip, the muzzle covering -the half-breed. But the latter calmly -sat his horse and looked at the trapper.</p> - -<p>“Don’t forget,” said he, “I came here -under what the Indians regard as a flag -of truce; don’t forget that I am their -spokesman, and that if anything happens -to me they will take their revenge.”</p> - -<p>This result was very well understood by -Kit; to shoot or otherwise harm a man -sent forward to parley by the savages was -a very great indignity and one which would -excite them to the limits of their fury. But -that he held the matter at all seriously was -kept hidden from Lopez.</p> - -<p>“You saw us drive them out of camp -a while ago,” said he, coolly; “that ought<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[84]</span> -to have shown you how much we fear -them.”</p> - -<p>“Another thing,” said the half-breed, -equally calm, “even if I had taken the -things you speak of, would I be so great a -fool as to carry them about with me? If -they were of value, wouldn’t I have cached -them somewhere along the trail?”</p> - -<p>Kit Carson knew that Spotted Snake was -a cunning, covetous fellow, brave and willing -to go a long way to carry out his desires. -As the matter stood, he feared that -he had spoiled any chance that the boys -might have had to recover the map, by -putting the man on his guard. He was -considering what he had best do under the -circumstances, when the half-breed shook -his rein and rode nearer the barrier.</p> - -<p>“In Santa Fé,” said he, “there is an old -man by the name of Diaz—Goat Beard, the -Indians call him. He keeps a storeroom -at one side of the town, buys furs and sells -goods of all sorts to the Indians.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[85]</span>“I know him,” said the trapper. “An -old rascal.”</p> - -<p>Lopez grinned.</p> - -<p>“Maybe,” said he. “But he is very useful -at times. He has often transacted little -matters of business for me in a very capable -way.”</p> - -<p>The trapper got a glimmer of the man’s -meaning, but more by his manner than his -words. He nodded, as though he understood; -but he said nothing.</p> - -<p>“Maybe,” proceeded the half-breed, “if -you were to go to old Diaz during the summer -when the trapping season is done, some -arrangements could be made in any matter -that you care to speak of.”</p> - -<p>Again the trapper nodded.</p> - -<p>“California is a fine country; but I don’t -care as much for it as I do for New Mexico,” -said Lopez. “And, then, trapping is my -business and not——” but he stopped short, -as though not willing to commit himself to -anything that would definitely incriminate<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[86]</span> -him. “Anyway,” he continued, “look for -old Diaz in the hot months; he may have -something to say to you.”</p> - -<p>Here he wheeled his horse, calling over -his shoulder:</p> - -<p>“And remember, Red Cloud is a friend -to the paleface. His brother does him wrong -when he thinks Red Cloud means anything -but good feeling.”</p> - -<p>The spotted pony which the man rode -raced back to the solid crescent of braves. -Whatever Lopez reported had the effect of -dismounting them; they picketed their -horses and went into camp, outside the -range of the white man’s fire.</p> - -<p>The fire at which the supper of the six -was cooked after nightfall was masked so -that the light might not attract a flight of -arrows from any of the bucks who might -be lurking in the darkness. The horses -were well within rifle shot and were hobbled -so that to stampede them would be impossible. -However, a guard was kept over<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[87]</span> -them; and during the night not more than -one of the whites slept at a time.</p> - -<p>Morning dawned, and they saw the smoke -ascending from the redskins’ camp-fires; -apparently the warriors had remained all -night as they had been at sunset. During -the day Red Cloud and one of his braves -visited the fort and were admitted; the -chief in his halting Spanish protested the -utmost friendship; but all the time the -whites noted his evil little eyes coveting -everything he saw in the camp, and so their -suspicions were not abated. The second -night passed much as the first; the little -party did not dare sleep, for there was no -telling at what moment the quiet of the -night would be broken by the yells of the -red horde, a sleet of arrows, and the leaping -of demon figures over the barricade. At -the beginning of the second day there was -a stir in the Indian camp; preparations -were being made for a movement of some -sort.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[88]</span>“They mean either an attack, or to break -camp,” said Kit Carson, as he watched them -for a space. “I am not sure which.”</p> - -<p>The braves swung themselves upon the -backs of the ponies, fully armed as before; -in a sweeping line they faced the little fort, -the ponies snorting and prancing, the grim -riders as still as death.</p> - -<p>“Fire when they reach a distance of -seventy-five yards,” said Kit, resting his -rifle barrel upon the wall of furs, and throwing -himself upon the ground. “You’ll -then have time to reload. And make every -shot tell.”</p> - -<p>The five remaining rifles were also rested -upon the wall, and the five riflemen sought -cover behind it. The air was charged with -the electricity of a coming struggle; and -when the very moment seemed to have -arrived, there was a shout from the river, -the sound of hoof-beats, and up dashed the -chief trapper, Young, and his six buckskinned -followers. At the sight of these<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[89]</span> -reinforcements the redskins fell into a sort -of confusion. And while this lasted Kit -explained the situation to Young.</p> - -<p>“I don’t think they’ll make any movement -against us now,” said the head trapper. -“What do you say?”</p> - -<p>“I think you’re right,” replied Kit -Carson. “If they took two days to make -up their minds to tackle six men, it’ll take -’em a week to get to the point of facing -twice that many.”</p> - -<p>“Well, by that time,” said Young, grimly, -“there will be still more of us; for I mean -to break camp, move down the stream, pick -up the rest of the boys and then strike for -the Gila.”</p> - -<p>Half the party set to work, adjusting the -bundles of pelts upon the backs of the mules; -the remainder, with ready rifles, watched the -Indians. When everything was in marching -shape the trappers started along the -river bank. The band of savages followed -in their track during the entire day; but<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[90]</span> -one by one the remaining trappers were -picked up; and when at last the sun went -down it showed the hostile band encamped -upon a hillside not more than a half mile -away. But now instead of six there were a -full score of deadly rifles between them and -their prey.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[91]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VII<br /> - - -<small>HOW THE TRAPPERS RETALIATED</small></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Indian band lighted large fires upon -the hillside that night; the tall figures of -the braves could be seen flitting to and -fro in mysterious activity. The trappers -watched the unusual spectacle for quite a -long time without comment.</p> - -<p>“They are fixing up some kind of a disagreeableness -for us,” spoke old Zeke Matthews, -at length. “And I opine, Cap’n -Young, that I’d better take a little scout -out in that direction and see what it is.”</p> - -<p>“All right,” said the head trapper. “If -you care to take the risk, Zeke, go ahead. -But I’m not asking you to do it, mind you.”</p> - -<p>“I’m going to do this little pilgrimage -for my own private amusement,” said the -veteran, humorously. “I always did get a -lot of fun out of a passel of redskins when<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[92]</span> -they were getting downright serious at their -work.”</p> - -<p>He took up his rifle; and a heavy pistol -was stuck in his belt. Then he crept out of -camp and away into the darkness.</p> - -<p>Two hours had elapsed when he returned. -He put down his gun and warmed his bony -hands at the cheerful blaze.</p> - -<p>“The varmints are having a mighty interesting -time of it,” he said. “That’s a -council fire you see blazing up there on the -hill; and they’re sitting all around it, smoking -their pipes and making speeches to each -other. Old Red Cloud is anxious to get his -hands on our outfit, I guess; but his braves -want to see their way to getting it without -being hurt.”</p> - -<p>“Council, eh?” said the chief trapper. -“Well, we’ll have some kind of action before -long. It will be either one thing or -the other.”</p> - -<p>A powerful guard was placed all about -the camp; but the night went by without<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[93]</span> -any hostile sound from that of the Indians’; -toward dawn the council fire upon the hillside -died down; when the sun finally -showed its great, round, red face over the -top of a distant mountain, the whites, to -their astonishment and relief, saw the camping -ground of the foes deserted. Not a savage -was to be seen anywhere.</p> - -<p>“It was a good council!” spoke Kit Carson, -grimly. “Either Red Cloud is a wise -chief, or his young men have good eyes for -danger.”</p> - -<p>But there was no trusting the red men, -who were known to be cunning foes; a party -of the trappers set out upon their trail and -followed it for some hours. There was no -sign, by the end of that time, that the retreat -was a ruse; so the trailers returned to camp. -The mules were burdened with their packs -of furs and camp equipment once more, -and again the outfit moved down the river.</p> - -<p>“It seems a hardship to move away from -the place where I know Lopez to be,” said<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[94]</span> -Dave Johnson to Kit, as they rode side by -side.</p> - -<p>“I feel the same way,” said Joe Frazier. -“In the last hour I’ve had it on my tongue -a dozen times to say to you: ‘Let’s stay -where we are until we make that rascally -half-breed give up his plunder.’”</p> - -<p>Kit Carson shook his head.</p> - -<p>“I understand just how it is, I think,” -said he. “But to stay behind here, just the -two of you, would be to throw your lives -away.” He regarded them seriously for a -moment, and then continued: “I’ve been -thinking over this little affair of yours, and -about what Spotted Snake had to say; and -I’ve made up my mind that the best thing -you both could do would be to go right on -to Santa Fé.” Again he paused for a moment, -then continued: “Your father’d be -willing to pay a little to have this map returned, -wouldn’t he?”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” said Joe. “That is, if we couldn’t -get it any other way.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[95]</span>The trapper laughed.</p> - -<p>“Of course,” he said. “And we’ll try -that other way first. I think it is wrong to -knuckle down to the half-breed’s demands. -But Santa Fé is the place to get in touch -with him again, one way or the other; and -I think you can ease your mind and leave -this section, knowing that it’s the best thing -you can do.”</p> - -<p>This sounded like logic to the boys; and -so they put all uneasy thoughts behind -them, and gave themselves up to the labor -and excitements of the trappers’ life. Day by -day the expedition continued down the Colorado, -setting their traps and reaping a big -harvest of beaver fur. When they reached -tide-water they changed the scene of their -efforts to the Gila River, which enters the -Colorado at about this point; and they -trapped along the Gila day after day with -wonderful success until they came to the -mouth of the San Pedro.</p> - -<p>At this point the saddle-horses of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[96]</span> -trappers had been pressed into service to -carry the treasure of furs. So fortunate had -the trappers been that with hundreds of -miles of stream before them they had -already reached their transporting capacity.</p> - -<p>“It is a hardship for us to have to let -this great chance slip,” said Young one night -at the camp-fire. “Beaver has never been -so plentiful, and I feel sure that it will -continue so all the way up the river. But -there is no sense in our going on taking furs -if we have no way of carrying them; so the -only thing I can see to do is to take the -trail for New Mexico and sell what we’ve -got.”</p> - -<p>Old Zeke Matthews sat listening to the -head trapper, honing the edge of his great -hunting knife and nodding his head in -agreement with him. But at the proposition -that they leave the remainder of the stream -untouched, and make for their market, he -protested.</p> - -<p>“It’s just flying in the face of Nature,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[97]</span> -that’s what it is,” said he, earnestly. “Here -we have luck raining down on us; and we’re -going to turn our backs on it.”</p> - -<p>Kit Carson smiled at the old man’s indignation.</p> - -<p>“Well, Zeke,” said he, “what else is there -to do? If we have no horses to carry the -pelts, what’s the use of taking them?”</p> - -<p>“Get horses,” returned the old fellow, -laconically.</p> - -<p>There was a general laugh from the men -lounging about the fire.</p> - -<p>“Where can we get them?” asked Young, -good-naturedly.</p> - -<p>“The Injuns have ’em,” declared Zeke. -“There’s a village less than two hours’ ride -from this camp where there’s a whole drove -of horses and mules that the reds have -stolen from the Greasers.”</p> - -<p>There was a silence; Zeke rubbed away -at his knife and went on:</p> - -<p>“They’re a thieving lot, and it’d be a just -punishment on ’em to lose the nags. And<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[98]</span> -that ain’t all! When we set out on this -trip who went for us tooth and nail but this -same gang of varmints? We punished ’em -for it, but we didn’t punish ’em enough. If -white men are to come into this country the -redskins must be taught to go easy on the -bow and arrow, and the hatchet and knife. -So I’m for giving ’em a lesson before we -strike this camp.”</p> - -<p>A murmur went up from the men. The -idea pleased them. They had not forgotten -the attack of the Indians upon their venturing -into the wilderness; and to strike a -blow in retaliation, more especially such a -businesslike blow as that suggested by -Zeke, appealed to them.</p> - -<p>Long and earnestly the matter was discussed; -and finally it was agreed upon. -It was a savage country and a rough time; -and the thoughts and opinions of men are -always moulded by their surroundings and -their needs. However it may look to us to-day, -to impress the herd of mules was not from<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[99]</span> -the trappers’ point of view at all contrary -to the laws of justice. They regarded it in -the same light as the commander of an -army did the requisitioning of supplies in -the country of the enemy.</p> - -<p>Next day a half dozen men were left to -guard the camp; the balance of the party, -with Dave and Joe pressing joyously on in -their midst, set out upon their errand. -After a ride of a couple of hours the band -sighted a large mixed herd of horses and -mules. These were grazing some little distance -up the San Pedro; and a scout or -two was sent to locate the Indian village.</p> - -<p>“It’s off to the west, there,” said old -Zeke. “I was there once, trading; and -the varmints robbed us of everything we -had.”</p> - -<p>After a short time the scouts returned. -The village, a clutter of dirty huts, lay in -the direction indicated by Zeke; and the -band of buckskin-clad trappers rode toward -it under cover of the timber.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[100]</span>“There it is,” said Kit Carson, at length -pointing through the trees.</p> - -<p>The village lay quietly in the sun; it -was a barren, neglected place; the bucks -lolled in the doorways of the low huts; in -the narrow fields the women were preparing -to plant the scanty crops.