present time, they were the cause of stimulating the white men to
their utmost exertions; and, as they grew fresher, the excitement
among the party increased. At last, the camp, and even the persons
of the savages, became visible to the foremost of the pursuers; and,
among the first to get a glimpse of them was Kit Carson. At the time
the discovery was made, Kit Carson was considerably in advance of most
of the men. Turning to those near him, he shouted to have the command
come on as fast as possible, for he saw at once that there was no
time to be lost in consultation as to the best mode of assaulting the
Indians. They, already, were in commotion, and were making hurried
preparations to decamp. Riding on at full speed for some distance, Kit
Carson again turned his head and saw, to his dismay, that he was
not followed; but instead, the command had halted. The cause of this
curious order being given, at such a precarious moment, was, as he
afterwards learned, brought about by the advice of the chief guide,
who told the commanding officer that the Indians wished to have a
parley. On seeing what was transpiring behind him, Kit Carson had no
alternative but to rein up his horse also; for, to ride on alone into
the midst of the savages, would have been unjustifiable rashness, and
might, perhaps, have destroyed the plans his superior officers were
concocting. So, he stood paralyzed and confounded at the inactivity of
his companions. Just about this time, a bullet, fired from the Indian
camp, struck the commanding officer in the breast, and bent him
forward. Those around him, for a little while, supposed that he had
received a mortal wound. Still, he retained his seat in the saddle,
but could not speak. Thus again was precious time lost, as the party,
during this time, were virtually without a leader, and did not seem to
be inclined to make one. Fortunately for this officer, just before he
received the shot, he had taken off his thick buckskin gauntlets and
crowded them into a breast pocket. The ball had struck this bundle;