his steeds and cattle by hundreds, while his flocks of sheep are
enumerated by thousands. Near by stands Kit Carson's ranche, which,
though more modest, yet, when the hunter occupies it, in dead game and
comfort, it fully rivals its compeer. Around these two hunters live
a handful of Mexican friends, who are either engaged in agricultural
pursuits for themselves, or else in the employ of the "lords of the
manor," Carson and Maxwell.

In this his residence at Rayado, Kit Carson is only kept from spending
his whole time by business for which his tastes are more suited. Soon
after the commencement of the settlement, and while he was engaged
in his vocation as farmer, news reached him that the Apaches had been
committing a most wicked murder, the details of which are horrible
in the extreme. A merchant by the name of White, who was engaged in
business at Santa Fé, had been into the United States for the purpose
of purchasing goods. With his train of wagons and his small escort
of men, traveled his private carriage, in which there were, as
passengers, his accomplished but unfortunate lady and her only child.
On arriving at a point where he anticipated no further danger, Mr.
White started on ahead of his caravan, in order that he might reach
Santa Fé as soon as possible, and thus relieve his family from the
privations of camp life. He had proceeded but a few miles when he was
attacked by some Indians who had concealed themselves in the rocks
on either side of the road. The savages, as the carriage neared their
hiding-place, fired with such accuracy of aim that they killed, by
their first volley, all of the men who were with the carriage before
they were aware of the danger which surrounded them. Mrs. White and
her child were reserved for a worse fate. They were carried off
into captivity. The child proved to be a source of annoyance to the
blood-thirsty savages, and its angel spirit was released from earth by