believe that such was the destination of the party. After journeying
fifty miles in this direction, and feeling themselves free from the
scrutiny of the Mexican authorities, they changed their course to the
southwest, and travelled through the country occupied by the Navajoes,
who are an interesting and dangerous race of Indians, even to the
trader of this day. On their route, the company passed through Zuni,
a Peublo town; thence they traveled to the head of Salt River, one
of the tributaries of the Rio Gila. Here they discovered the band of
Indians who had attacked and defeated the former party. As soon as the
Indians discovered the party of trappers, they became eager for the
affray. The usual preliminaries for such fights were, therefore,
quickly made on both sides. Young directed the greater part of his men
to lie in ambush, for he felt confident that the Indians did not know
his strength. The bands of savages who covered the hills round about
mistook the halt necessary to complete the ambush for cowardice and
fear on the part of the whites. At this their courage arose, to such
a degree, that they made a bold charge against, as they supposed,
the small party of white men who were visible. They were allowed to
advance well into the trap, until, by the position of the trappers
in ambush, they came under a cross fire. At the word of command, a
general volley was fired into the advance column. Fifteen warriors
fell dead, and many others were wounded. The Indians became
panic-stricken, and the trappers immediately following up their
advantage, advanced from cover. The warriors did not rally for a
second attack, but fled in every direction, leaving Young, with his
party, masters of the field. Strange as it has ever seemed, to the
inquiring mind, in those days and for many succeeding years, companies
of white men from fifty to sixty in number could wage successful war
against whole tribes of Indians, who could easily muster a thousand
fighting men. A reason often given for this is, that the trappers of