From signs discovered after the Indians had decamped, it became
evident that several of the thieves had been mortally wounded; but,
being tied on their horses, they were carried out of sight before they
died. This is a fair sample of many of the Indian fights which have
occurred, and are yet not unfrequent, on the prairies; the object of
the savages is to plunder; therefore, an unguarded moment is selected
for their attacks. In this instance, by the time the whites had got
their firearms and men ready to commence the contest, the Indians had
perpetrated their intended assault and were off.

[Illustration: CAMANCHE WARRIOR.]

The Camanches are excelled by no men in the world in their
horsemanship, not excepting the famous Cossacks of Europe. The level
prairies are beautiful fields for them to act on. It is in a skirmish
similar to the one we have endeavored to describe, that they put these
qualifications to the test. The arena where these scenes are enacted
is a very undesirable place for a mere spectator. Kit Carson and party
resumed their march the same day, and arrived safely at Santa Fé,
without meeting with any other adventures. At this town he left his
escort of fifty volunteers, and hired sixteen other men with which
to perform the remainder of his journey. This was in obedience to
the orders he had received at Fort Leavenworth. Pursuing his route on
Muddy Creek, a tributary of Virgin River, he came upon a village of
some three hundred Indians, so suddenly, as his route twisted about
among the hills, that he had to make a bold matter of it, and go into
camp, for the purpose of having a "talk." Kit Carson had learned some
time before that these very red men had massacred seven Americans. For
this reason he determined not to trust them, even if they professed