erwards, the safety of himself and friends or associates. At the
time the Indians entered the camp, Carson, with only a few of the
party, occupied it; the rest were out visiting their traps, which it
was their general custom to set whenever they arrived at a suitable
stream. Kit having thus become satisfied concerning the design of the
savages, and feeling that the salvation of the entire party rested
upon his courage and wisdom, made up his mind that boldness was the
wisest policy he could adopt. He found present among the warriors one
who could speak the Spanish language. Through him he ordered the
red men "to leave the camp. In the event of their not doing so
immediately, he and his friends would, without further parley,
commence hostilities, and would be sure each in killing his man,
although they might all in the end lose their own lives."

The Indians had been accustomed to act about as they chose with such
small parties of Mexicans as they chanced to meet, and consequently
were taken completely by surprise at Kit's unusual boldness. Seeing
that they would inevitably lose several of their braves if they
made any hostile demonstration, they chose the discreet part of best
policy, and departed. As a general rule, no matter what the profit or
urgent necessity which chance offers, these Indians will not hazard a
contest when, to a certainty, they must expect their own killed will
equal the number of scalps which they can obtain. This rule, and
doubtless some fearfulness on the part of the Indians, saved the lives
of the entire band.

As has already appeared, the trappers were on the banks of the
Colorado at the time this affair happened. They continued their work
on it, descending the south side until they reached tide water, when
they changed their camp on to the Gila, and continued trapping up this
river as far as the mouth of the San Pedro. Near the outlet of this
river, they discovered a large herd of horses and mules; on a closer
examination, they found that they were in the possession of a band
of Indians who had formerly given them some of their gratuitous
hostilities. Not having forgotten their former troubles with these
people, they determined to pay them off in their own coin by depriving
them of the herd. A short search sufficed to discover the Indian camp.
Without waiting an instant, they put their horses to their speed and
charged in among the huts. The Indians were so completely taken by
surprise, that