Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-10-02
Overland With Kit Carson
By W. THOMSON.
lCopyright, IsGsi, by American Press Assccia-
 tion.l
 CH X DTFP

| lCopyright. 1885, by American Press Associa- tion.l
 CHAPTER 1.
 Back, men, Back to cover! Don't lose sight of the women," shouted the captain of our train as we were hurry ing toward the advanced position by the side of deep canyon where he had come to a standstill.
 We knew our leader-the renowned Kit Carson-too well to lose a moment in idle questioning. all turned at once and scurried back to the line of wagons, in the center one of which sat Tom Secord's pretty wife and her still prettier sister, Helen Douglas.
 Rallying by the side of the women, or girls rather. neither being yet 20 years of age, we looked ahead to see what Kit was doing. Much to our surprise, that veteran scout, instead of riding swiftly in, as we expected, had dismounted from his horse and was walking quietly.in front of the animal thus making its body shield his own from any attack in the rear.
 Whats up, cap:" three or four of us 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. Mir. Carson! What is it? Are the Indians there? Is there much dan ger:" exclaimed Mrs Secord.
 Danger! Bless your sweet heart, not mite for you or the girl so longs a sin gle man of us is left, and we ain't any of us going under just yet" Kit gallant ly replied. But, boys, you might as well put things in shipshape It's kind of half likely that we'll have a little scrimmage. Near as I can guess, there's well on to 90 Apaches hiding in the can yon. l caught sight of a pony or two and half 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 have to wait awhile
 It was ill 1850. We were on our way from Missouri to California-were now passing through Arizona and had ar rived at Canyon Diablo (the Devils canyon), ill 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 were IS men in our party, all stout fellows under 30, and the two young women. Our outfit consisted of five covered wagons, afterward known as ''prairie schooners," and 15 horses-i. e., an extra horse for each wagon or available for the saddle while hunting buffalo and other game.
 As it was vet 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 Apachcs we could hard ly expect to escape molestation.
 We were well armed for those times having full supply of mhzzle loading rifles. double barreled shotguns and to each man heavy Colts revolver, then a very costly weapon.
 In less than five minutes after Carson 1 had given the command the wagons | Were drawn into a rough circle and the | horses brought within 1hc irclosure.