Mr. Young, therefore, selected as many of the best horses as he needed
for himself and men, and game being very scarce, killed two and dried
most of the meat for future use, turning the remainder loose. Such
either became wild mustangs or fell again into the clutches of the
Indians. The company then renewed their trapping, and continued it up
the Gila to a point opposite the copper mines of New Mexico. Here they
left the river and proceeded to the copper mines, where they found Mr.
Robert McKnight engaged in trading with the neighboring Indian tribes.
These mines were not then, and ever since have not been, worked. The
holes which had many years before been made by the miners--but who
they were is unknown--formed a safe hiding-place for their skins. The
stock of beaver was therefore placed under the care of Mr. McKnight.
Young and his men then renewed their march, and in due time arrived
safely at Santa Fé. Here they purchased licenses to trade with the
Indians who live about the copper mines. With these licenses as
protection papers, they returned to where the skins were concealed.
Having once more recovered their fur, they returned with it to Santa
Fé. The deserted mines of New Mexico show incontrovertible signs
of having been successfully and extensively worked, at some remote
period, for various kinds of metals. They have proved a knotty
historical problem to many an investigating mind; for their authentic
history has fallen, and probably will ever remain in oblivion. It
may have been that about a century ago the Spaniards, with Indian
assistants, worked them; and the savages becoming hostile to their
employers, in some sudden fit of frenzy may have massacred the
Spaniards. There is a legendary story circulating, similar to the
traditions of the Indians, giving this explanation. The more probable
hypothesis, however, is that the Indians themselves, many centuries in
the past, were versed to some extent in the art of mining, and carried
on the business in these mines; but from indolence or, to them,