discovered. Kit Carson, with twelve of his companions, immediately
saddled their horses and started in pursuit. It was very difficult
to follow the trail of the Indians from the fact that many herds of
buffalo had crossed and repeatedly recrossed it during the night,
making the tracks very indistinct. Having traveled forty miles, their
horses, which were very poor in flesh, became fatigued, causing them
to think of making a halt. After due consultation, it was agreed that
they had best go into camp. With this object in view they traveled
towards some timber which was near by. On arriving at the woods,
the advance of the party, to their surprise and not less to their
satisfaction, discovered the smoke of their enemies' fires. The
distance between the parties was inconsiderable; but, in order that
their movements might be made unobserved, the trappers retreated to
a secluded spot where they awaited the night, judging it best to take
the party by surprise. Their first care was to secure and provide for
their animals. The second was to prepare their arms. As soon as it
would do for them to move, they started, eager for the strife. It was
judged best first to make a half circuit and then approach the Indians
from the direction they themselves were travelling, as from this
source, they wisely judged the red men would be less apprehensive of
an attack. Their movements were made slowly and with great care in
order not to alarm the savages. Having obtained a position close
enough to observe the strength of their enemies, they stopped to
reconnoitre. The men then crept for a long distance on their hands and
knees until finally they obtained a full view of the Indians, which
showed them that the savages had erected two rough forts and that they
were now divided into two parties. A dance was in progress in honor of
the robbery so recently perpetrated, which proved conclusively, that
they were without even a suspicion of danger. Just outside one of the
forts, the nine stolen animals were securely tied. This sight did not