Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-10-02
5hey're after scalps and plunder sure.

make believe we're all asleep, and if we can fool them into making n rush on the
 wagons every man of us must shoot straight and steady, sos to thin them out little.
 They'll most likely attack on foot, and if we can knock a dozen of 'em over at the first fire they'll turn and run. Then you want to pour in the lead from your revolvers and make running fight of it to the canyon. But don't, any of you, follow them one inch into it. If you do, you'll lose your hair certain, for these Apaches are cunning as coyotes, and they'll try to draw us on to where therell 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 i'm 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 a words to be spoken nor 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 rife 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 silence 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.
 
 ious expectancy, more trying to the nerves of brave men than the tiercest conflict. and still the Indians mado no sign.
 It was nearly midnight, and some of us, cramped by long sitting and chafing under the wearing suspense. were getting restless. Kit Carson noted our growing disquiet, and gliding noiselessly from one ,l, II, 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 moro than 300 yards away, but the moon now rode high in the heavens, and we could see every maneuvcr of the Indians quite plainly. For little distance they preserved their alignment and then divided up into five groups of eight each. It was evident that believing us to be asleep they had arranged to attack all the wagons si- and doubtless knowing our exact numbers supposed that in no case was any one of the vehicles likely to contain more than four men-an easy prey for eight! After thus forming in sections the central groups held back for a time, while those on the Hanks made q circling sweep, and in very brief space our position was completely The several attachments then halted at about 60 yards distance, awaiting some prcconcerted signal, or perhaps to make sure that we were of our guard
 Although by the moon clear light we could distinctly note every movement of our enemies. we ourselves, wedged ill be- | tween and shaded by the closely packed l horses and the high topped wagons, were unite invisible to them. Our force had | of course been properly redistributed to meet the emergency, and there were now : our men concealed behind each one of , hat number of wagons, while in Ice of ! 'f the fifth knelt Carson. Tom Secord md Frank Austin.
 For fully 10 miuutes-anxious minutes Or us-the hostiles remained motionless iS SO 11duN SpdIuCS. ] tlSu lu0 ny of a coyote broke in upon the dread | and the whole five parties si- | ently as shadows slowly converged ! lpon the corral. They did not, however, ,ome quite up, but halted again when | within 25 yards, and we could see that . hey were armed only with tomahawks, 5nives and warclubs, having evidently | eft their bows and arrows behind, in- ending to make hand to hand massa- ,re of it.
 As we gazed upon the hideously paint ! ed wretches each one of us no doubt | 'teadied his nerves and steeled his heart 1 Oy refecting how much depended upon his own individual prowess, but we had l title time to think at all. for within five | seconds of this last halt Kit Carson's . ow command-"Steady boys! Steady | now! All together. Fire""-fell upon 1ur ears.
 CHAPTER H.