they still believe that some day their great chief will return to
them; accordingly, in each and every one of their towns, they keep a
watch-fire burning, in order, on his advent, to let him know where his
children live.

At Los Angelos the Mexican authorities came to the trappers and
demanded their passports. On finding that such articles of paper
authority did not form any part of a trapper's outfit, they determined
to arrest them. Fear, however, prevented their determination from
assuming any very formidable action. Former experience in a similar
matter of official duty had taught those Mexicans that the American
trappers were men of a peculiarly resolute nature. Fair and legitimate
means were therefore laid aside, and a foul policy adopted. They
commenced supplying them with "firewater," thus attacking them in a
weak point. When they should become fully inebriated they considered
the matter of their arrest both easy and certain.

Mr. Young, seeing the intentions of the authorities, and their
underhanded method of carrying them out, determined to thwart them.
He directed Carson to take three men, the loose animals and the camp
equipage, and move on, with the instructions, that if he did not soon
join him, to push on; that if he did not eventually overtake him, to
report in New Mexico that the main party had been massacred. Young
succeeded in collecting his men as best he could, for they were yet
sufficiently sober to retain a little of their reason. The treacherous
Mexicans, however, continued annoying the commander of the trappers by
gratuitously offering the men all the liquor they desired. One by one,
the trappers were allowing themselves to be easily conquered, as the
effects of the liquor began to be more active. They would soon have
fallen a complete prey to their enemies, had not a most singular