menced, which proved to be
very successful, for the men obtained very good riding animals in
place of their old ones. Their intercourse with this band of Apaches
closed early the next day, when both parties bid each other good bye
on the most friendly terms.

A few days more of travel brought Kit Carson and his men to the first
Mexican settlement which then stood in their road. Their arrival in
the town happened very opportunely, having for the past few days been
suffering severely from hunger. They had started from California with
but a small stock of dried meat and corn, not being able conveniently
to carry more without impeding their progress; therefore, they were
left to depend on their rifles. Game they found to be scarce; and, in
a short time, their meat was expended. Being reduced to the corn,
they were, as a matter of necessity, very sparing of it. The maize was
parched, and for several days they derived their entire subsistence
from it; though, on account of the short allowance, they but poorly
satiated their appetites. About the time succor appeared to them in
the shape of this Mexican town, even the maize was nearly used up.
They were delighted to reach a place where they would be able to
replenish their provisions. It was well known to their commander that,
as a _dernier resort_, he could kill and live upon his riding animals,
but in so doing, he would cripple his means so much, that the business
he was on might prove a failure. While so much depended on it, he felt
that he ought not to leave any other means untried before resorting to
such a procedure. It was true, the Mexicans at that time were at
war; but, there were scattered over New Mexico, in almost every town,
former friends of Kit Carson, who would, he felt confident, serve him
in the hour of trial. At the first ranche they came to, they halted
and made a rest of two or three days, while Kit employed himself
in purchasing supplies, in which he succeeded beyond even his
expectations.

It was while obeying instructions, in traveling as fast as possible,
that one day, the sixth of October, 1846, the party discerned
something which, at first, looked like a mere speck moving on the
prairies. Watching it with intense anxiety, the little speck increased
in size until they saw it emerge, as it were, from the apparent
junction of the heavens with the earth, and form a visible line; as
the front of this column came nearer to view, they discovered that
it w