</p> - -<p>At a word of command the trappers -shouted to their mounts; at full speed they -dashed into the village, their firearms rattling -and snapping briskly. Yells of fear -and rage went up from the savages; they -grabbed up their arms, and their deadly -arrows began to hiss through the air.</p> - -<p>“Open order,” called the chief of the -trappers. “Don’t ride so close together. -Load and hold your fire until I give the -word!”</p> - -<p>The horses were brought to a standstill -outside the town; the trappers reloaded -their rifles and looked to the state of their -pistols. During this pause in the attack -the savages recovered from their surprise;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[101]</span> -and upon a sort of plain, stretching away -to the river, they rallied their forces. The -village was quite a large one; several hundred -warriors faced the trappers, and from -their furious actions it was plain that they -meant to make a most desperate defense.</p> - -<p>“Ready?” called the head trapper.</p> - -<p>“All ready,” was the answer from his -men.</p> - -<p>“Hold your fire till I give the word,” -said the leader, once more. Then lifting -his hand: “Charge!”</p> - -<p>Down rode the trappers upon the redskins; -and the latter bent their bows with -practiced hands, the keen eyes of each selecting -a mark.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[102]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VIII<br /> - - -<small>KIT REACHES SANTA FÉ ONCE MORE</small></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> open order of the whites and the -rifle fire which came like a thunder clap at -the command of their leader discomfited -the savages; the arrows flew wild, and as -the horsemen came plunging at them, their -small arms crackling, they broke and ran -toward the river.</p> - -<p>For perhaps a mile the trappers pursued -them, more to keep them on the run and -discourage another rally than anything -else; then at a shout from Young they -wheeled about and made for the herd on -the other side of the village.</p> - -<p>Calmly the victors selected the best of the -animals, some of their number watching for -the possible approach of the redskins. But -the latter were too completely demoralized -to venture an attack, so the trappers rode<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[103]</span> -away to their camp leading a full score of -pack animals, sufficient to carry all the fur -they’d be likely to take, even with the best -of luck, during the remainder of their -work upon the Gila.</p> - -<p>“That kind of a little lesson ain’t lost on the -reds,” said old Zeke, after they had reached -camp and were settled down watching their -meat cooking over the coals. “They won’t -be so ready to pitch into every company of -whites they see for some time to come.”</p> - -<p>From then on the party continued up -the Gila River until they reached New -Mexico; luck had continued to favor them -and when they finally entered Santa Fé -they had two thousand pounds of beaver -fur.</p> - -<p>“At twelve dollars a pound,” said Kit -Carson, “that’s about——”</p> - -<p>“Twenty-four thousand dollars,” spoke -Joe.</p> - -<p>The trapper looked at him admiringly.</p> - -<p>“I never had any schooling,” said he,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[104]</span> -“except what I got from old Kin Cade one -winter up north of Santa Fé. It’d take me -some time to calculate that; and here you -do it in your head, like a shot.”</p> - -<p>“Was this Kin Cade a schoolmaster?” -asked Dave.</p> - -<p>The trapper laughed.</p> - -<p>“No; he was an old fellow I stumbled on -once, away up in the hills when I first came -here. He lived all alone in a hut; and he -knew more about the mountains, about Indians, -animals and fish than anybody I -ever met. He taught me Spanish and a -couple of the Indian languages; also he -showed me how to tan deerskins so that -they would be soft and pliable, to dye -them, to make them into hunting shirts, -leggins and moccasins. Indian feather and -bead work I also got from him. Kin was a -wise old man.”</p> - -<p>The trappers who had followed Ewing -Young so hardily through all the perils of -the mountains and deserts, of field and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[105]</span> -flood, were now given their share of the -money brought by the pelts; they at once -proceeded to Taos and there the company -disbanded.</p> - -<p>However, Kit Carson and the two boys -remained in Santa Fé.</p> - -<p>“Spotted Snake is or will be here,” said -the trapper. “So we’ll just look around a -little and see what we can see.”</p> - -<p>Santa Fé then had a mongrel population -of some three thousand; its sun-baked -adobe buildings, its gaily clad Mexicans -in trousers slashed to the knees and adorned -with rows of buttons, great sombreros and -high colored mantles; the barbarous peoples -from around about, who came in to trade, -the half-breeds, the picturesquely clad frontiersmen -from the north, all served to give -this city, renowned in the history of the -Great West, a most unusual appearance.</p> - -<p>The first morning there Kit Carson -sought out a bronzed old trader who was -outfitting for a trip among the Indians.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[106]</span>“Buck,” said the trapper, after they had -greeted each other, “have you seen anything -lately of that ‘breed’ they call Spotted -Snake?”</p> - -<p>“What do you want of him?” demanded -the trader, surprised. “I should think -you’d be well satisfied to let varmints like -that alone.”</p> - -<p>“This is a little matter of business,” said -the trapper. “I’m not hunting him from -choice, but because I must.”</p> - -<p>The trader grunted. From his manner -it was plain to the boys that he held Spotted -Snake in no great esteem.</p> - -<p>“Well, if you must see him, I’ll do my -best for you,” he said. “The Snake was -seen in the town only a few nights ago; a -couple of my men met him and heard him -doing a lot of wild talking about making a -fortune—about gold which came so thick -that you could gather it up in buckets. -The sun must have struck through his -sombrero,” added the trader, drily.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[107]</span>The trapper looked at the boys, and they -returned the look with troubled eyes.</p> - -<p>“I reckon though,” went on the trader, -“if he did have anything valuable, he’d -put himself in the proper company to get -rid of it. Remember that fellow they -called ‘Moccasin’ Williams up in Taos? -Well, he was one of them; and,” with a -nod of the head, “I think that speaks for -itself.”</p> - -<p>Kit and the two lads walked slowly down -the narrow street.</p> - -<p>“Moccasin Williams, eh?” said the -trapper, thoughtfully. “Yes, as Buck -Morgan says, he speaks for himself. -There’s not a bigger rascal in the southwest. -Once was a miner in old Mexico, I -believe; and later lived among the Blackfeet -and the Comanches. I’ve even heard -it said that he was a renegade and took part -with the redskins in attacking many a -wagon train.”</p> - -<p>That the man had been a miner interested<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[108]</span> -both Dave and Joe vitally. A chill -struck their hearts as they thought of the -brave old veteran of MacDonough’s victory -who waited away there in the Mission of -San Gabriel for news of his boys and the -map of the treasure country.</p> - -<p>“Maybe we’d better go to see the man -Lopez mentioned to you,” said Joe.</p> - -<p>“Goat Beard?” said Kit. “Yes, I’d -been thinking of that. It won’t do any -harm to go talk to him. The ‘breed’ -must have heard that our company’s got -back, and so knows we’re around somewhere.”</p> - -<p>They passed quickly through the town; -at the far side was a squalid section mostly -occupied by Indians and the riff-raff of a -frontier settlement. A wretched sun-baked -adobe house with very low doorways -and a generally forlorn aspect bore -some straggling lettering across the front.</p> - -<p>“This is old Diaz’s storehouse,” said Kit.</p> - -<p>Inside, the place was deep with shadows.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[109]</span> -Cured pelts and buffalo hides were heaped -in corners; traps hung from the ceiling; -rifles, clothing, knives, hardware, pottery -and examples of feather work were displayed -for sale.</p> - -<p>A fat old woman, a Mexican half-breed, -came waddling forward.</p> - -<p>“A blessing on the brave Americanos,” -wheezed she in Spanish. “You are our -first patrons of the day. Good luck be -with you; and what will you have?”</p> - -<p>“Where is Diaz?” asked the trapper.</p> - -<p>The old woman threw up her fat hands -and wagged her fat head.</p> - -<p>“Diaz!” she cried. “He is here; but -he is almost mad! Never have I seen him -so wrought up, and I have been married to -him for forty years. But,” with the facility -of much practice, “what will you have? I -can buy, sell and trade as well as Diaz. -What will you have?”</p> - -<p>“We want to see your husband,” said Kit.</p> - -<p>“See him!” Again the old woman<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[110]</span> -flourished her hands. “Impossible, señor! -He will see no one. He has met with a -misfortune!”</p> - -<p>From the back of the storehouse they -now heard a wailing voice lifted to a pitch -of great distress.</p> - -<p>“Oh, a blight is on me,” it droned. “A -darkness is shut down upon me. Never -again will such a chance be mine. To -think of it! A river running with gold—clear, -yellow, beautiful gold!”</p> - -<p>At this the three Americans looked at -each other with quickened interest; the -old woman wrung her fat hands and took -up the wail.</p> - -<p>“Running with gold, señors—a large -river whom no one but the Indians have -any knowledge of. And now the paper is -gone. We shall never see it again.”</p> - -<p>Kit Carson leaned his rifle against a heap -of wolf skins; to the woman he said:</p> - -<p>“We must see your husband, señora; -the matter is of great importance.” Then,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[111]</span> -as she shook her head stubbornly, he added: -“It is about this paper; tell him that.”</p> - -<p>The woman gave him a greedy look; -then as fast as her unwieldy body would -permit, she scuttled to the rear of the storehouse -and through a curtained doorway. -Beyond this there came a babble of excited -voices; then the woman reappeared followed -by an old man with bent shoulders and a -long, chin beard.</p> - -<p>“Señors,” squeaked this latter, in a thin, -trembling voice, “I welcome you. You -have come to bring joy to my old heart, -have you not? You have come with an -offer from the señor of the moccasins?” -eagerly, as his ratty old eyes ran from one -to the other. “Sit down. Be comfortable. -Let us approach this business quietly and -with freedom.”</p> - -<p>The trapper folded his arms across his -chest and leaned his shoulders against the -bare clay wall.</p> - -<p>“We were told by Manuel Lopez to seek<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[112]</span> -you out when we arrived in Santa Fé,” said -he. “It is on a business about a paper -which he has—a paper which he took from -the schooner ‘Gadfly’ at Los Angeles.”</p> - -<p>The quaking hands of Goat Beard began -to gesture; his halting old tongue was -striving to form a reply, when the curtains -at the rear doorway were once more pushed -aside—and Lopez himself stood before them!</p> - -<p>The half-breed’s eyes were bloodshot and -feverish; his brown hands trembled as badly -as those of the old man.</p> - -<p>“So you are here, are you?” said he, -after he had stood staring at them for a -moment from the doorway. “You are -here, and looking for the map.”</p> - -<p>He threw up his hands, pressing them -tightly to his forehead; then he began to -laugh in a way that made the flesh of the -two lads creep.</p> - -<p>“He’s like a madman,” whispered Dave -to his cousin.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[113]</span></p> -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i_113.jpg" alt="" /></div> -<p class="caption">“SO YOU ARE HERE?”</p> - -<p>“Something has happened,” replied Joe,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[114]</span> -in the same low tone. “And something -that means ill luck for us, I’m afraid.”</p> - -<p>Kit Carson made no movement nor -answer; he continued leaning against the -adobe wall, his strong arms folded across -his chest. After a few moments the half-breed -recovered from his frenzy; but his -eyes still gleamed, his fingers opened and -shut like the claws on an animal.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” said he, nodding his head slowly. -“I did ask you to come here; and I meant -to deal honestly with you, too. But it’s too -late! I’ve been an idiot; and I’ve been -robbed!”</p> - -<p>“Of the map!” Dave Johnson made a -step forward.</p> - -<p>“Yes; of the map,” replied Lopez. “I -began to boast of the great luck I had. I -showed the map to Moccasin Williams. He -is a miner of experience. He had heard -stories of gold in California, and had always -wanted to go there. Later, while I was -asleep, he robbed me.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[115]</span>He sank down upon a heap of hides, his -hands covering his face; from his manner -one who did not know the merits of the -case would have considered him an honest -man grievously wronged.</p> - -<p>“A river of flowing gold,” wailed Goat -Beard. “Yellow, beautiful gold! And -now we will never know where it is. We -shall never see it—never gather a nugget, -never a grain of its dust.”</p> - -<p>After this outburst there was a moment’s -silence; then Kit Carson spoke.</p> - -<p>“So Moccasin Williams now has the -map,” said he. “Have you any idea where -he is?”</p> - -<p>The half-breed leaped up.</p> - -<p>“If I had, would I be here?” asked he, -his eyes aflame. “Would I not be stepping -in his tracks and hoping for the moment -which would bring me up with him?”</p> - -<p>“Have you searched the town?”</p> - -<p>“I have. To-morrow I go to Taos. -Then the settlements all through the hills<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[116]</span> -will be searched. I have friends who will -help me. There’s not an Indian village -but will come under our eyes, or hide him -from us. And when I find him——”</p> - -<p>Here his gesture finished the sentence—a -gesture as deadly in its meaning as the -coiling of a rattlesnake.</p> - -<p>After a few moments more in the storehouse -of Goat Beard, the three Americans -left.</p> - -<p>“The map is gone, sure enough,” said -Kit, as they went slowly down the street. -“And that this blackguard Moccasin Williams -has it, is more than likely.”</p> - -<p>“But is Lopez to escape punishment?” -asked Dave, who tingled with a desire to -bring the half-breed to book for what he -had done, and the labor, the anxiety, the -peril he had caused them.</p> - -<p>Kit shook his head.</p> - -<p>“Santa Fé is only a frontier town,” said -he. “And what little law there is is Mexican, -and Mexican law don’t go very far in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[117]</span> -favor of an American. There are men who’d -take the thing in their own hands and deal -with Spotted Snake as Spotted Snake says -he’ll deal with this man Williams if he ever -puts his eyes on him; but we are not that -kind. We’ll wait; for who knows what will -happen, and maybe before a great while.”</p> - -<p>That evening the three held council; and -it was not long before they came to an -agreement. Joe and Dave each wrote a -long letter telling of what they had done -and what they meant to do. These were -addressed to Joe’s father at the San Gabriel -Mission. They told him to be of good -heart and to remain where he was until he -heard from them again.</p> - -<p>“We are going to search for Moccasin -Williams until we find him,” wrote Joe to -his father. “And to help us we have the -finest fellow you ever saw—a dead shot, and -one of the quickest brains on the frontier. -It may be some time before we see you -again; but don’t worry, dad; we’ll be all<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[118]</span> -right, and will come through it all with -credit to you.”</p> - -<p>“Buck Morgan’ll be trading up as far as -the Colorado this summer,” Kit told the -boys. “And he’ll be sure to find a Mexican -or a Pueblo who’ll carry the writings to the -mission.”