Year: 1877

dlly crOSSou Dy means o, IneSe natural
openings, which were separated by dis
tances varying from twenty to hundred
miles. The pursuers urged their horses
to the utmost, for they were exceedingly
anxious to come up with the scamps who
had played this trick upon them; while
they, on their part, were as desirous of
keeping beyond their reach.


The penalty of death is the one most
generally prescribed on the frontier for
such exploits as this; and Kit Carson
and his friend were prepared to shoot
the two runaways the instant they could
bring them within range of their rifles.
There was bright moon, and the sky
was clear, so that there was no difficulty
in keeping up the pursuit. Near mid
night they reached the vicinity of the
pass, and were not little elated at catch
ing the glimmer of a campfire.


"I think they are there" said Carson,
in low tone to his friend; "and, if so,
we shall make them pay dear for their
whistle"


They rode quietly forward until with
in few hundred yards, when they dis
mounted, tied their horses in a glen,
and made the rest of the journey on
foot Advancing with the caution char
acteristic Of men at such times, they soon
were near enough to the campfire to
gain fair view of those around it. No
white men were there; but in their
places were dozen Navaioe Indians
quietly encamped, and SO unsuspicious
of danger that nothing of any sentinels
could be seen.


Having fully satisfied themselves
upon this point, the pursuers stealthily
withdrew to where they had left their
horses.


eve have made mistake" said Car
son. owe shall have to wait until
morning before trying to do anything
more"


Withdrawing to a safe point, they lay
down, and slept soundly during the
remainder of the night, for they needed
rest no less than did their horses.


When they were fairly awake on the
morrow. they consulted together as to
what was best to do. So long as there
was any prospect of recovering the
stolen property neither of them felt in
clined to giveu p the pursuit.


"I am afraid they have given us the
Slip remarked Carson's companion.


'It does look little that way. It
may be, however that we are ahead of
them"


'tIf that is 30, there is still chance
of coming across the thieves


The leader replied in the affirmative,
and, after scanning every portion of the
sky, added:


"But if we just missed tbem-that is,
if they were ahead of us in reaching the
passive may as well give up the chase
and go back to camp"
With this conviction they rode quietly
along, until the greater portion of the
forenoon was passed; but no sign of the
runaways did they discover.
Gradually the conviction forced itself
upon them that they were engaged upon
| a frnitless erraud, and that the prudent
camp. The pursuit had led them into
the most dangerous portion of the Nava-
joe country, where the greatest care was
necessary to escape collision with their
implacable enemies.


| When the sun reached the meridian
without any sign of the deserters, the
chase was given up entirely.


"They've got ahead of US, that's GER
tain," said Kit, as they turned their
horses heads homeward.


tThere isn't any use in pursuing them
further


"No; the time is all lost. When we
get back to Taos we may meet them, and
we will then settle this account"


With this consolation, they continued
on their journey toward camp. In the
afternoon they crossed a small stream,
where, to their surprise, they detected
the trail of the deserters. The footprints
showed that their animals were at full
speed, and more extended scrutiny of
the soft earth along the stream revealed
the fact that the party undoubtedly had
been hotly pursued by Indians at the
time


The trail led toward a wood about
half n mile to the left /; and, under the
conviction that fight might have taken
place at that point, the two hunters rode
at gallop toward it. They were not
mistaken in their supposition for, less
than hundred yards from the edge OF
the wood, all three of the horses were
found stretched upon the ground per
fectly riddled with bullets.


"But where are they ? asked the hun.
ter, of Carson, after they had surveyed
the sickening sight for few minutes.


"Let us look about us, was the reply,
as they moved on with their horses.


Thinking that the bodies of the trap
pers must be somewhere near at hand
they searched awhile for them, but dis
covered not the least trace. They ever
went through the entire wood, with nc
better success. The conviction OF botl
Carson and his companion was that they
had been captured by the Navajoes
carried away, and put to terrible death
In this they were undoubtedly correct
as not one of the men was ever heard o
afterward


|


The trappers now took the most direc