he Means of
Saving From Death.

Carson returned to his ranche where he spent the winter. One day in
spring a wounded herder managed to reach the place with the news that
he and his companion, stationed a few miles away, had been attacked by
Apaches, who wounded both, and ran off all the horses and mules.

A squad of ten dragoons and a sergeant were on guard near Carson's
ranche. They and three settlers, including Carson, started at once in
pursuit. It was so late in the day that when they came to the place
where the outrage had been committed, it was dark and they went into
camp; but they were astir at the earliest dawn, and soon striking the
trail of the thieves, put their animals to a keen gallop. Some twenty
miles further, the Apaches were described a long distance away. As it
was upon the open prairie the contest at once resolved itself into an
open chase.

It was no time to spare the animals, whose rapid gait was increased
until it became a killing pace. The pursuers were steadily gaining, when
four of their horses succumbed and their riders, much to their chagrin,
were shut out from the impending fray. The others had no time to stop:
they could simply shout goodbye to them and spur their steeds to
greater exertions. Fortunately the pursuers were better mounted than the
fugitives who numbered a full score. With a bravery characteristic
of their tribe, they clung to their stolen property, preferring to be
overtaken and forced into a fight rather than abandon it.

As soon as the parties were within rifle range, the battle began
and became of the most exciting character. The Apaches were splendid
horsemen and displayed great skill. They threw themselves on the far
side of their steeds, firing from under the neck, and keeping their
bodies so well concealed that it was a difficult task to bring them
down.

But the white men were accustomed to that sort of work, and the Apaches
learned a lesson they never forgot. Five of their best warriors were
killed, several badly wounded and nearly all the animals recaptured. Kit
Carson directed every movement of his men and to that fact their great
success was due.

The mountaineer was favored with prosperous times on his ranche. He and
a companion drove fifty head of mules and horses to Fort Laramie,
where they were disposed of at a liberal profit. The round journey of
a thousand miles was attended with much danger, but it was accomplished
without mishap.

He reached hom