e remainder
of that day, the train traveled on in apparent safety. When the shades
of evening had fairly set in, a camping-ground was selected on a small
stream. The wagons were formed in a circle, in which were huddled the
men and animals so that both could be protected by the weapons of the
former. Grass was cut with the butcher knives belonging to the
members of the party and was laid before the mules. In this dangerous
locality, they could not be allowed to procure this food for
themselves. As strong a guard as their forces would permit of was
posted. The remainder of the party gathered some wood that had floated
down the stream from the mountains and was sparingly scattered along
the shores of the river near to the camp. This was brought in, when
small fires were made over which their frugal meal was prepared, after
which the men lay down to rest. Many persons there are who would
think that after escaping such perils once, it would take very
great inducements to make them thus expose themselves a second time.
Nevertheless, there exist in our land hundreds upon hundreds of men
who take delight in returning into the midst of these dangers.

A life on the prairies of the "Far West" has its good chances as
well as its counter chances, and no man can be happier than the
true mountaineer. At first, to one accustomed to luxuries and modern
refinement, nothing can be more unpleasant than a journey over the
plains; but each day thus spent, hardens the traveler until meals,
that a beggar in our towns or cities would hardly deign to touch, are
by him eaten with a relish to which he has long been a stranger. It
is on these long tramps that the dyspeptic and melancholic man becomes
the liveliest of the party; his sociability often increases to such a
degree that he soon can spin a yarn in a true Baron Munchausen style.

Eat Carson, as he rode silently along all the following day, had been
meditating over the scenes through which he had so recently passed,
and also the most practicable means to be employed for the future.
When the night had fully set in, without saying one word to the other
members of the party, he called to a young Mexican whom he knew to be
very fleet of foot and whose powers of endurance were wonderful. On
his coming to him he led him one side, when, after he had depicted to
the boy their fearful situation in its true colors, he told him that
he held the power of saving the lives of the whole party.

The N