Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-10-25
The Sturp Tener.
\ APERILOUS RIDE.
One Of Kit Carson's Adventures.

Some thirty odd years ago, Kit Carson was
at the head of party who were trapping near
the upper waters of Arkansas. Before the
season was over they had collected such
quantity of peltries that they were incommo:
ded in carrying them from place to place, and
as a matter of convenience, they resolved to
cache them. This is done by digging large,
deep hole in the ground, placing the furs
therein, and then covering them up so securely
that there is no danger Of their being discov-
cred by any other hunters or Indians. A care
full look at the immediate surroundings is al.
ways sufficient to guide the rightful owners to
their cache.
Having concealed their furs in this man.
ner, the party changed their course, and vis-
tied some streams about hundred miles to
the west Here they we're engaged about
week, when one morning it was found that
two of the party had deserted, taking three OF
the best horses.
At the time this discovery was made. Kit
Carson was absent from camp, and did not
return until near the middle of the day. Sup.
posing the deserters had taken this method OF
avoiding the rough work of trapping through
the winter, the hunters thought nothing Of it
until it was mentioned to Kit, who imme-
diately demanded their names.
"Whelan and Gubbins." .-r...
"Both couple of villains!" added the
hunter. "You ought to have signalled me to
return to camp the minute you found it out. !"
"Are we not lucky in getting rid of them r
inquired one of the hunters /.
'But not lucky in getting rid of our furs.
Those two men have gone back for the pur.
pose of breaking open the cache and stealing
our furs" ..
No one had thought of this, but Kit was
positive on the point; and, selecting one of
his best mounted men, the two started at
once in pursuit of the thieves.
They're nearly day ahead of u.s." re-.
marked Carson, as they started away, "and
they'll reach the cache before US but we may
overtaks them before they get far away"
Their intimate knowledge of the country
enabled them to take the shortest route, and
thev put their horses to their best speed.
They rode until far into the night and then
only paused because their hard-ridden ami
mails absolutely demanded it. At earliest
dawn they were in the saddle again. and GAL
Looping at the same furious rate, their eyes
co.:stantly on the strain, sweeping the field Of
vision in front, in the vain hope of catching
some sign of the deserters. ....-
It was near thsmiddle of the afternoon Of
the second day that the cache was reached,
and the suspicious of Carson confirmed. 1t
had been opened, and about five hundred
pounds of the choicest furs removed.
The hunters made q careful examination
of the place, and concluded that the thieves
had left the spot early that morning, 80 that
they were still half day ahead of them.
They've got load to carry now, and
can't travel 90 fast" said Kit. II think there
is good chance of overhauling them."
The FIRST duty, however, was to restore the
cache to its former condition. The remaining
furs were carefully covered, and the ground
smoothed over, and the sod replaced. so that
none who had not witnessed the work, or
helped in performing it, could be able to lind
the place.
Time was of the utmost importance; and,
although the hunters worked with might and
main, yet several precious hours we're con.
sumed before the work was finished. When,
at last, it was completed, darkness had begun
settling over the prairie.
The trail, or rather the route-for there
was no regular trail-which led into New
Mexico, and which it was supposed the thieves
would take, followed direction nearly Que
south from the cache. An examination, how
ever, revealed the rather curious fact that the
deserters had gone to the northeast ....
"That has been done to throw US off the
track" said Kit Carson. "They have changed
their course after going short distance, and
think we can head them of"
Instead of following the trail, therefore,
the pursuers headed to the southeast, calcu.
lating that they would intercept the thieves
near pass leading through the Chevenure
Hills. The ridge ran nearly due east and
west, and, being very rugged and precipitous,
was generally crossed by means of these nat
ural openings, which we're separated by dis.
tances varying from twenty to hundred
miles, The pursuers urged their horses to
the utmost, for they we're exceedingly anx.
ious to come up with the scamps who had
played this trick upon them; while they, on
their part, were as desirous of keeping beyond
their reach.
The penalty of death is one most generally
prescribed ON the frontier for such exploits as
this and Kit Carson and bis friend were pre-
pared to shoot the two runaways the instant
they could bring them within range of their
rifles There was a bright moon, and the
sky was clear, 80 that there was no difficulty
in keeping up the pursuit. Near midnight
they reached the vicinity of the pass, and
were not little elated at catching the glim-
mer of a camp FIRE.
II think they are there" said Carson, in q
IL
make them pay dear for their whistle"
They rode quietly forward until within a
few hundred yards, when they dismounted,
tied their horses in glen, and made the rest
of the journey on foot. Advancing with the
caution characteristic Of men at such times,
they soon we're near enough to the campfire
to gain fair view Of those around it. No
white men were there but in their places
we're dozen Navajoe Indians quietly en-
camped, and 80 unsuspicious Of danger that
nothing of any sentinels could be seen.
Having fully satisfied themselves upon this
point, the pursuers stealthily withdrew to
where they had left their horses.
1--WE have made mistake" said Carson.
"We shall have to wait until morning before
trying to do any thing more"
Withdrawing to a safe point, they lay down,
and slept soundly during the remainder of the
night, for they needed rest no less than did
their horses.
When they were fairly awake on the NOR
row, they consulted together as to what was
best to do. So long as there was any pros
pect of recovering the stolen property, neither
of them felt inclined to give up the pursuit.
Il am afraid they have given US the Slip
remarked Carson's companion.
"Jt doee Iook q little that Way It NAV be-