</p> - -<p>Next day this was seen to; the trader, -who was the same Kit had interviewed on -the previous morning, readily agreed to see -to the forwarding of the letters.</p> - -<p>“And I’ll send a little word of my own,” -said he kindly to the boys. “You see -you’re only youngsters and he might think -you’re plunging into some harum-scarum -thing that’ll bring you nothing but danger. -But if an outsider tells him it’s the best thing -to be done, it might hearten him up a little.”</p> - -<p>The boys thanked Mr. Morgan for his -good-natured offer and begged him not to -let the idea slip his mind; then, with Kit, -they rode off toward Taos.</p> - -<p>This latter town was even of a more primitive<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[119]</span> -cast than Santa Fé; it was smaller and -the population was less law abiding. Into -Taos poured all the trappers, teamsters and -other wild spirits of the country; and from -Taos set out almost all the expeditions in -search of fur, trade and adventure. A week -was given to the search for Moccasin Williams; -but they failed to find him.</p> - -<p>They were careful to make but guarded -inquiries for the man; to have him learn, -in case he was skulking anywhere about, -that he was being sought, would have no -other effect than to frighten him away.</p> - -<p>However, the search was thorough for all -their secrecy; and the end was that Taos -was given up as a possible hiding place.</p> - -<p>Then they took up Lopez’ idea of the settlements -off among the hills; weird barbarous -places where the Mexicans and half-breeds -lived in a most primitive condition; -failing to find any trace of the man the Indians -were tried at their lonely villages; -but all to no purpose.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[120]</span>“He’s gone,” said Kit, with conviction, -one day at the end of summer; “he’s gone -as sure as shooting. But where?”</p> - -<p>Then one day, on the main street of Taos, -they encountered old Zeke Matthews.</p> - -<p>“Just now joined Fitzpatrick’s company -to trap on the Salmon River,” he told them, -after they had exchanged greetings. “Lot -of trapping going to be done this season. -Old Cap’n Gaunt went out already. Got -some of Young’s old men; I’d have gone -too, but you see I’ve got so’s I pick my -company very carefully these days.”</p> - -<p>The trapper and the two boys smiled at -the old fellow’s manner.</p> - -<p>“You didn’t like some of Gaunt’s men, -then?” said Kit.</p> - -<p>“Hardly. There’s some right down -scalawags among them,” said Zeke. “Good -trappers, mind you. But that ain’t everything. -I’ve had too many hard rubs from -the Injuns in my day to join a company -that’s got a renegade among ’em.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[121]</span>“A renegade,” said Kit, and there was a -quick snap in his eyes.</p> - -<p>“Moccasin Williams,” said Zeke.</p> - -<p>“So he’s gone out with Captain Gaunt’s -party, has he?” said Kit. “And what -country does the captain propose to trap?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, the Laramie and the Snake Rivers, -I hear,” replied Zeke. “About the same -section as Fitzpatrick’s crowd.”</p> - -<p>That evening Kit and his two young -friends held another council.</p> - -<p>“Williams’ going out with Captain Gaunt -shows one thing very plainly,” said the -trapper. “Either he’s heard of us searching -for him, or Spotted Snake’s been so hot -on his trail that there was nothing else to -do. He didn’t dare make for California to -prove the truth of the map, because he felt -that somebody would be sure to be watching -for him at the missions or towns.”</p> - -<p>“What do you suppose his plans are?” -asked Joe.</p> - -<p>“It may be,” said the trapper, looking<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[122]</span> -thoughtfully at them both, “that he’s gone -out with Gaunt just to wait till the search -for him dies down. Or it might be that he -means to make for the coast by a longer -way.”</p> - -<p>Dave thought of the grim mountain -chains, the trackless prairies, the roving -bands of Indians, some of whom had never -seen a white man.</p> - -<p>“A single man could never make his way -by that route,” said he.</p> - -<p>Kit shook his head.</p> - -<p>“Maybe not,” he said, slowly. “But, at -the same time, don’t forget that Moccasin -Williams has lived among the redskins; he -knows their ways and talks their languages. -What would be death to any other might -be smooth going enough for him.”</p> - -<p>“We must reach him before he leaves -the trapping company he went out with,” -said Joe, excitedly. “If we don’t he’ll -get away from us for good.”</p> - -<p>“Well,” said Kit, thoughtfully, “we can’t<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[123]</span> -follow Gaunt’s track by ourselves. The -Indians would be down on us before we’d -been out a week. But old Zeke says Fitzpatrick’s -company is going to trap in much -the same country as Gaunt. What say if -we join Fitzpatrick, and in that way get -within striking distance of our man?”</p> - -<p>Both lads jumped at the idea; and -next morning the three went to see Mr. -Fitzpatrick, a trapper and trader well -known in the southwest. He was pleased -to see them, for men were rather difficult to -secure at the time.</p> - -<p>The result was that in an hour all arrangements -were made; and in a few weeks -Kit Carson and his boy comrades had -turned their faces toward the wilderness -once more.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[124]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER IX<br /> - - -<small>IN THE COUNTRY OF THE HOSTILES</small></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">Fitzpatrick</span>, the head of the fur hunting -expedition of which Kit Carson now made -one, was a hardy, courageous man, a good -trapper, and knew the country and its signs -as well as any other man of his time.</p> - -<p>He led his party almost north; this course -they held until they reached the head -waters of the Platte.</p> - -<p>Winter was now upon them in the midst -of the mountains; the snow filled the -defiles, the icy wind moaned in the naked -trees and among the crags. But besides -their buckskins the trappers now wore thick -furs; and the warm blood of a vigorous life -in the hills and on the prairies made the -experience only one of increased pleasure to -the hardy border men.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[125]</span>At each camp enough “half faced” houses -were erected to shelter the men from the -wind and snow. These were made of -boughs, barks and skins and were of three -sides and a roof. The front was open, -toward the fire; the men slept on fur robes -or blankets, their feet turned to the blazing -logs.</p> - -<p>The Platte was followed slowly, the party -taking furs all the way to the Sweet Water, -one of its tributaries; and this stream in -turn was trapped until they reached Green -River. From there they progressed to -Jackson’s Hole, a fork of the Columbia; -then on to the Salmon River where a part -of their own band, which had left Taos -some days in advance, joined them.</p> - -<p>Old Zeke Matthews was among these new -men; and at once Kit and the boys began -questioning him with regard to any news -which he might have heard of Gaunt’s -men.</p> - -<p>“Nothing at all,” replied the old fellow.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[126]</span> -“A couple of Injuns came into camp one -night and told us that some trappers were at -work a little west of us; but from what they -said I’m pretty nigh sure they were Sinclair’s -party who left about the same time -we did.”</p> - -<p>The entire Fitzpatrick expedition now -having gathered, a group of warm huts was -erected in a sunny valley, protected from -the sweep of the winds; and as the trappers -meant to spend the remainder of the winter -there, they were at more pains to arrange -the camp, and make themselves comfortable.</p> - -<p>Most of the time in this long encampment -was spent in dressing pelts and mending -and making equipment and clothing. -The only hunting done was for food. They -were in the country of the Blackfeet, a -daring nation of red marauders, but because -of the cold the trappers did not -expect any troublesome attention from -them.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[127]</span>“They’ll stick to their lodges,” said -Zeke; “the varmints don’t like hard -weather.”</p> - -<p>But that they had all reckoned without -the wile of the red man and his desire for -the property of the whites was soon made -evident. A herd of buffalo was sighted -one day on a plain, and a party of four of -the trappers mounted and went in pursuit. -Just how their fate overtook them will -never be known; but that it was sudden -and dreadful was plain to their comrades. -A band of Indians dashed down upon them -and all four lost their lives.</p> - -<p>Vengeance shook the camp on the Salmon -River; in a fury the trappers armed; but -for all their swiftness the savages escaped; -not even an eagle plume was seen; and -their tracks were lost in the falling snow.</p> - -<p>When the spring opened operations were -commenced on the Salmon; at length they -reached the Snake or Shoshone River; and -the giant falls one day burst upon the vision<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[128]</span> -of the boys. The lava peaks rose in wild -grandeur all about it; the mighty rush of -the water awed and amazed even the hardy -spirits of the buckskinned adventurers.</p> - -<p>Along the Snake they trapped to the -Bear; and from there to the Green River -once more. Here they encountered a -trapper band which proved to be that of -Sinclair, of whom Zeke had spoken.</p> - -<p>“Captain Gaunt,” said head trapper Sinclair -to Kit. “Why, yes, I’ve heard of him -now and then since we got up into this -country. He put in the winter on the -Laramie River; and if I’m not much mistaken -he’s now trapping somewhere in the -South Park.”</p> - -<p>At once Kit sought out Mr. Fitzpatrick; -he told the adventurous Irishman as much -as he saw fit of the hunt for Moccasin -Williams and the desire of himself and the -boys to hunt up Gaunt’s band without -delay, now that it was located.</p> - -<p>“Why, then,” said the chief trapper,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[129]</span> -“go, and good luck to you. And it’s catch -the thief of the world I hope you do. For -the like of him is a bigger danger than the -Blackfeet themselves.”</p> - -<p>Zeke Matthews and another seasoned -adventurer named Gordon elected to follow -Kit and his young friends in their journey -to the South Park.</p> - -<p>“The Fitzpatrick company are about -through their trapping,” said the first of -these veterans, “and there’s no use taking -a long ride back to Taos, only to turn about -and make for the rivers again in a little -while after. Gaunt’s going to stay; he’ll -cache his pelts until he’s put in a couple of -seasons.”</p> - -<p>So the four, well armed, set out; and -without any notable adventures reached the -trapping ground of Captain Gaunt. The -latter was a hearty man past sixty, a true -type of the Westerner of the time. He -welcomed the visitors to his outfit with the -utmost warmth. But when Kit spoke of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[130]</span> -the object of their journey he frowned -blackly.</p> - -<p>“Moccasin Williams, do you say?” he -almost shouted; before he could continue -Kit laid a warning hand upon his -arm.</p> - -<p>“Not so loud,” said the young trapper; -“he’ll hear you.”</p> - -<p>“Well, if he does, he’s got mighty good -ears,” said the downright Captain Gaunt. -“For he’s away somewhere in the hills with -the redskins. And stole some of my best -horses when he went.”</p> - -<p>For a moment Dave and Joe felt that the -mountains had toppled over upon them; -they had counted so strongly upon the result -of coming up with this particular trapping -expedition that the shock of disappointment -was harder to bear than it had -been at any other time. Gone! And they -had possibly been within a few days’ journey -of him frequently; if they had known -where Gaunt’s men were working they<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[131]</span> -could have set out for his camp while there -was still hope of success. But now that -was at an end.</p> - -<p>“We’ve got it to do all over again,” said -Joe in a weary sort of way, for the long -anxiety had told on him.</p> - -<p>“Yes; we must begin at the beginning,” -admitted Dave. “But,” and there was a -flash in his eyes, “we’ll find him for all -that, and we’ll find the map too.”</p> - -<p>Kit and Captain Gaunt were conversing -aside.</p> - -<p>“I was warned against the fellow,” said -the head trapper. “They told me he wasn’t -to be trusted.” Then with some curiosity -in his voice, “Anything particular you -wanted of him?”</p> - -<p>“A kind of private matter,” said Kit.</p> - -<p>“Some sort of rascality, I’ll venture to -say,” was the captain’s comment.</p> - -<p>Then the five wanderers from Fitzpatrick’s -outfit held council together. Zeke -and the other trapper, as has been noted,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[132]</span> -intended to join Gaunt’s party from their -start for the South Park; and now Kit and -the lads could see nothing but the same -process for themselves. Gaunt was glad -enough to secure them, as he had come out -with fewer men than he intended, so the -routine of camp and trap and rifle was -taken up once more.</p> - -<p>They had been with Gaunt’s men for -some time, ever on the outlook for news of -a white man among the savages of the -region, when one night a band of marauders -crept up to the camp. The guard was -slack, perhaps; but that the night was a -dark one was a certainty. At any rate the -Indians managed to get among the horses -without being detected; and when dawn -came, nine of the very best animals were -missing.</p> - -<p>Zeke Matthews made the discovery, and -his whoop startled the camp.</p> - -<p>“Injuns,” stated he, pointing to the -ground, where the “signs” were plentiful<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[133]</span> -enough. “And they’ve driv’ off a lot of -the hosses.”</p> - -<p>From some articles of equipment lost by -the savages, it was learned that they were -Crows; and their trail led broad and plain -into the hills. Captain Gaunt surveyed his -men.</p> - -<p>“I want a party to take the trail, bring -back the nags and show the thieves that -there’s a punishment waiting for every one -who doesn’t respect the law of the wilderness,” -said he. “Who will go?”</p> - -<p>Kit Carson stepped out from among the -men; the boys, who would have followed -him anywhere, did the same; in a moment -there was a party of a dozen saddling -their mustangs and making ready for the -chase.</p> - -<p>“We’ll hold this camp until you return,” -said Gaunt. “And bring back the horses.”</p> - -<p>Along the trail sped the twelve, Kit Carson -riding silently ahead, his eyes searching -the ground. That the Crows were a rather<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[134]</span> -numerous party was evident from the hoof-prints -of the ridden horses.</p> - -<p>“They’re ten to one against us,” said old -Zeke, who was one of the pursuers and -whose experienced eyes also searched the -trail. “But that ain’t of no account. A -white man ought to be good for twice that -many redskins, any day!”</p> - -<p>After following the trail something like -five miles it grew greatly confused. During -the night a huge herd of buffalo had -crossed and recrossed it; but the genius of -the wilderness was strong in Kit Carson -even at that early time; in spite of everything -he never failed to pick up the track -each time it was lost.</p> - -<p>“The foot of a horse is different from a -buffalo’s,” said he, briefly, in answer to a -question of Dave’s. “And if you keep a -sharp eye on the trail, you’ll see the print -of a horse every now and then, even among -all the buffalo tracks.”</p> - -<p>All day they rode at a good pace; and by<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[135]</span> -late in the afternoon they had covered some -forty miles. The horses were jaded, and if -they were to be kept fit to continue the -trail the next day they must be rested and -fed.