The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1893-11-23

tion.1
CHAPTER l.
Back, men! Back to cover! Don'i
lose sight of the women" shouted tn
captain of our train as we were hurry
ing toward the advanced position by tht
side of a deep canyon where he had com
to standstill.
We knew our leader-the renowned
Kit Carson-too well to lose moment il
idle questioning, so all turned at once ant
scurried back to the line of wagons, il
the center one of which sat Tom Secord'!
pretty wife and her still prettier sister.
Helen Douglas.
Rallying by the side Of the women, OF
girls rather, neither being yet 20 year.
of age, we looked ahead to see what Xii
was doing. Much to our surprise, thai
veteran scout, instead Of riding swiftly
in, as we expected, had dismounted from
his horse and was walking quietly il
front of the animal, thus making its body
shield his own from any attack in thu
rear.
Whats up, capF" three or four of III
asked in breath as Carson, calm as the
summer day itself, Joined US.
Nothing of much account, boys. But
If we'd once got into the canyon reckon
none of us-only the women, maybe
would ever have come out alive"
"Oh, Mr.. Carson! What is itp Are
the Indians there? Is there much dan
ger?" exclaimed Mrs. Secord.
Danger! Bless your sweet heart, no
mite for you or the girl so longs sin
gle man of us is left, and we amt any
of us going under just yet," Kit gallant
ly replied. But, boys, you might a.
well put things in shipshape. It's kin6
of half likely that We'll have little
scrimmage. Near as 1 can guess, there's
well on to so Apaches hiding in the can
yon. l caught sight of pony or twt
and half a dozen warriors, and-well, the
red devils have got their warpaint on
They've reckoned to wipe us out as we
went through the pass, but they'll hav.
to wait awhile"
1t was in 1850. We were on our way
from Missouri to California-were now
passing through Arizona and had ar.
rived at Canyon Diablo (the Devil.
canyon), in the vicinity of Little Colo
rado river, when our guide had so op
portunely discovered the ambuscade.
Besides Kit Carson, then in his prime
and about 40 years of age, there We're Is
men in our party, all stout fellows under
30, and the two young women. Oul
outfit consisted of five covered wagons
afterward known as "prairie schooners,
and 10 horses-i. e., an extra horse fol
each wagon or available for the saddle
while hunting buffalo and other game.
AS it was yet quite early in the season
we had found good grass all along the
route. Our cattle were consequently in
first class condition. and we had much
enjoyed our trip, Notwithstanding the
constant watchfulness we had been
obliged to maintain ever since entering
Indian territory.
So far nothing very serious had oc'
CURED, though on several occasions it was
only our complete state of preparation
that saved us from attack, but now that
we had reached the stamping ground OF
the bloodthirsty Apaches we could hard.
ly expect to escape molestation.
We We're well armed for those times
having full supply of muzzle loading
rifles, double barreled shotguns and to
each man heavy Colts revolver, then a
very costly weapon.
In less than five minutes after Carson
had given the command the wagons
were drawn into rough circle and the
horses brought within the inclosure.