articles that were lost by this mishap there were several saddles and
six valuable rifles. What made this loss peculiarly unpleasant was,
that they could not be replaced until the party could reach the
settlements. The owners of the saddles were now in a sad plight; for,
neither to the rider or his horse is it a very pleasant prospect to
make a long journey without these useful articles. After repairing
their damages as best they could, they struck out afresh. Setting
aside hunger and the suffering experienced from exposure to cold,
they were not again incommoded in any way until they had come to the
vicinity of the Mexican towns. Here they met several hundred Utah and
Apache Indians. These red skins showed some warlike symptoms which
Kit Carson did not in the least fancy; but, to make the best of his
situation, he ordered his men to post themselves in a neighboring
thicket and be ready to act on the defensive. Kit Carson then informed
the Indians that they must keep at a proper distance, or otherwise he
would direct his men to fire into them. He told them that if they were
disposed to be friendly, which they professed to be, towards the white
men, they could show it by leaving and not annoying his party, who,
being nearly naked and in a destitute condition, could give them
nothing. Evidently the savages saw this was true, and so did not
hazard a fight, but departed. Kit Carson traveled that night ten miles
further. It was late in the day when he again ventured on the trail,
but this distance was all that his animals could accomplish without
food and rest, for they were fatigued and poor. His object in thus
resuming his march, was to separate himself and men as far as he
could from the Indians, fearing that they might change their minds and
conclude to attack him. Being too weak, his party was in no condition
for an engagement. At the end of this distance he fortunately met
with a party of volunteers, who had been out in search of these very
savages, in order that they might punish them for some rascality they