CHAPTER XIV.

Kit Carson reaches Home--Himself and Neighbors robbed by the
Apaches--Major Grier goes in Pursuit of, and recaptures the
stolen Stock--A Plot organized by White Men to murder two
Santa Fé Traders for their Money--The Disclosure--Kit Carson
goes to the Rescue of the Traders--The Camp of United States
Recruits--Captain Ewell with twenty Men joins Kit Carson and
they two make the Arrest of Fox--Gratitude expressed by the
Traders--Money offered but refused--The Prisoner taken to Taos
and incarcerated--Kit Carson receives a magnificent Pair of
Revolvers as a Present from the grateful Traders--The return
to Rayado--A Trading Expedition to the United States--The
return Journey--An Encounter with the Cheyenne Indians--A
State of Suspense--The Deliverance from Danger by a Message
sent by a Mexican Runner--The arrival at Rayado.


After finishing the pleasant visit which he was thus enabled to make,
while recruiting himself among the good people of Taos, Kit Carson
bent his way to his home at Rayado. He safely reached there and had
but just dismounted at his own door, when he was informed of a recent
calamity that had befallen himself and neighbors during his absence.
It was the old story, viz. that the Indians had come in and boldly
stole all the animals belonging to the settlement--At the time this
depredation had been committed, there was a small detachment of United
States troops stationed in the place, but the soldiers were too few
in number to attempt a rescue of the property from the savages.
The latter had visited the little town with a strong force on this