CHAPTER XXV.
The Start Homeward--The Visitors in Camp and Their Story--Carson and Godey Start to the Rescue--Trailing the Enemy by Night--In Camp--The Attack--An Amazing Success--The Return.
Fremont and his command remained at Sutter's Fort about a month, whentheir preparations were completed for their return to the States. Theyjourneyed leisurely up the valley of the San Joaquin, crossing over theSierra Nevada and Coast Range by means of an easily travelled pass. Thelatter chain was followed until they came upon the Spanish trail, alongwhich they passed to the Mohave River. Where the Trail diverges fromthat stream, Carson became involved in a characteristic adventure.
While in camp two Mexicans, a man and a boy, rode up and told a sadstory. They belonged to a party of Mexican traders from New Mexico. Sixof them, including two women who acted as cooks, were left in chargeof a band of horses while the rest were away, engaged in barter. Whenendeavoring to find better grazing for their animals and while the manand boy were on guard, they were attacked by a band of thirty Indians.The warriors were after the horses and their first demonstration wasa flight of arrows. The only chance of escape was to make off withthe animals and the two started them on a dead run straight towardthe Indians. The charge was so impetuous, that they forced their waythrough, and continued their flight, while the warriors remained behindto massacre the others.
When the couple had gone a long distance, they left the horses andturned back to look for their friends. While they were doing so, theycame upon Fremont's camp. When it is added that among those who wereleft behind by the Mexicans, were the wife of the man and the father andmother of the boy, their pitiful situation must touch the hearts ofall. They were overcome with grief, and Carson was so stirred that hevolunteered to go back with the couple and help rescue their friendsif alive, or punish the Indians, if it should prove that they had beenmassacred.
Richard Godey, a mountaineer almost the equal with Carson, willinglyagreed to accompany him. The two were perfectly familiar with thecountry, which was an immense advantage. When the Mexicans described thespring, a long ways distant, where they had abandoned the horses tohunt for their friends, Carson recalled its exact location. It was aboutthirty miles away and he said that that was the point toward which theymust push with all speed.
Accordingly they turned the heads of their horses thither and struckinto a sweeping gallop, resting only when compelled to do so, andreaching the spring at daylight the next morning. Not a horse wasvisible, but an examination of the ground showed that the Indians hadfollowed the fleeing Mexicans and stock to the spring, where, findingthe animals, they had captured and driven them off in another direction.
It seems like a piece of madness for three men to pursue ten times asmany Indian warriors; but the blood of Carson was up and he told Godeyit was too soon for them to turn back. The eyes of both flashed, whenthey reflected upon the shameful outrage, and they meant that themarauders should not get off scot free.
As the boy was only an incumbrance, he was left behind, and, takingthe trail of the warriors, the three put their horses to their best,confident the chase would be a long one. On such occasions, the red menare accustomed to travel a long distance before making a halt. With somuch booty in their hands, they were liable to be set upon by others assavage as themselves, and they had every cause, therefore, to get out ofthe country with the least possible delay.
The three were riding in this furious fashion, when most unexpectedlythe steed of the Mexican gave out. A minute's examination showed he wasas thoroughly used up and useless as the horse of the Ute Indian, yearsbefore, who started out with Kit to pursue the thief that was runningoff with the animals. There was no course but to leave the Mexicanbehind, for time was too precious to ride back to camp after anotherhorse. He, therefore was told to go back to Fremont's camp and awaittheir return.
The exploit of Carson and Godey, when calmly told, seems incredible.There was no one in Fremont's command who would go with them, and thoughthey knew there were a score and a half of savage wild men to encounter,they did not hesitate, but pressed their steeds to the utmost, eager tojoin in the fierce hand to hand conflict.
When night shut in upon them, the Indians were not in sight and thesigns indicated they were a good many miles ahead. There was no moonor stars and they could see only a few feet in advance of their horses'ears, but it would not do to linger. If they should go into camp, theywould lose so much ground that pursuit was likely to be hopeless.
Accordingly, they dismounted and leading their steeds, continuedthe pursuit on foot. Where it was impossible to see the ground, theydepended on the sense of feeling. Quite certain of the general directiontaken by the red men, they occasionally stooped down and passed theirhands over the earth. The trail was so distinct that it could be readilydetected in this manner, provided they had not gone astray. Severaltimes they wandered to the right or left, but found their way backwithout difficulty, and the chase was continued for several hours inthis singular fashion.
After a time, the trail became so fresh that it could be readilydetected and no doubt was left in their minds that they were close uponthe marauders. Inasmuch as Carson and Godey had pushed their horses tothe utmost, and they were showing signs of weariness, they concluded, inview of these facts, to halt and wait until daylight.
The night was unusually cold, but they dared not start a fire, lestit should apprise their enemies of their presence. So they suffered insilence, miserable, wretched and as uncomfortable as it was possible tobe, while watching for the growing light in the east.
When at last, morning appeared, they were so chilled that they couldhardly walk; but making their way to the bottom of a ravine, theykindled a fire, and with the help of some violent exercise, managed tostart their blood in circulation.
In a very brief time, their horses were resaddled and they weregalloping along the trail again. Within an hour, they caught sight ofthe Indians and the stolen animals. The warriors were in camp and wereenjoying a breakfast of horse meat, several of the stock having beenkilled to furnish the food.
Before the Indians could detect their pursuers, the latter dismountedand hid their steeds where they were not likely to attract notice. Theythen started to crawl in among the stolen animals, which were grazing ashort distance from camp. This was an exceedingly delicate task, forthe horses were likely to give the alarm, even if the warriors did notdetect their presence; but patience and skill succeeded, and, after atime, they were among the drove.
But the very thing they dreaded took place. They had scarcely reachedthe animals, when one of them became frightened by the appearance of thestrangers, and began rearing and snorting. This caused such confusionamong the others that the Indians became alarmed and sprang to theirfeet. Carson and Godey emitted a series of yells that must have made thered men envious, and dashed at full speed toward the thirty Indians. Themoment they were within range, both fired. Carson killed his man, butGodey missed. The latter reloaded with great quickness and fired again,bringing down his man.
Meanwhile, the warriors were thrown into a sort of panic by theamazing audacity of their assailants. They could not have suspected thetruth--that is that no others were near. They must have believed that astrong reserve was close at hand and that if they tarried in camp theywould be overwhelmed by a party of avengers. Accordingly they broke andran, leaving the daring mountaineers masters of the field.
In accordance with the savage spirit of the border, Godey scalped thetwo Indians who had been shot, after which the horses were gatheredtogether and driven to where the steeds of the mountaineers had beenleft.
But when this point was reached, Carson expressed himself as notsatisfied: they had not ascertained the fate of the captives and theynow proceeded to do so.
In the camp of the Mexicans were found the mangled bodies of the twomen. These were buried by Carson and Godey who made search for thewomen. Though nothing of them was discovered, it was afterwards learnedthat they, too, had been killed. Having done al
l that was possible,Carson and Godey made their way back to Fremont's camp, where thestolen property was turned over to the Mexicans, the daring mountaineersrefusing to accept the slightest payment for their extraordinaryservices.
The Life of Kit Carson: Hunter, Trapper, Guide, Indian Agent and Colonel U.S.A. Page 25
