resting-place, a squad of fifteen men was left
concealed in the neighborhood, in order to watch and act against
any Indians who, by chance, might be following them from one camp to
another, in hopes of finding something. The main command then moved on
slowly, and had advanced but a few miles when they were overtaken by
their friends, who came up with two scalps. These were the sum total
of their morning's work. The two warriors to whom they had belonged
were caught following the trail as scouts of their main body. The
unerring rifles of the party in ambush had performed their fearful
duty.

CHAPTER X.

Fremont en route for California--His men are anxious to punish
the Tlamath Indians--Kit Carson, in command of ten Men, is
sent on ahead to reconnoitre--He discovers the main Village
of these Indians--The Attack and the Victory--Beautiful
Lodges--The Trophies mostly destroyed--Fremont saves Kit
Carson's Life--The Journey resumed--The Sacramento Valley--An
Indian Ambuscade--One Savage defies the Party--Kit Carson
shoots him--The Tlamath Indians still on the War Path--Another
Lesson given to them--A Thief is shot--Arrival at Lawson's
Trading Post--A period of Inactivity--A Detachment sent to
capture Sonoma--Prisoners taken--The Mexicans come to punish
the Americans--Their Courage deserts them--The Retreat--The
Pursuit--Fremont goes to Sutter's Fort and establishes
a Military Post--Monterey is taken by the American
Squadron--Fremont marches there--Further Operations--The
taking of Los Angelos.

The news of war having been declared between the United States and
Mexico, determined Fremont to return to California; and, in doing so,
he decided to enter that country by a new route of his own selection.

He commenced his journey by traveling around Lake Tlamath, and had not
proceeded far in that direction, before he found himself encamped on a
small stream which empties into the lake, nearly opposite to the place
where his three men were killed. The distance of each day's progress
had been carefully reckoned and noted by the party. Upon their minds
there was still resting a sadness, which, their leader saw, was only
to be effaced by a satisfactory revenge, and that they were eager to
obtain it before quitting the country. Perhaps, also, their commanding
officer thought it best, while the opportunity offered, for the
benefit of his countrymen, whom he felt