</p> - -<p>There was a clump of trees near by their -halting place which seemed an excellent -spot for a camp.</p> - -<p>“We’ll take a rest here,” said Kit, “and -have a snack. The nags can pick up a little -green stuff, too, maybe.”</p> - -<p>Winter had come again, and the horses, -from lack of herbage upon which to feed, -were in poor condition. There was a -promise of soft boughs and young bark in -the grove; the trappers’ animals lived upon -such fodder in the cold months, and the -prospect made them as eager and restive for -the camp as their riders.</p> - -<p>They were within a hundred yards of the -timber when a sound caught their ears. -There was a low command from Kit, and -the trappers drew rein instantly. Again the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[136]</span> -sound came to them, a sharp yelp as of an -animal in pain.</p> - -<p>“A dog,” said Kit; “and on the other -side of the timber.”</p> - -<p>The presence of a dog in the wilderness is -a positive indication of the presence of man -at no great distance. There was not one of -the seasoned trappers but knew this; and -the minds of Dave and Joe seeing the effect -upon their companion grasped the fact instantly.</p> - -<p>“Redskins!” said Kit Carson. “Look -there.”</p> - -<p>Above the tree tops two towering columns -of smoke were ascending; that a camp of -some size existed among or upon the opposite -side of the trees the whites were now -convinced.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[137]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i_137.jpg" alt="" /></div> -<p class="caption">“REDSKINS!”</p> - -<p>“This way,” said Kit, as he turned his -horse. Some little distance back, there was -a rise in the ground; behind this he remembered -to have seen a clump of timber something -like that which had just been the object<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[138]</span> -of their attention. Reaching the trees, -they dismounted; the horses were tied and -then Kit said quietly:</p> - -<p>“Boys, we don’t know what’s ahead of -us; so the best thing is to have a look over -the ground before we make another move. -I’m going across this bit of prairie and have -a look at that camp over there. It may be -the band we are after, or it may not be. In -an hour you’ll know. Anyhow, get yourselves -ready for action, for we don’t know -what may be the outcome.”</p> - -<p>He left them among the trees and advanced -toward the timber from which the -smoke was still ascending. The prairie was -a rolling one; here and there cover was to -be had; and Kit cautiously advanced from -place to place, his woodcraft making him -invisible for the greater part of the time -from the grove ahead.</p> - -<p>At length he reached the edge of the -clump; upon his hands and knees he crept -forward, parting the undergrowth and low<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[139]</span> -hanging limbs that his body might slip -noiselessly through. Finally he sighted the -camp, and as he did so he settled down -with a quick intake of the breath.</p> - -<p>Two large fires were burning; and at -each was roasting a butchered horse. A -company of painted savages, full armed -and with the feathers of their war bonnets -hanging down their backs, were grouped -about. A couple of lodges, strengthened so -as to be used as places of defense in case of -need, were erected at one side; a little distance -away were tethered the horses stolen -from the camp of Captain Gaunt, minus the -two roasting to provide a feast for the Crows.</p> - -<p>Usually keen to suspect the proximity of -a foe, the Indians now displayed surprising -laxity. Perhaps the great distance they -had put between themselves and the trappers -was the cause of this; they thought -themselves beyond the reach of pursuit, -and so were giving themselves up to the -enjoyment of their enterprise.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[140]</span>Kit watched them for some time; then -as the shadows began to thicken, he crept -away across the stretch of prairie to the -place where he had left his friends.</p> - -<p>“It’s the party we are after,” said he. -“I saw the horses. The reds are making -preparations for a big feast, and haven’t -any thought of danger.”</p> - -<p>“Feasting, eh?” said old Zeke. “Well, -boys, it seems to me we ought to have a -little to say in these festivities. Captain -Gaunt reckons on a trifle of powder being -burned by way of protest against horse-stealing -in general, and it’s as little as we -can do to go according to his will.”</p> - -<p>At nightfall the sound of barbaric song -came across the prairie; and as the trappers -stole toward the Indian camp they saw the -red glow of the fires, and through the trees -the swaying, contorting forms of the warriors -going through a savage dance of -triumph.</p> - -<p>The Indians had come from the north<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[141]</span> -with their booty of horse-flesh, and from -the north alone they looked for pursuit; -the trappers knew that this would be the -case, so they took care to approach the -camp from another side. When close enough -to see all that went on at the camp-fires of -the Crows, they crouched down in sheltered -places and waited for the end of the -feast.</p> - -<p>It was a cold night, and there was some -snow upon the ground. And as they waited -the whites grew chilled and stiff; their -limbs quaked and their teeth chattered. -But when the braves had finally eaten -their fill and danced themselves tired they -laid themselves down to sleep; and soon a -torpor overtook the camp.</p> - -<p>This was the time for which the trappers -had been waiting; Kit, with five others, -slipped away to the place where the horses -were grouped, freed, and drove them away. -Some little distance away the remainder of -the party joined them; then a council in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[142]</span> -low pitched voices was held as to what was -the next step.</p> - -<p>“We’ve got our horses,” counseled one -of the men. “The redskins are a pretty -powerful band and we’re a long way from -support. So it’s my opinion that we ought -to be satisfied with our good luck and start -back for camp right away.”</p> - -<p>A number of the others agreed to this; -but Kit Carson said:</p> - -<p>“The thieves should be punished. -Another thing, our nags are pretty well -done up and we’ll have to go slowly. Our -trail will show the Crows that there’s only -a few of us; and they’ll pursue us. In a -thing like this there’s a big chance against -us; so if we can, we had better shift things -around in our favor.”</p> - -<p>“How’s that to be done?” asked the -trapper who had favored letting well enough -alone.</p> - -<p>“We have them now just where an -attack would scare them most. Let us<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[143]</span> -throw a volley into their camp and charge -them; they’ll start running then, and the -chances are we’ll have nothing more to -fear.”</p> - -<p>“Them words is words of wisdom!” declared -Zeke Matthews, slapping the butt of -his rifle emphatically. “Strike hard now -and we needn’t be afraid later.”</p> - -<p>The trappers, an adventurous lot by -nature, at once fell in with the idea. They -looked to their weapons carefully; then -with steps trained to softness, they stole -upon the Crow camp.</p> - -<p>The fires had been allowed to die somewhat; -the plumed head of a lonely guard -nodded at the edge of the firelight; the -sleeping warriors, laden with food, never -stirred.</p> - -<p>Then suddenly a lean dog arose; his ill -shaped head lifted, and he began to sniff, -suspicion in every hair. Then he sprang -forward, barking loudly to arouse his -savage masters. Trained to awake at<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[144]</span> -such an alarm, some of the Indians -sprang up; and as they did so the long -rifles of the trappers lifted, and a volley -went whistling into the camp.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[145]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER X<br /> - - -<small>A DESPERATE EXPERIENCE WITH GRIZZLIES</small></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">As</span> the bullets of the trappers sang their -way into the Crow encampment, the warriors -began to fall; the whites stationed -themselves behind trees and reloaded; and -while they were doing so the savages sought -the cover of the two fortified lodges which -they had erected. From this shelter the -arrows began to dart; but the thick tree -trunks protected the trappers from their -barbed heads.</p> - -<p>At early dawn the Indians saw how few -in number the whites were; at once they -poured forth, with tomahawk, war club -and scalping knife, to crush them. But -at a discharge of the rifles five of the band -dropped in their tracks; the others fled -into the forts once more.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[146]</span>“I guess that’s about all we’ll hear of -them,” said old Zeke, as he rammed a fresh -charge of powder home and topped it with -a bullet. “They ain’t got the stomachs for -such work as that.”</p> - -<p>“Hold your places,” ordered Kit Carson; -“they will attack again.”</p> - -<p>A very little while proved that he was -right, and Zeke, veteran though he was in -Indian warfare, was wrong. Out of the -strongholds rushed the Crows, and with -yells of fury charged the hunters. So -fierce was their attack that the white men -were forced to fall back; but the deadly -rifles continued to ring through the dawn -and savage after savage fell before them. -Three trappers had been left with the -horses; these, hearing the continuous fire, -now joined their comrades. The additional -rifles were more than the redskins could -stand; completely defeated, they drew off. -The trappers did not wait for them to -ponder the situation, but fell back to their<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[147]</span> -horses; mounting in haste and leading the -recaptured animals they headed for the -Arkansas River, where the camp of Captain -Gaunt was then located.</p> - -<p>For some time longer Kit and the boys -remained with the Gaunt expedition; then, -as nothing seemed to develop in the matter -of Moccasin Williams, and as the fur taking -had grown poor, the three made up their -minds to a desperate venture. This was -nothing less than to leave the company of -trappers and make their way back to Taos.</p> - -<p>“It’s a dangerous journey,” said Captain -Gaunt; “but if your minds are made up, -go ahead. You are under no obligations to -me.”</p> - -<p>By great good fortune along the whole -of the long route through the wilderness -they did not sight a single Indian. Now -and then they came upon a cold encampment -and other signs of the red man’s -presence; but never a plume of the warrior -himself.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[148]</span>On the way they trapped and had rare -good fortune; when they reached Taos -they had a rich taking of beaver pelts -which just then were in great demand and -consequently high in price. At once their -inquiries were put afoot as to Moccasin -Williams; neither of the lads had ever seen -the man, but Kit Carson’s description of -him was so complete and they bore it so -thoroughly in mind that they were confident -that they would know him if they -ever met with him.</p> - -<p>But the result was the same as before. -Old Diaz, whom they visited, shook his -head and tugged at his goat’s beard sorrowfully.</p> - -<p>“I have never laid eyes on him, señor,” -said he. “Not once since you were here -last. And not once have I seen Lopez either -since that day. He is away, there,” one -trembling hand indicating the north, -“away among the Crows and Blackfeet -searching for the Americano, Williams.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[149]</span>After a week in Taos, Joe grew restless. -He had heard of an expedition, much like -that of Young’s, which was to head secretly -for California.</p> - -<p>“It’s been two years since we saw my -father,” he said to Dave. “And it’s been -almost as long since we wrote to him. Let -us go out with this party; after we see him, -and if he is willing, we will come back and -take up the trail once more.”</p> - -<p>Seeing how Joe felt in the matter, Dave -gave a ready consent; they spoke to Kit, -and though the trapper was sorry to lose -them, he saw that this was the right thing -for them to do.</p> - -<p>“Maybe,” said he, as he clasped their -hands at parting, “you’ll be back just as -you say. And maybe again you won’t, for -you might find Williams among the missions -up there where you’re going, looking -for that river of gold that old Goat Beard -talked about. But, however it turns out, -don’t forget that I’ve got to care a good bit<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[150]</span> -about you two boys; and I’m only sorry -that I couldn’t do something for you that’d -help you to get what you’re after.”</p> - -<p>And so the lads went off on another -journey through mountain, plain and -desert.</p> - -<p>Shortly after this, Kit joined a fur -hunting expedition sent out by the celebrated -firm of Bent & St. Vrain, under -the leadership of Captain Lee, once of the -United States Army. Later he spent some -time on the Laramie River with old Zeke -Matthews and two other men, the venture -being one of his own. It was returning -with this that Kit met with the most desperate -adventure that he had taken part in -up till that time.</p> - -<p>The party had gone into camp one afternoon, -and being short of meat, Kit took his -rifle and started out to look for game. A -mile from camp he came upon elk signs; he -followed their tracks until he came in sight -of them feeding upon a hillside. Craftily<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[151]</span> -he advanced upon them; but fine as was his -skill the elk got scent of him, tossed their -antlered heads and broke into a run. Up -went the never failing rifle, and a noble -buck dropped upon the brow of the hill.</p> - -<p>“A lucky shot,” spoke the trapper, as he -stood with the empty rifle smoking in his -hands, his eyes upon the fallen buck. But -hardly had he spoken the words when he -heard a most terrific series of roars; like -lightning he turned and saw a pair of -enormous grizzly bears, their eyes red with -rage, and their cruel teeth gleaming, charging -down upon him.</p> - -<p>There was no time to think out a plan of -defense; the grizzly is an immense brute, -weighing more than a thousand pounds, -and often swift enough to outrun a horse. -So Kit dropped his empty rifle, turned -about and ran.</p> - -<p>The great beasts came lumbering after -him, to all appearances awkward and slow, -but in reality with astonishing swiftness.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[152]</span> -Kit knew their speed, having had previous -experience with them, though none so desperate -as this; and he knew that in a few -moments, at most, he would be overtaken.</p> - -<p>As he ran his eyes went here and there -for a place of safety; then, straight ahead, -he saw a tree, the branches of which were -fairly low. As he came under it, he grasped -a limb and with a mighty pull swung himself -upward, a blow from the foremost -grizzly barely missing him.</p> - -<p>The tree had been the only thing the hard-pressed -trapper could think of; and no -sooner had he gotten settled in a branch -than he realized that he was in a sort of -trap. Bears are noted climbers; even the -enormous grizzlies can ascend trees with -ease.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” muttered Kit, as this came to him, -“and they’ll be after me like a couple of -tornadoes in a few minutes. So I’d better -find something or some way of defending -myself.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[153]</span>He still retained his heavy hunting knife, -but though the blade was broad and keen -he knew that it would be but poor weapon -with which to meet the attack of such brutes -as the two growling and staring up at him -from below.