kill them as easily as they could buffalo. Already enough had passed
among the Indians to arouse in Kit Carson's breast the greatest
feeling of alarm as to what would be the result of the position in
which he was placed. He had with him fifteen men, two only of which
number, were men on whom he felt that he could rely. The other members
of the party, who counted thirteen in all, were Mexicans of whom he
had a poor opinion as to their bravery. Nothing daunted by such an
accumulation of unfavorable circumstances, he at once saw that a bold
face was to be put on in order to extricate himself from the grasp
of the Indians. Springing to his feet with his weapons ready for
immediate use, Kit Carson, as he advanced into the centre of the
seated warriors, gave directions for his men to be ready to defend
their lives. Then, turning to the Indians, who sat rooted to the
earth, as it were, with astonishment at the suddenness of such actions
and such coolness, he commenced addressing them. He informed them
"that they might readily see from the fluency with which he spoke
their language, that he had comprehended all that they had been
talking about. What puzzled him most, however, was the cause of their
wishing to have his scalp. Never," said he, "to his knowledge had he
been guilty of any wrong to their tribe; that, on the contrary,
there were braves among those present, who, if they turned to their
memories, would recognize his face as that of an old friend in years
gone by, and who could testify to the many acts of kindness which he
had performed in their behalf." He reminded them "how that, even
now, he had received them into his camp and treated them with all the
hospitality in his power; and yet they persisted in repaying him by
taking his life." In the end, he wound up his discourse by giving
peremptory orders for them to leave his camp, and should any one
refuse, he would be shot. The Indians were completely nonplused, and
not feeling inclined to risk a fight without their usual accompaniment