Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1893-11-11

ceal their anxiety from the women, and
the latter soon recovered from their first
fright.
1t was about o'clock in the afternoon
If June day when we came to halt,
and there were yet five hours of day
light left. Indeed on the open plain it
would not be dark even after nightfall,
as the moon was quite full and the sky
cloudless.
This circumstance, Kit Carson said,
would be greatly to our advantage, as
the hostiles could not well steal upon us
unawares, and if they did attack we
could see to shoot. So sparingly using
some of the fuel stored in the wagons
supper was prepared at the usual time
and partaken of as cheerfu1ly as if there
were not an enemy within 100 miles.
Meantime not sound-lnan's voice
nor pony's whinny-had been heard from
the canyon. All within its gloomy
depths seemed devoid of life, and moth
ing less than implicit faith in our leader
could have made us believe that it con-
cealed horde of ruthless savages pa
tiently waiting to glut their hellish thirst
for blood.
About 8 o'clock the sisters bade US
good night and were moving off to their
own wagon when Carson carelessly said,
Maybe you'd best keep all your clothes
on tonight, girls. for We'll likely make
start by in the morning"
"Oh, captain" laughingly replied Miss
Douglas, well not go regularly to bed
SO long as the Indians are about. If
they call upon us, they'll find us ready
dressed"
When the ladies had retired, Kits
whole manner changed. He sat for some
time in deep thought, then quietly sig
nailed us to follow him out of the corral.
On gaining a safe distance he said:
"Now, boys, it's all right to play up easy
like before the women folks, but all the
same we're in for big fight. These red
cusses outnumber us three to one, and
they're after scalps and plunder sure.
We'll lay low and keep dark, SOS to
make believe we're all asleep, and if we
can fool them into making rush on the
wagons every man of us must shoot
straight and steady, SOS 10 thin them
out little.
They'll most likely attack on foot.
and if we can knock dozen of 'em over
at the first fire they'll turn and run.
Then you want to pour in the | al from
your revol, ers and make a running & !, ut
of it to the canyon. But don't, any of
you, follow them one inch into it. If
you dc. you'll lose your hair certain, for
! these Apaches are cunning as coyotes,
and they'll try to draw US on to where
therel be lots more of them skulking.
"If you fellows all keep cool and just
kind Of think you're ON wolf hunt, we
can lick hundred of the worst reds on
the plains. And, mind, we must lick
them so bad to begin with they'll not
want to trouble us again. We've got
women along, and whatever happens
every last man Of us must keel over be-
fore hair of their heads is touched"
A low murmur of approval went
round the circle as Carson concluded,
and we assured him that we would inn
plicitly obey instructions.
"If you do, We'll come out all right,
men," the brave fellow rejoined. Now
let's get to our posts. Take your sta
tions all round inside the corral. Sit
right down on the ground and shoot be-
tween the wheel spokes when the time
comes. Not words to be spoken nor a
pipe lighted till we see what turns up.
I'll undertake to keep you awake, and if
the attacks made only on one side you
must all gather there, but don't show a
finger outside the shade of the wagons
till the reds begin to run. Then pile in
for all you're worth"
In few minutes everything was ar
ranged to Kits satisfaction. The men,
each one with rifle and revolver ready,
placed themselves about 10 feet apart
entirely around the inner circumference
of the circle, so as to command every
possible point of approach, and then, ex-
cept for the gentle breathing of the
horses and the occasional howl of dis
tant wolf, absolute silence prevailed-a
silo~ce strangely weird and solemn to
the wakeful emigrants, who, however
fearless, could not fail to reflect that this
glorious, moonlit night might be their
last on earth.
Two hours passed away in that anx-
ious expectancy, more trying to the
nerves of brave men than the fiercest
conflict, and still the Indians made no
sign.
1t was nearly midnight and some of
us, cramped by long sitting and chafinS
under the wearing suspense, were getting
restless. Kit Carson noted our growing
disquiet, and gliding noiselessly from one
to the other whispered in the ear of each
a few words of cheer. He had barely
completed his round when his keen eye
detected one, two, three and finally up
to 40 savages-save for paint, feathers
and weapons, naked as the day they were
born-steal from the black mouth of the
pass, range themselves in line and crouch
ing like panthers come slowly toward us.
A quiet gesture called attention to this
move, and all the men rolled themselves
over to that side of the inclosure.
The canyon was more than 300 yards
away, but the moon now rode high III
the heavens, and we could see every
maneuyer of the Indians quite plainly