</p> - -<p>But still, the knife would be useful, for -all. He drew it from its sheath, and began -cutting furiously at a thick, short branch -which grew at his hand; this was soon -trimmed, and as he balanced the heavy -club which it made, he said with satisfaction:</p> - -<p>“Here’s something, anyhow! I’ll not -have to meet them empty handed. So, -come on, my lads, I’m ready for you.”</p> - -<p>The bears needed no invitation, however; -they had been measuring the situation from -their places beneath the tree; and one of -them had risen upon his hind legs, dug -his great claws into the trunk and begun to -climb upward.</p> - -<p>The foremost part of a bear, in climbing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[154]</span> -a tree, is his nose; and the noses of most -animals are very tender and easily hurt. -The grizzly bear’s is no exception. So as the -climber came within reach, Kit swung his -club; the blow landed fair and true, the -bear yelled with pain, and slipped back to -the ground. But the other stood ready to -take his place; Kit cleared away the small -boughs which might entangle his weapon -and so interfere with his stroke. Once -more the heavy club swished downward, -and again it landed upon an eager, uplifted -snout. There was another roar, and the -second bear slid to the ground. They stood -together, and glared at the trapper, their -roars and shrieks making the lonely mountains -ring. Then, their pain easing somewhat, -they attacked once more. Again and -again the club struck the tender, bleeding -snouts, again and again the bears roared in -agony and fell back.</p> - -<p>At length they lost heart in the matter -and sat watching him sullenly and pawing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[155]</span> -their noses; but as he made no move to -come down, they finally gave up the vigil -just as the long shadow of night began to -fall; and with many looks over their -shoulders they lumbered away into the -woods.</p> - -<p>Kit waited for a space; then he slid down -the trunk of the tree and ran softly and -swiftly toward the spot where he had -dropped his rifle. The piece was still unharmed; -and the trapper reloaded it and -stood listening. From the depths of the -forest came the sound of the bears crushing -through the underbrush; then this died -away in the distance and all was still.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[156]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XI<br /> - - -<small>THE BULLY OF THE TRADING CAMP</small></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">After</span> making sure that the bears were -not returning, Kit Carson shouldered his -rifle and made his way back to camp through -the gathering dusk. It was dark when he -reached there, and this made it unadvisable -to take a packhorse after the carcass of the -elk; so the trappers had to be content with -rather short commons until the next day, -when their rifles came into play and meat -was had for the larder.</p> - -<p>Joined by a trapping party under Bridger, -Kit went to the rendezvous of the Rocky -Mountain trappers on Green River. There -were about two hundred men in this big -camp, which was for the purpose of selling -their furs and buying supplies. The trading -being done, Kit joined a trapping company<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[157]</span> -journeying into the Blackfoot country -at the head of the Missouri River. But the -redskins made such determined and persistent -attacks that the party was forced to -retire from their country.</p> - -<p>They fell back to the Big Snake River, -where they wintered. But the Blackfeet -still held the trail; in a desperate battle -with this dangerous tribe Kit was seriously -wounded in saving the life of a comrade -named Markhead; in this fight the savages -received a terrible beating.</p> - -<p>The spring season was a most fortunate -one; beaver was very plentiful and their -taking of the fur was rich. Kit’s wound -got well rapidly, thanks to his strong constitution, -and he was soon able to set his -traps with the rest of them.</p> - -<p>The long journeys through the wilderness -to Taos and Santa Fé were too great a -strain upon both horses and men; the dangers -of the journey were too grave to be -undertaken several times a year; and so the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[158]</span> -big trading camp on Green River grew very -popular with the trappers. So, the season -being over, the different companies all -headed toward this station; the one which -Kit Carson was with among them.</p> - -<p>As the ponies pranced along the long -street of the camp, and the pack animals -moved more soberly under their burden of -furs, the bronzed trappers waved their -coonskin caps and shouted joyously to -friends whom they recognized by the way. -This great fair of the Rocky Mountain -trappers occupied quite a beautiful site; -circling it were the giant hills, crowned -with mighty forests; the huts of the trappers -and traders were built among the trees; -some were after the fashion of Indian -lodges, others were of bark and poles and -sod. But the traders had structures of -hewn logs to hold their stores.</p> - -<p>Kit rode through the camp, speaking to -his friends among those who came forward -to greet the newcomers. He was dismounting<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[159]</span> -when there came a rush of feet and he -was seized by two pairs of strong arms. -Two enthusiastic voices cried, joyfully:</p> - -<p>“Here you are, at last!”</p> - -<p>“We’ve been waiting for you a whole -month!”</p> - -<p>“I knew you’d come, Kit!”</p> - -<p>“We’re back again; and we’ve got -news!”</p> - -<p>The young trapper wriggled out of the -clutch of his assailants; and one look -showed him that they were Dave Johnson -and Joe Frazier.</p> - -<p>Gripping their hands in welcome, he -cried:</p> - -<p>“Why, lads, this is a surprise, sure -enough! I never expected to see you so -soon.”</p> - -<p>“We came back with the same party we -went out with,” said Dave. “We heard at -Taos that you were out in this region and -that you would probably put in the summer -at this trading camp. So there was a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[160]</span> -chance with a trader helping with the -packhorses, and we jumped at it.”</p> - -<p>“How did you find your father?” asked -Kit of Joe.</p> - -<p>“I never saw him looking better,” replied -the boy. “But come over to our place; -we’ve got a shanty big enough for the three -of us. And hurry! We left a pair of -prairie chickens roasting over the fire; and -we’re to have flap-jacks and coffee.”</p> - -<p>Dave hurried to their hut, which was in a -shaded place on the edge of the camp, to -see to the chickens; Joe and the trapper -followed at a slower pace. The two lads -helped to unsaddle the mustang, and Joe -picketed him where the grass was rich and -thick. Then they all sat down and watched -the fowls brown on the spit and the coffee-pot -send up its jet of steam.</p> - -<p>“Your father wasn’t against your leaving -him again, then?” said Kit.</p> - -<p>“Father has gone back home,” said Joe. -Then seeing the trapper’s astonishment, he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[161]</span> -added: “You see, while he was at San -Gabriel he learned quite a lot of things. -One of them was that even if we did recover -the map and find the place it indicated, -we’d hardly be permitted to wash the -gold. The Mexican government and population -are afraid that the Americans will -some day overrun California; and so they -do everything they can to discourage them, -hoping to keep them away. So father -thought there was no use remaining and -neglecting his business at home.”</p> - -<p>“But how does it come that you two -were left behind?” asked Kit.</p> - -<p>“Well,” laughed Dave, “we objected to -going back so strongly and made such a -general fuss that uncle made up his mind -that he’d let us have another try. He took -an American ship which sailed from San -Francisco and will land him in New York. -If we have no success, we are to follow next -season.”</p> - -<p>“I see,” said Kit. There was a pause,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[162]</span> -then he asked: “But the news you spoke -of? What is it? Did you find something -out, among the missions?”</p> - -<p>“Not a word,” said Dave, “and we spent -a couple of months prowling around among -them. But,” and here he lowered his -voice, “on our way here with the trading -party we stumbled upon something—as -real a piece of news as you could wish -for.”</p> - -<p>“Good,” said Kit, his gray eyes snapping, -“and what is it?”</p> - -<p>“There was a French Canadian named -Shunan with the train, a big man, very -quarrelsome and ready with his weapons.”</p> - -<p>“I know him,” nodded Kit. “He’s a -trapper, and,” in a puzzled tone, “I don’t -see what he was doing with the traders.”</p> - -<p>“He was making for this fair,” said Joe. -“He had been to the settlements on a sort -of mission.”</p> - -<p>“A mission!” said Kit.</p> - -<p>Both boys nodded.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[163]</span>“He’s quite loose with his tongue,” said -Dave, “and we got the whole thing, bit by -bit, at night by the fire. He’d talk to the -men, you see, boasting of what he’s done -and meant to do. He’d been sent in to -Santa Fé to look about and ask questions. -The person who sent him was away in the -Blackfoot country, afraid to venture into -civilization himself.”</p> - -<p>Instantly Kit Carson’s quick mind -grasped the situation.</p> - -<p>“Moccasin Williams!” he cried.</p> - -<p>“Right! And the person he was inquiring -about was Lopez, the half-breed.”</p> - -<p>“Asking if he was in Santa Fé, or in the -region round about?”</p> - -<p>“Yes; and he found, as we did, that the -half-breed was away north, also in the -Blackfoot country. This seemed to amuse -him. Williams feared to go back to Taos -or Santa Fé; he feared to go to California; -for there he might meet Lopez.”</p> - -<p>“According to what the Frenchman said,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[164]</span> -Williams is in mortal dread of the knife of -the man he robbed,” said Joe.</p> - -<p>“And instead of being safe in the place -he selected for hiding, he is really in great -danger, with Lopez searching for him, as -Shunan heard, from one Indian village to -another. It would have been much better -if he had returned, or had gone to California.”</p> - -<p>“Much better for him, perhaps,” said -Kit, grimly. Then his expression changed -and he added: “Well, it’s good news -enough, lads; and we’ll see what can be -done with it. The map is still in the -hands of Williams; if it were not he’d not -be so anxious to get to California. And so, -if nothing else, it shows us that we still -have him to look for. You were in luck -to meet this man, Shunan.”</p> - -<p>At this the trapper noted the faces of the -boys change in expression.</p> - -<p>“I don’t just know about that,” said -Dave.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[165]</span>“We were lucky, in a way,” admitted -Joe; “but in another way we were not so -much so.”</p> - -<p>“Something’s happened,” said Kit.</p> - -<p>Dave and Joe nodded.</p> - -<p>“Somehow,” said the former, “Shunan -got to know of our interest in what he said -in his boasting. It may be that he had -heard of us, and, now that we’d got his -attention, he’d placed us for the first time. -Ever since then he’s been trying to get up -some sort of a quarrel with us.”</p> - -<p>“Ah!” said Kit Carson.</p> - -<p>He sat looking at the boys steadfastly; -and they saw a dangerous, narrowing light -in his gray eyes.</p> - -<p>“I know Shunan,” said he. “I’ve known -him for some time; and as you said when -you first mentioned him, he’s quarrelsome -and ready with his weapons. For him to -try and pick a fight with a man means only -one thing—and that’s a deadly one.”</p> - -<p>The prairie chickens were done, the flap-jacks<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[166]</span> -nicely browned and the coffee piping -hot when old Zeke Matthews came along. -Immediately the boys sprang up and -greeted him; he was invited to join them -and did so with alacrity.</p> - -<p>“Roasted birds we get out in the trapping -country,” said he. “But flap-jacks -seldom, coffee seldomer, and coffee with -reg’lar sugar in it, never at all.”</p> - -<p>And as Zeke ate of these delicacies, Kit -told him of Shunan’s desire to quarrel with -the boys, though he did not mention the -reason for it. The veteran was indignant.</p> - -<p>“What!” demanded he. “Can’t he find -no one but a passel of youngsters to fight -with. Well, all I got to say is, let him -look out for himself!”</p> - -<p>Released from the restraint of the wilderness -where they were ever on the lookout -for attacks of savage beasts or savage men, -the trappers relaxed; the trading camp was -a hubbub of sounds. Songs, the squeak of -a fiddle, blustering talk and high pitched<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[167]</span> -contention grew constant as each night -passed and the day began.</p> - -<p>During one afternoon there was a turmoil -at one end of the camp, a clash of fists -and the sight of bloody faces. Later there -was still another outbreak of the same sort. -Then little by little the thing increased until -the camp roared steadily with strife.</p> - -<p>“It’s all Shunan,” said a trader to old -Zeke. “Fellows like that make more -trouble than a tribe of thieving Indians.”</p> - -<p>Once or twice during the day Kit Carson -caught sight of Shunan. He was a burly -fellow with the air of a bravo; his face was -flushed and his eyes gleamed with menace.</p> - -<p>“A wolf,” said Kit to the boys. “So, to -avoid trouble and keep the peace, lay low. -If you can avoid it, don’t let him see you.”</p> - -<p>Both Dave Johnson and Joe Frazier were -naturally boys of spirit; and their two years -in the wilderness with the trappers had -given them a confidence in themselves -which they might not have had otherwise.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[168]</span> -So the idea of concealment, of practically -hiding from a bully, was galling to them.</p> - -<p>Kit saw this and said:</p> - -<p>“Your keeping out of his way won’t be a -mark against you boys. Nobody’ll think -the worse of you for it, for more seasoned -men than either of you will be for many -years are dodging this man just now. So -take my advice. Lay low. I don’t think -it will make any real difference in the end,” -as an afterthought, “for if he wants to -force trouble on you, he will. But, when -the time comes, you’ll have the satisfaction -of knowing that it’s not your fault.”</p> - -<p>The lads acted upon this suggestion; and -the result was that some time went by without -the bully encountering them. But his -purpose was plain enough; frequently he -came to that part of the camp where the -boys’ hut was located, and his remarks when -any one happened to be in the vicinity -were brutal and offensive. Kit Carson, -Zeke Matthews and some others had erected<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[169]</span> -lodges near that of the lads; and they frequently -listened to the bully’s boasts and -threats and insults without a sign.</p> - -<p>But finally the thing grew unbearable.</p> - -<p>“Human nature,” said the veteran, Zeke, -“can’t stand no more. He’s getting worse. -He thinks we’re afraid of him. Let him -talk like that just once more, and my rifle’ll -answer him.”</p> - -<p>At length the day came which brought -the climax. The bully had kept the camp -in hot water all morning; he had engaged -in a half dozen fights with men weaker than -himself, and beaten them; and so he came, -roaring like a mountain bear, toward the -spot where Kit sat with his friends. As it -happened the two lads were in the party. -Both looked up at the Frenchman from -where they lay stretched upon the ground; -and neither made an attempt to avoid him.</p> - -<p>He had grown accustomed to their dodging -him; and now that they failed to move -it seemed to inflame him more than ever.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[170]</span>“It’s a camp full of coyotes,” announced -he, squaring himself before them all. -“Every one runs when a man comes along.”