Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1895-05-14

hT%ASIW io', VIC
@-NNA<Ss~ different
MT CARSON. the journey,
loined for few days each time by Kit
Carson.
At this time Carson was in the prime
of life-a man rather under the medium
size.
Ours was . large, strong and we'll
armed party, consisting of more than
thirty men, and our outfit comprised
six wagons, twelve mules and sixteen
horses, the latter adapted to either
draught or saddle.
With the exception of Carson, each
of us carried muzzle-loading rifle and
q heavy revolver; while, besides a pair
of exquisitely- y-fnished revolvers, he
was armed with one of those ten-cham-
bered repeating rifles, invented, think,
by Col. Colt.
| Among our crowd were two especial
ly five young fellows, one an English
man named John Moulton, and the
other fiery Virginian called Gerald
Woodville. These two, though singu-
larly alike In disposition, or perhaps
for that very reason, could never agree.
Lately there had been such bad blood
between them that neither would
speak to the other.
One afternoon. after striking the old
Spanish trail, we were going slowly
down the Pacific slope of the Windy
mountains, when a large elk broke
cover somewhat out of rifle shot and
trotted leisurely away.
Moulton, an ardent sportsman, was
riding his own horse, an extremely
valuable animal, and now, without con-
sulting anyone, he set off in pursuit OF
the elk. just as he was leaving Carson
said:
Remember, we're In hostile coun-
try, young man. Don't go far away,
even if you have to come back without
meat"
We went on for about two miles and
finally made camp on a small stream
among the foothills, where was abund-
ance of good grass, while the stream it.
self, Carson informed us, was well
stocked with trout.
After we had corralled the wagons,
pi:keted the animals out to Craze and
pvt everything in shape to repel any
possible attack, we delayed supper for
awhile in the hope that Moulton would
cosue in, as we had heard one report
f.;m his rifle and had no doubt that he
hat killed the elk.
Two hours more passed away with
out bringing sign of the young hunt
er; we now began to feel seriously
alarmed, but, very strangely, no one
APPEARED so much distressed as did
Oersld Woodville.
What do you think of it, Mr.. Car.
sonf" he anxiously inquired. "Do you
suppose that Jack has lost himself?'
w. glanced significantly at each
other, for this was the first time we
had ever heard the Virginian use the
dressed John Moulton.
y hardly know what to think of it, "
replied Carson. THE young man has
either become lost among the puzzling
ravines, or" and the bold scout re.
lapsed into ominous silence.
"My Godv feelingly exclaimed Ger
aid, ''surely you don't think the In.
disas have got him; poor Jack!"
"1t's hard to say" rejoined Kit; "but
these are lots of the Digger tribe wan
,lerfng through the mountains just
nov. Their principal village is on a
bra och of the Sacramento, about sixty
nilss from here, and if stray party OF
them has captured our friend, without
killing him on the spot, they'll keep
his horse as a great prize and reserve
hirN to be tortured to death when they
reach the main band"
.'Great heavens! What can we do to
save him?" gasped Woodville.
Nothing until morning." gravely
answered Carson. ''lf Mr.. Moulton
dor't come in before daybreak, I'll
start out to look him up, and want
only one man to go with me. more
would be a hindrance.
That man shall be myself, then,
sail the warm-hearted Virginian. I'D
risk my life q hundred times over to
msve Jack from such fate"
When the first streak OF dawn ap-
peared Carson and Woodville, after
taking hasty breakfast and packing
up q days supply of food, mounted
their horses preparatory to setting out
ON their perilous quest.
'Tf we're not back by this time to-
morrow, boys, you'll know we've gone
under" observed Carson as coolly as
though he were going to picnic.
"fsut rather think we'll come In.
Stay right here until to-morrow's suns
ar hour high, and II there's no news OF
" then go ahead on your journey, for
wen be past help"
It seems that shortly after leaving
us Moulton had come within range OF
and had killed his elk, and was stoop-
ing down to cut of the hind quarters
fer bringing to camp, when, before he
could FIRE another shot, he was
p,unced upon by score OF Digger
Indians, who gagged him and bound
his arms in the twinkling OF an eye.
Then, loading the carcass upon MS
horse and forcing him to walk along /,
they set on ON their retreat, travelling
| fast until night, when they bivouacked
BIZ . spring and had glorious feast,
the prisoner being meautime secured
70 q tree.
Next morning, after another oig
feast, the savages resumed their march
| in q leisnrely manner. and before sun
| sst again halted for the night o. :
spring. ,...