</p> - -<p>There was an ominous silence on the part -of the trappers; and he proceeded:</p> - -<p>“Did you hear me speak?” he demanded. -“Did you hear me mention coyotes? -Where’s the Indian fighters that I’ve heard -about? Where are they? Did they ever -fight a white man? Well, here’s their -chance, if they’ve got the stomachs to take -it up. Here’s a man that’s willing to give -them a chance to make a reputation.”</p> - -<p>The silence of the group was still unbroken -and the bully’s sneering look ran -around the circle.</p> - -<p>“All Americans, eh? Every one an American! -Well, I’ve beaten all the Frenchmen -in the camp; and as for the Americans, -I’ll cut a stick some day and switch -them around their own lodges.”</p> - -<p>Again his sneering glance went over -them; then he shrugged his huge shoulders<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[171]</span> -contemptuously, turned and started away. -But he had gone hardly half a dozen steps -when a voice called sharply:</p> - -<p>“Shunan!”</p> - -<p>The man halted and wheeled. Kit -Carson stood facing him. The difference in -the two was very great. The Frenchman -was a Hercules; a towering man, with a -great chest and massive limbs; the American -trapper was small and quiet in manner -and seemed in no way a match for him.</p> - -<p>But Kit Carson was never a man to stand -back because the odds were not in his favor; -so he advanced toward the camp bully.</p> - -<p>“Shunan,” said he, coolly, his gray eyes -fixed steadfastly upon the man before him, -“we’ve all listened to you talk for some -time; and we’ve said nothing. There are -twenty men in this camp who could beat you -in any kind of fighting you could name. -But they are not trouble seekers; and so -they’ve stood back. Now, I consider myself -the least among them; and being such<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[172]</span> -I take it on myself to say that we are all -tired of you and your bullying. And, further, -I want to say that you will, from this -time on, stop your threats, or I’ll shoot you.”</p> - -<p>For a moment the Frenchman stood staring -at the speaker, his eyes glowing with -fury; then he turned again without a word -toward his own quarters.</p> - -<p>“Gone for his gun,” said old Zeke. -“And from his looks he means business.”</p> - -<p>The group of trappers broke up immediately; -sharp action was in the air, and to -meet this their experience told them to be -prepared. But, seeing, from their faces, -what they meant to do, Kit shook his head -negatively.</p> - -<p>“This is my affair, boys,” he said. “So -I must ask you all to stand aside while I -go through with it.”</p> - -<p>“But he’s got friends in camp,” protested -old Zeke. “They’ll all be out to see him -through.”</p> - -<p>“If they interfere,” said Kit, “then I<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[173]</span> -rely on you to see me through. But I don’t -think they will. Shunan has had the run -of this camp too long to think he needs -help in a little matter like this. It’ll be a -matter of pride with him; and you’ll see, -he’ll handle it alone.”</p> - -<p>Like lightning the news of the impending -conflict ran through the camp. The -trappers and traders carefully drew out of -what they thought would be the line of fire, -or placed themselves behind trees or the -heavy log houses.</p> - -<p>The boys went after Kit and found him -tightening his saddle-girth, a little distance -from his lodge.</p> - -<p>“By all rights,” said Dave Johnson, -“this fight should be mine or Joe’s. We -brought the man down this way; he was -always looking for us when he came. And -now that trouble has come of it, I don’t see -why you should shoulder it.”</p> - -<p>Kit slapped him on the back and -laughed.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[174]</span>“The whole thing is a public one,” said -he. “The man has come to be a nuisance -and a danger, and so a stop of some sort -must be put to him. We have no law in -the wilderness, nor law officers. But we -know what we want, and somebody always -comes forward to put a thing right. In -this case it is Kit Carson.”</p> - -<p>Having saddled his pony to his satisfaction, -he took out a heavy dragoon pistol -and looked at its priming with much care. -This he placed in his belt, then swung himself -into the saddle. And as Kit rode out -from the line of the lodges, the sound of -hoofs came to him. His quick eye turned -in the direction of the sound; and he saw -the Frenchman mounted on a powerful -horse, a rifle in his hands, riding toward -him.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[175]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XII<br /> - - -<small>LOPEZ RIDES INTO CAMP</small></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">It</span> is written boldly in the records of the -great west that Kit Carson was a man without -fear; and never before did he show this -fact as he did when he turned his horse’s -head and rode toward the Frenchman, -Shunan. His pony went at a slow, swinging -lope; Kit sat him as quietly as though -he were on his way to try a shot at a flock -of prairie chickens, and there was no enemy -on that side of the range.</p> - -<p>And the bully was in no way backward. -But his bluster was gone; all the cunning -in his nature was called upon to aid him in -the crisis. His horse advanced at a swift -pace; and the heads of the two steeds -almost touched when their riders drew -rein.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[176]</span>“Shunan,” said Kit, “am I the man -you’re looking for?”</p> - -<p>The eyes of the bully shifted under the -steady gaze of the American.</p> - -<p>“No,” said he.</p> - -<p>Then almost instantly the muzzle of his -rifle lifted and covered Kit. But quick as -was his action, Kit’s was quicker. The -dragoon pistol flashed, and its heavy bullet -struck Shunan in the arm, shattering the -bone; the man’s weapon exploded a second -after the trapper’s; and its missile grazed -Kit’s scalp; then it fell to the ground, and -the man’s horse, unchecked, turned and -dashed away.</p> - -<p>Calmly Kit rode back to where he had -left his friends.</p> - -<p>“He meant to kill you,” stated old Zeke. -“I saw the way he threw up his rifle barrel -that nothing else would please him.”</p> - -<p>And that the American trapper, lightning -quick and of deadly aim, only shot to disable -his foe was evident to all; had he so<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[177]</span> -desired, Shunan would have dropped from -his saddle never to rise again.</p> - -<p>“Peace in camp is all we want,” said -Kit, quietly. “And I think as far as -Shunan’s concerned we’ll have it in the -future.”</p> - -<p>There was no expedition going that fall -into the Blackfoot country; but one was -organizing for a trading trip in that -direction.</p> - -<p>“We’ll join that,” said Kit.</p> - -<p>“But,” said Joe, “we’ll be taking you -away from work that will be profitable.”</p> - -<p>“This matter of the map has me on my -mettle,” said Kit. “I’m going to see it -through now, no matter how long it takes.”</p> - -<p>They accordingly went out with the -traders as far as the Big Snake River. Here -they met a Hudson Bay trader named -McCoy who had about abandoned his operations -because of ill luck, and was about to -take up a trapping venture. They joined -him, thinking to get finally into the region<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[178]</span> -they desired. But after a series of adventures, -one of which saw them on the verge of -starvation in a journey to Fort Hall, they -were forced back to the Green River once -more to await another season.</p> - -<p>“It’s the last try,” said Dave, soberly. -“If we don’t get up into that country this -time we’ll have to give it up.”</p> - -<p>“That’s what I promised dad in the letter -I sent off to him yesterday,” said Joe. -“One more attempt; and if we fail, we go -home.”</p> - -<p>As the fall grew near there was much -talk of expeditions into the far regions; -the near-by streams had been trapped so -long that the beaver had become very -scarce; and if success were desired the -hunters must seek new waters.</p> - -<p>And in the midst of this, Kit one evening -came to the lodge which the boys had -erected. There was a gleam in his eye -which told them that something of a pleasing -sort had happened.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[179]</span>“Well,” said he, “it looks at last as -though we were going to have a chance. -An expedition, one hundred strong, is to go -as far as the Yellowstone.”</p> - -<p>“And do we go with them?” asked -Dave, leaping up in his excitement.</p> - -<p>“We do.”</p> - -<p>Both boys swung their caps in the air -and leaped about in a series of acrobatic -antics. But Kit sobered them in a moment.</p> - -<p>“Not only do we go,” said he, “but -Shunan goes also.”</p> - -<p>“Ah!” said Dave; and he sat down in -the door of the lodge.</p> - -<p>“That means something, I should say,” -said Joe.</p> - -<p>“All last season he was laid up with a -maimed arm,” said Kit; “and now, as soon -as he’s able, he engages for the Blackfoot -region. I know he’s specially set on going -there, because he refused a number of offers -to go out with parties who are to head in -other directions.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[180]</span>Shunan was a very much changed man; -his manner was subdued, and he gave little -or no trouble to the camp. Kit Carson he -treated with much respect, and the boys he -was careful not to molest. One day, however, -shortly before the big expedition was -to start, he met them in the camp street.</p> - -<p>“I hear you’re going up north,” said he.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” said Joe. “We thought it might -be a useful trip—and maybe profitable.”</p> - -<p>Shunan looked at them with something -like his old ferocity.</p> - -<p>“Take my advice and go somewhere -else,” said he, slowly. “It will be a dangerous -journey for people looking for anything -but beaver fur.”</p> - -<p>He was about to pass on, but Dave Johnson -placed himself in his path.</p> - -<p>“What do you mean by that?” said he.</p> - -<p>“Just what I say,” replied the man. -“Nothing more and nothing less.”</p> - -<p>Then he passed on, never giving them -another glance; and when the boys found<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[181]</span> -themselves at their lodge that night with -Kit Carson, they mentioned the matter. -The trapper seemed pleased.</p> - -<p>“I think,” said he, “that that proves -he’s going to carry news to his friend, -Moccasin Williams. Anyway, it shows -that he expects to meet him, and doesn’t -want any one in the party who has a -knowledge of his errand.”</p> - -<p>The chief trapper of the big expedition -into the Blackfoot country was named -Fontenelle; he was an experienced woodsman, -and of a very determined character. -With the packhorses loaded and the trappers -mounted upon their mustangs, he addressed -them.</p> - -<p>“Every time we’ve gone into the region -round about the head waters of the Missouri,” -said he, “we’ve been attacked, our -horses have been stolen, our traps taken, -our men killed; and in almost every case -it has ended in our being driven out.”</p> - -<p>A murmur went up from the men. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[182]</span> -Blackfeet were a hardy and warlike people -who claimed a vast extent of country as -their hunting ground. The tribe was at -that time some thirty thousand strong and -counted the finest of the many races of -American Indians. As hunters they were -unexcelled; their marksmanship was -deadly; and as riders and horse breakers -they were only led by the Comanches.</p> - -<p>“This time they’ll not drive us back,” -said old Zeke Matthews, who had engaged -to go out with Fontenelle. He slapped -the stock of his long rifle as he spoke. -“It’s our turn now; and we’ll make the -red thieves run.”</p> - -<p>It is doubtful if any such band of trappers -ever left the Green River before; they -were hardy, seasoned mountaineers, inured -to the wild life of the Rockies, expert in -the craft of beaver taking, and accomplished -in Indian warfare.</p> - -<p>Straight on they pushed through the -wilderness, day after day. In the country<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[183]</span> -of the Crows they met with friendly greetings; -perhaps it was the unusual size of the -party, and perhaps it was because it was -headed for the hunting grounds of the -Blackfeet—for years the deadly foes of the -Crows. On the Yellowstone, which was -in the heart of the Blackfoot region, they -set about the serious business of taking -fur. The company was divided—fifty men -to attend the traps and fifty to guard the -camp. The men lived with their rifles in -their hands. As Zeke Matthews put it:</p> - -<p>“The cook turns the meat on the spit -with one hand and has a loaded pistol in -the other.”</p> - -<p>Fontenelle was constantly urging the men -not to relax.</p> - -<p>“We can hold our own with them,” said -he. “But we must not let them surprise -us. Keep your eyes peeled; don’t overlook -a sign.”</p> - -<p>Kit Carson and his two boy friends -needed no urging. And they not only<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[184]</span> -watched for Blackfeet; they kept an eye -upon the movements of Shunan as well. -However, it was impossible to watch the -man at all times; now and then he’d be -out of their sight for hours at a time.</p> - -<p>One night after supper Kit drew the boys -aside. From beneath his hunting shirt he -drew a small, pointed stick, notched here -and there in a peculiar manner.</p> - -<p>“What is it?” asked Dave.</p> - -<p>“As we left the last line of traps this -afternoon,” said Kit, “I saw Shunan lag -behind and then drop back among some -trees. There were six of us; but I said -nothing to the others. A little later, after -Shunan rejoined us, I made believe I’d -sighted a small buck and started off, away -from the river. When I got out of sight, -I changed my course, heading back toward -the place where I’d seen Shunan disappear. -Hunting around, I saw Indian signs in -plenty; and then I saw this,” holding up -the wand, “sticking in the ground.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[185]</span>“A message!” said both boys in a breath.</p> - -<p>Kit nodded.</p> - -<p>“Yes; and I’ll venture there was one -waiting for him from Williams or the redskins.”</p> - -<p>After this they kept a stricter watch than -ever upon the Frenchman; but he seemed -to be entirely interested in the work of -trapping and curing furs, and not once did -they detect him in any further communication -with the savages.</p> - -<p>“They’ve come to some kind of an -understanding,” said Kit, after a time. -“And he’s waiting for a certain time to -come around. Like as not it’s the spring; -for it’s too late to jump out now and try to -get back to Santa Fé. Winter’d overtake -them.”</p> - -<p>Winter came on at last, the streams were -frozen and the trappers gave up their labors. -They left the Blackfoot country determining -to winter in a more friendly section. -A band of Crows guided them to a sheltered<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[186]</span> -valley, and the two parties camped -side by side during the severe months.</p> - -<p>The Crows were mostly young warriors, -and splendidly athletic; in good weather -they arrayed themselves against the white -men in games of strength and skill; hunting -was the favorite test, but horsemanship, -running and leaping, were also well liked. -In these contests the boys grew very intimate -with a stalwart young brave whose -name was Tall Thunder.</p> - -<p>One night they sat beside him at a lodge -fire in the Crow camp; a number of the -young warriors were also present, but they -rarely spoke, knowing little of the white -man’s language. Tall Thunder, however, -could make himself understood without -much difficulty. He related many of his -hunting exploits, and some of the deeds of -his tribe in their wars with the Blackfeet.</p> - -<p>“Your English is good,” praised Joe. -“How did you learn it?”</p> - -<p>“Um—much teach!” explained Tall<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[187]</span> -Thunder. “Half-breed speak much Englees. -Him Spotted Snake.”</p> - -<p>The boys looked at each other. Here -was verification of the story of old Diaz, -the trader at Santa Fé, and of the news -gathered by Shunan. Lopez, or Spotted -Snake, was, or had been, in the northern -wilderness.</p> - -<p>“Do you know where Spotted Snake is -now?” asked Dave.</p> - -<p>“Um! Crow village—four suns. Live -like chief!”</p> - -<p>The boys understood from this that -Lopez was then in a Crow village four days’ -journey from where they were; and also -that he was much honored. They were -discussing this fact in some excitement, -when the young Crow, who could make -nothing of the rapid English, said:</p> - -<p>“Spotted Snake is your friend?”</p> - -<p>Dave Johnson shook his head. Tall -Thunder seemed to turn the denial over for -a space; then he said:</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[188]</span>“Um! Spotted Snake keep away from -white men. Only want to see one.” He -nodded his head. “Him with Blackfeet. -Much hate.”</p> - -<p>“He hates the white man who lives -among the Blackfeet?”</p> - -<p>Tall Thunder nodded once more.</p> - -<p>“Much hate!” he repeated. Then as -though to show the extent of the man’s -hatred: “Want Crow to go on war-path. -Against Blackfeet. Chiefs and old men -hold council. Say no.”</p> - -<p>Later in the evening the boys spoke to -Kit about this. He was interested.</p> - -<p>“Lopez has his enemy placed,” said he. -“And maybe, through the news brought by -Shunan, Williams knows something about -the whereabouts of Lopez.” Then, after a -moment, during which he stared into the -fire: “It seems to me, boys, that your long -hunt is going to come to something at last. -Unless an accident happens Williams will -get out of this region in the spring; Shunan<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[189]</span> -will go with him. Watch Shunan; don’t -let him make a move that we don’t see, and -we can overreach them.”</p> - -<p>It was a hard winter on the horses; soft -branches and bark, the inside layer of the -cottonwood, was the only fodder the poor -animals had for weeks; but the fresh green -of the spring soon began to put them in -condition when that anxiously looked for -season arrived.</p> - -<p>While waiting for the horses to pick up -some flesh, Fontenelle, the chief trapper, sent -two men to Fort Laramie for some much -needed supplies. The news came later that -they had been ambushed and killed by -Blackfeet.</p> - -<p>It was in no very soft mood that the -trappers set out for their hunting grounds; -but, though they did not know it, the time -for the striking of a retaliatory blow was at -hand.</p> - -<p>As they drew near to the source of the -Missouri, they one evening camped on the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[190]</span> -fork of a small tributary. The setting sun -was slanting across the stream, the camp-fires -were lighted and the trappers were -cooking their supper, standing guard or -caring for the horses. Suddenly a shout -came from one of the pickets, together with -the sound of hoof-beats. In a few moments -a couple of fur hunters came into camp with -a horseman. In spite of the Indian trappings -worn by both mustang and rider, both -Dave Johnson and Joe Frazier recognized -him at a glance.</p> - -<p>“Lopez!” they exclaimed in a breath; -and then the trappers closed in around the -half-breed.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[191]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XIII<br /> - - -<small>THE VILLAGE OF THE BLACKFEET</small></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> throng of buckskin-clad trappers -crowded about the half-breed Lopez; every -eye was on him; all were curious to hear -the nature of his errand.</p> - -<p>“I came to warn you,” he said in Spanish, -to Fontenelle. “Directly in your path, one -day’s ride from here, is the main village of -the Blackfeet. Hold to your present course -and you’ll have them swarming around you -like bees.”</p> - -<p>For a moment there was a dead silence. -Then the many grievances they held against -that particular tribe, and more especially -the fate of the two messengers to Fort -Laramie, came to the minds of the trappers. -As one man they gripped their rifles -and there arose a cry for vengeance. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[192]</span> -half-breed sat his mustang quietly; he -said nothing, but in his eye was a satisfied -gleam. Kit Carson touched Dave -Johnson’s sleeve.</p> - -<p>“Moccasin Williams is in that village. -That is why the half-breed is here. Failing -to get the Crows to attack them, he -now tries our men.”</p> - -<p>“And with what result, do you think?” -asked Dave.</p> - -<p>For answer Kit pointed to the trapper -band; to a man, almost, they were gathered -about Fontenelle; their voices were lifted in -a harsh hubbub; their rifles were waved -about; they clamored for war.</p> - -<p>It was a wild scene, and one neither of -the boys ever forgot; the rough, bearded -men, buckskin-clad, their weapons gleaming -in the flare of the camp-fires, while all -around was silence and the darkness of the -wilderness.</p> - -<p>When the clamor died down, the chief -trapper spoke.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[193]</span>“We have suffered at the hands of the -Blackfeet,” said he. “And now that a -chance has come to strike a blow, we will -not let it pass.”</p> - -<p>There was a wild hurrah, and the men -scattered about the camp, gathering at the -various fires, cleaning their rifles, oiling the -locks of their pistols, seeing to the edge of -knife and hatchet.</p> - -<p>“And see that there’s plenty of good -black powder in your horns,” advised old -Zeke. “Bullets and flints will be things -you can’t have too much of either; for unless -I’m much mistaken we’ve got a day of -days ahead of us to-morrow, lads.”</p> - -<p>As the half-breed slipped from his horse -and approached a fire at which Kit and the -boys stood alone he nodded as though not -at all surprised to see them.</p> - -<p>“I saw all three of you a dozen times -during the winter,” said he. “But you -did not see me. I often rode through the -passes when the snow melted, and looked<span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[194]</span> -down at your camp in the valley from the -hills.”</p> - -<p>“And it was then, I guess, that you -thought how well it would fit in with your -plans if you could get our party to attack -the Blackfeet.”</p> - -<p>The half-breed smiled the disagreeable -smile natural to him.</p> - -<p>“But,” said he, “I never hoped to have it -happen, until the two riders going to Laramie -were killed. After that,” and he -snapped his fingers, “I knew it would be -nothing.”</p> - -<p>“If you were so anxious to revenge yourself -on Williams, why have you waited so -long?” asked Kit. “A man who really -wanted satisfaction would have tried for it -single-handed.”</p> - -<p>“Do you think I have not?” asked -Lopez, quietly. “Do you suppose I have -been lying by all this time waiting to be -helped? I spent months in trying to find -out where he was. Twice I was taken by<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[195]</span> -the Blackfeet and once almost lost my life. -That I could speak their language and -claimed to be related to their tribe was all -that saved me. At last I located him in -the village which you will see to-morrow. -The Pueblos call me Spotted Snake,” and -he laughed, harshly. “Well, I tried to -earn the name in my lookout for Moccasin -Williams; for never a snake held so close -to the ground, or crawled so silently -through the grass as I did. But I never got -him as I wanted him. A hundred times I -had him under my rifle, but he was never -near enough for me to be sure. To-morrow,” -and there was a deadly meaning in -his voice, “I will try again; and I think I -shall succeed.”</p> - -<p>The fire at which they stood was one removed -from the others, having been kindled -by a horse guard to roast a particularly -prized piece of buffalo tongue while he was -on watch. The trees threw huge, dancing -shadows all about; and their own movements<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[196]</span> -were grotesquely mimicked by the -giant shades flung from them by the changing -light. There was a silence after the -half-breed’s last words; then, as he stood -staring into the red of the blaze, Dave -Johnson fancied he heard a sound behind -him. Trained, by this time, to respond to -sounds which he did not understand, Dave -was about to turn; but he felt the grip of -Kit upon his arm—a grip which asked for -silence as plainly as words could have -done.</p> - -<p>Kit, facing the half-breed, spoke quietly:</p> - -<p>“The map which belongs to these boys, -now? What about that?”</p> - -<p>The half-breed gave a gesture of contempt.</p> - -<p>“If I can find the man who stole it from -me, that’s all I ask,” said he.</p> - -<p>“Well, all right,” said Kit. Then he -added, drily, “But seeing that you stole it -yourself, Spotted Snake, I think you’re -making a mighty big complaint.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[197]</span>“He claimed to be my friend. He is a -traitor,” said the half-breed, sullenly.</p> - -<p>“As I have said, all right,” repeated Kit. -“You can look at the thing just as you -see fit, and I’ll not say a word against it. -But,” and here there was a ring in his -voice like that of steel, “the map belongs -to these two lads, and I’m going to see that -they get it. It belongs to them and no one -else shall have it; neither you, Lopez, who -stand there grinning at me; nor you, Moccasin -Williams, away there in the Blackfoot -town; nor you, Shunan, who are behind me -in the bushes!” He wheeled as he spoke -these last words, and faced the darkness. -“Come out,” said he. “We know you’re -there, and we know why you’re there.”</p> - -<p>There came a swishing and clattering -among the thick growth, and the burly -Frenchman made his appearance.</p> - -<p>“I was looking for fuel,” he growled, -sullenly. “I didn’t know you were here.”</p> - -<p>Kit regarded him steadily.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[198]</span>“I never told the rest of the men how -you were in communication with the Blackfeet -in the fall,” said he. Then as the man -tried to interrupt, he lifted a hand for silence. -“If I had,” he went on, “I guess -you know what would have happened—for -they don’t love that people. But,” and the -ring in his voice was as hard as before and -the menace was as clear, “if you make an -attempt to leave camp to give warning they -will be told now. So, if you value a whole -skin, you’ll sit tight and say nothing.”</p> - -<p>“I never meant to——” began the -bully, but Kit stopped him.</p> - -<p>“It makes no difference what you meant,” -he said. “The thing is there, just the same. -I’ll give Fontenelle a hint, and there will -be a quiet guard over you until our little -business with the redskins is done. So mind -what movements you make when away -from the camp. You’ll not know which -one’ll draw the bullet from some pistol.”</p> - -<p>And that there was something behind<span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[199]</span> -this warning was soon made plain to the -bully; as he sat by the fire, as he rolled in -his blanket, he felt the watch held over -him; not once during the long night did it -relax; and though he desired ever so much -to warn his confederate among the Indians, -he did not dare to make a move.</p> - -<p>Long before dawn the camp was astir, -breakfast was cooked and eaten, and the -entire party of one hundred trappers, under -the guidance of Lopez, started in the direction -of the Blackfoot village. After a -march of some six hours they struck a broad -and well-defined trail.</p> - -<p>“This leads straight to the village,” said -Lopez. “Two or three hours more and we -are there.”</p> - -<p>But at this point Fontenelle halted the -column of trappers.</p> - -<p>“I think it would be best,” said he, “if -a small party went ahead and reconnoitered. -In marching on blindly this way -there is always danger of a trap.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[200]</span>Lopez protested loudly; but the trappers -as a body thought well of the suggestion.</p> - -<p>“Carson,” said the head trapper to Kit, -“take five men and go have a look at the -trail and the village. We’ll camp here until -you return.”</p> - -<p>Accordingly, with Zeke Matthews, the -two boys and a pair of seasoned woodsmen, -Kit started off. Silently they rode along -the narrow Indian trail, being careful to -make a note of every spot that would afford -a chance for an ambuscade; at length they -drew near the village, a perfect city of -lodges; creeping among the rocks and -trees they managed to get a close view of -what was going on.</p> - -<p>From the opposite side of the town a great -drove of horses was being driven in; camp -equipment was being brought together as -though for a move.</p> - -<p>“We’re none too soon,” said Kit in a -whisper, to Dave. “By this time to-morrow -they’d be gone.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[201]</span>“Look!” said Joe, in a low voice, his -rifle barrel indicating a place near to the -end of a row of lodges. “A white man!”</p> - -<p>“Moccasin Williams,” were Kit’s words, -as his eyes rested upon the renegade. -“Well, Spotted Snake was right, wasn’t -he?”</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[202]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XIV<br /> - - -<small>THE LAST BATTLE</small></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">Making</span> sure that the savages were -merely in the first stages of their preparations -for departure, Kit and his little -party of scouts crept away through the -trees and grass to the place where they -had left their horses. Mounting, they -gained the trappers’ camp just after nightfall.</p> - -<p>When the news was broken, the woodsmen -gathered about their fires in council. -After some discussion a plan was agreed -upon.</p> - -<p>“Kit will take half of you,” said the -chief trapper, “and ride to the attack. -The other half will stay behind with me -to guard the pack animals and the furs.”</p> - -<p>“But don’t stand still,” was Kit Carson’s -advice. “Advance slowly in our track.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[203]</span> -Then you’ll be a kind of reserve in case -we need you.”</p> - -<p>Everything agreed upon, the trappers -rolled themselves in their robes and blankets -around the fires; and at dawn next day -they divided according to their plan; Kit -and his fifty taking the Indian trail at a -swinging pace, every man in the advance -eager for the fight.</p> - -<p>“After to-day,” prophesied Zeke Matthews, -“those varmints of Blackfeet won’t -be so quick with their monkey shines. -They’ll get a lesson they’ll remember for -some time to come.”</p> - -<p>They approached the Indian town without -being discovered; the savages were in -the heart of their own country, never -dreaming of attack, and therefore had out -no sentinels. The trappers, each well -mounted, rifle in hand and side arms -ready to be grasped at a second’s notice, -drew up in a line.</p> - -<p>“Now, men,” said Kit, his eyes running<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[204]</span> -over them, to make sure that all were prepared. -“At full speed! Charge!”</p> - -<p>Like a thunderbolt the woodsmen struck -the Blackfoot village; a volley from the -long rifles swept among the warriors and -a dozen of them pitched headlong. A -shrill yell arose; the savages gripped their -weapons and fell back from their town, -fighting every step of the way.</p> - -<p>The Blackfoot was a fighting man of -craft, courage and generalship. Unlike the -Crows and more southern tribes, he did not -go mad with excitement when he faced the -superior weapons of the white man. On -the contrary he always fought them according -to a carefully laid out plan.</p> - -<p>From behind rocks and stumps and -fallen trees the long arrows began to wing -their deadly way; taking the cue the trappers -protected themselves in much the -same fashion, and their rifles continued to -speed bullets wherever a tufted head showed -itself.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[205]</span>For fully three hours this sort of warfare -continued; the Blackfeet fought with courage -and judgment; craftily they drew the -fire of the trappers until the supply of -ammunition began to grow low.</p> - -<p>As this latter grew apparent to Kit he -passed the word to slacken the fire.</p> - -<p>“Don’t press a trigger unless you are -sure of a redskin,” was his command.</p> - -<p>And as the rifle fire slacked the Indians -grew more bold. They understood what -had happened, and crept forward from tree -to tree, from rock to rock, meaning to get -near enough for a grand rush and then to -engage the whites hand to hand.</p> - -<p>“I notice,” said Dave Johnson, as he lay -at full length behind a stump, his rifle -advanced, his eyes on the dark-skinned -enemy, “that there’s a bullet comes now -and then from over there to the right. -One of the braves must have a rifle.”</p> - -<p>“It’s Moccasin Williams,” replied Kit -Carson, from behind a near-by tree. “He’s<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[206]</span> -behind that big cottonwood at the mouth of -the ravine, trying some sharpshooting.”</p> - -<p>“I’d like to get a——” but Dave never -finished the sentence, for Kit’s rifle cracked -and the bark flew from the big cottonwood -in a shower, leaving a deep seam to show -the track of the bullet.</p> - -<p>“Missed!” said Kit, coolly. “But better -luck next time.”</p> - -<p>In a little while the Indians pressed -forward under cover; then, thinking themselves -near enough for a rush, they leaped -from behind the trees and with shrill yells -and brandished hatchets and knives, darted -at the trappers.</p> - -<p>The long rifles greeted them once more; -but as they still came on, the pistols were -discharged in their very faces with terrible -effect. This was more than savage fortitude -could bear up under, and they sought cover -once more with howls of rage and a fresh -flight of arrows.</p> - -<p>Then closer and closer they drew and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[207]</span> -slower and slower grew the fire of the -whites. There were but few charges of -powder left. Another rush of the savages, -and there would be no more.</p> - -<p>“It looks bad,” said old Zeke, as he drained -his powder-horn of its last grain. “But we’ll -give a good account of ourselves for all.”</p> - -<p>But a last desperate struggle with knife -and clubbed rifle was not to come, for as the -powder was quite exhausted, word was -brought to Kit that the reserve of trappers -under Fontenelle had arrived. And soon -after, each horn was refilled, each rifle recharged, -and with the confidence of increased -numbers the trappers advanced, -firing as they went.</p> - -<p>In the van of the whites was the half-breed, -Lopez; he held his rifle ready, but -seemed to reserve his fire. Kit Carson, -firing and loading and firing and loading, -noticed this.</p> - -<p>“Anything wrong with your shooting -iron, Spotted Snake?” asked the trapper.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[208]</span>“No,” replied the half-breed, never taking -his eyes from the flitting line of savages -as they moved from cover to cover. “But -the bullet that’s in it is meant for Moccasin -Williams, and him only.”</p> - -<p>Steadily the trappers pressed forward; -quicker and quicker grew the flitting of the -savages from rock to tree and from tree to -stump; and at length the crafty retreat -began to weaken, then to waver. There -was less purpose in it; finally the braves at -one side broke and ran; then the entire -line followed suit.</p> - -<p>Now for the first time since he entered -the action, the rifle of Lopez lifted. The -boys saw an ungainly white man in the -rush of the fleeing savages; he had sandy -hair and a thin, fox-like face. A dozen -steps he took, the fox-face turned over his -shoulder to observe the pursuers, then -Lopez’ piece crashed and the man pitched -forward to the ground.</p> - -<p>With a shrill, throaty cry of exultation,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[209]</span> -Lopez darted forward; the boys saw him -reach the prostrate form, a knife in his -hand. But as he bent over it the form -showed unexpected life. Moccasin Williams -sprang to his feet, drawing an Indian -hatchet from his belt as he did so, and -both men struck at each other. Both -blows took effect; then their arms encircled -each other, there was a frenzied clutching -at each other’s throats, and they fell to the -earth.</p> - -<p>And when Kit Carson returned from the -pursuit of the Indians, which was but a -short one, he found the boys standing above -the two dead bodies.</p> - -<p>“Your property?” he asked, his swift -eyes telling him what had occurred.</p> - -<p>“Here,” said Joe, and he held up a -folded paper.</p> - -<p>“Good!” said the trapper. “Take care -of it, for you’ve had a hard fight to get it -back; and the next time you might not be -so lucky.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[210]</span>The blow dealt the Blackfeet that day -was a heavy one; and they remembered it, -as Zeke Matthews had prophesied, for a -long time after.</p> - -<p>Great good luck followed the Fontenelle -band in their labors after this; and when -they finally journeyed to the trading camp, -held that year on Mud River, they took -with them a great wealth of furs.</p> - -<p>And it was on Mud River, some weeks -later, that Kit Carson parted with the boys, -who proposed to join an ingoing party as -far as Santa Fé, and then take ship at one -of the Gulf ports for New York.</p> - -<p>“Good-bye, lads,” he said, as he pressed -their hands. “Some day I may go east, -and if I ever do, I’ll be sure to look you -up.”</p> - -<p>“East!” exclaimed Joe. “West, you -mean, Kit. In a year we’ll be in California -again, digging and washing along that -wonderful river which, as old Goat Beard -said, runs with gold.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[211]</span>And Joe was right as to place. But he -was wrong about the time.</p> - -<p>The next time the three met it was in -California; but fifteen years or more had -passed. The boys had become bronzed men -and were accounted the richest in the New -Eldorado. And Kit Carson was then the -most famous man in the great west; his -fame as an Indian fighter and pathfinder -had gone around the globe.</p> - -<p>“You found your river of gold then,” -said he, as they gripped hands once more.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” laughed Dave. “It proved to be -the Sacramento.”</p> - -<p>“But we had to wait until the United -States took California over, after the war -with Mexico,” said Joe, rather ruefully. -“It was a long time, but,” and his eyes -laughed much as they used to do, “it was -worth the waiting.”</p> - -<p>“I should think so, indeed,” said the -trapper.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[212]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XV<br /> - - -<small>SKETCH OF CARSON’S LIFE</small></h2> -</div> - -<p><span class="smcap">Christopher</span> or “Kit” Carson was born -in Madison County, Kentucky, in December, -1809. The great state had been opened -only a few years and was, in many parts, -still a trackless wilderness.</p> - -<p>Kit was reared in the log house of the -frontier; and like most noted frontiersmen -grew accustomed to the rifle at an early age.</p> - -<p>But however primitive Kentucky may -have been there were apparently too many -settlers to please the elder Carson; for a -year after the birth of Kit, he packed his -effects upon the backs of his horses, and with -his family took up the trail for the more -distant west. They crossed the Mississippi -and settled in that vast country later ceded -by Napoleon to the United States, and -then known as Upper Louisiana.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[213]</span>Here Kit grew up among the wild spirits -of the border, accustomed to the idea of -danger and renowned even in his boyhood -as a rifle shot, a hunter and the possessor of -invincible resolution. He served two years -as apprentice to a saddler; then the stories -of the Santa Fé trail, the dangers and -wonders thereof, appealed to him so strongly -that he joined a party about to start over it.</p> - -<p>This was the day when vast herds of -buffalo roamed the great plains, when the -Rocky Mountains were almost a thing of -fable. And at the age of eighteen we find -Kit Carson in the Mexican city of Santa Fé, -with the whirl of the wonderful southwest -all about him. The fur trade was approaching -its height and the commerce of the -prairies had centered about the town. To -it came all the wonderful characters of the -border, and from it started more expeditions -than from any other city in the west.</p> - -<p>Young Carson fell in love with the wild -country; with rifle, hatchet and knife, he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[214]</span> -penetrated the hills to the north and there -fell in with Kin Cade, an old mountaineer -who taught him much of the lore of the -West which afterward proved so useful to -him. Later, Kit joined the train of a trader -going back to Missouri. The Santa Fé trail -was a thousand miles long, and through a -savage region of wolves and Indians, and -waterless deserts. But Kit did not mind -this; he liked the toil of it and the danger. -But, half-way over the trail, the thought -came to him that he was going back “East.” -At a ford on the Arkansas River they -encountered another band of traders on -their way to the west; Kit joined them and -returned to Santa Fé. Reaching the fur -market once more, Young Carson engaged -with a Colonel Trammel, who was leading a -trading expedition southward to the rich -mines of Chihuahua. Having learned -Spanish from Kin Cade, he was now to -serve as interpreter.</p> - -<p>Returning from this venture he went to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[215]</span> -Taos, a trapper’s town about a hundred and -fifty miles north of Santa Fé. Here he met -the trapper, Ewing Young, for the first -time, and was engaged as a camp cook. -But Young was not long in seeing the qualities -of his youthful recruit, and when he -took up his march for California, where we -find his party in the first chapter of “In -the Rockies with Kit Carson,” Kit was a -full fledged trapper.</p> - -<p>After the great battle with the Blackfeet, -as related in the last chapter of the story, -Kit Carson joined a body of trappers at the -summer rendezvous. Later he joined a -trading party going into the country of the -Navajos, a highly intelligent tribe who cultivated -the arts and were quite rich. After -a profitable venture among these people he -became the hunter, or meat provider for the -fort on the Platte River.</p> - -<p>But he preferred trapping, it would seem; -and after some smaller ventures joined a -large party and once more ventured into<span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[216]</span> -the Blackfoot country. In the winter traces -of Indians were seen near their camp; -knowing that the savages must be in large -force to venture so near to them, Kit Carson -proposed that the whites strike the first -blow, and so plant terror in the hearts of -the Blackfeet.</p> - -<p>Forty trappers took the trail; Kit was -given the command. A band of savages -were encountered and attacked. They fled, -falling back upon a still larger band. A -desperate battle followed, fought from behind -trees and rocks, and as night fell, the -Blackfeet, with many of their braves dead -or disabled, retired across a frozen stream -to an island in its middle, where they had -erected a log fort. Under the cover of the -darkness, however, the Indians left even -this and hurried away.</p> - -<p>Returning to camp a council was held. -The trappers were sure the savages would -return in great numbers, and they began to -prepare for them. Intrenchments were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[217]</span> -prepared; trees, brush, stumps, fallen logs -and boulders were cleared away from the -camp upon every side. If the savages advanced, -they must do so in the open.</p> - -<p>At daybreak one morning the Indians -came, a thousand or more in number, and -advanced to crush the whites for good and -all. But at the verge of the cleared space -they halted, astonished. They could not -advance without exposing themselves to the -deadly fire of the long rifles; to take the -fort meant an awful sacrifice. A council -was held in which there was much speech-making. -Then the host broke into two -bands and moved away over the mountains; -and after this that particular body of trappers -were troubled no more.</p> - -<p>But Kit was destined to have many encounters -with the Blackfeet and other hostile -tribes; and at the same time there were -numerous others with whom he became -quite friendly; indeed, many was the village -into which he could ride and be greeted<span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[218]</span> -as a brother. In spite of all the opposition -of the Indians of the mountains, the trappers -persisted. But at length the price of -furs fell to such a degree that hunting them -grew unprofitable. And so Kit abandoned -the pursuit and began a career as a hunter, -during which he pushed his acquaintance -with the nations of the Cheyennes, the -Kiowas, the Arapahoes and the Comanches. -Once he was instrumental in preventing a -deadly war between the powerful Sioux -people and the Comanche. The Sioux had -intruded upon the hunting ground of the -other tribe; this was resented; fights followed; -the Comanches were beaten. Kit -Carson was the friend of both peoples; he -went to their chiefs; he parleyed and -argued. The result was that the Sioux left -the Comanche hunting ground, their chiefs -giving their word that they’d never return.</p> - -<p>Among the Comanches, Kit Carson found -a wife—a beautiful Indian girl with a mind -much superior to that of the women of her<span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[219]</span> -race. They had a daughter. Afterward -the wife and mother died of a plague which -had broken out; and when the child grew -a little older, Kit took her to St. Louis to be -educated and brought up amidst civilized -surroundings.</p> - -<p>Bound up the Missouri River from St. -Louis, Kit fell in with Lieutenant John C. -Frémont, of the Topographical Engineers -Corps. This officer had been sent by the -War Department to explore on the line of -the Kansas and Great Platte Rivers, and -between the South Pass in the Rockies and -the frontier of Missouri. Frémont had a -party of twenty-one boatmen who knew the -western life; he had also engaged a guide, -but this latter man had failed him. Learning -this, Kit Carson offered his services as -one who knew the mountains and streams, -having trapped among them for sixteen -years. He was accepted; and thus began -that series of explorations that made the -name of Frémont, the pathfinder, known<span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[220]</span> -the country over, and that of Kit Carson, -frontiersman, famous throughout the world.</p> - -<p>Three separate expeditions into the wilds -were required before Frémont completed -his work, and in each of these Kit Carson -acted as his guide. They were expeditions -crowded with Indian battles, with perils and -escapes by flood and field.</p> - -<p>After years of adventure, Kit began to -farm and raise sheep, organizing a hunting -party of his old friends now and then; later -the government, because of his knowledge -of the tribes, made him an Indian agent.</p> - -<p>This difficult post he filled as probably it -had never been filled before. During the -rebellion he was of much service to the government -on the border; and at the close of -the war was breveted a brigadier general of -volunteers. He died at Fort Lyon, Colorado, -in May, 1868, in the sixtieth year of -his age.</p> - -<p class="center">Another Book in this Series is:<br /> -IN KENTUCKY WITH DANIEL BOONE</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<div class="transnote"> -<p class="ph1">TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:</p> - -<p>Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.</p> - -<p>Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized.</p> - -<p>Archaic or alternate spelling has been retained from the original.</p> -</div></div> - - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN THE ROCKIES WITH KIT CARSON ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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