they became panic-struck and fled in every direction.
They, however, rallied somewhat, and a running fight commenced which
lasted some time, but which did not change matters in favor of the
Indians. The entire herd fell into the possession of the trappers.

On the same evening, after the men had wrapped themselves up in their
blankets and laid down for a sleep, and while enjoying their slumbers,
a noise reached their ears which sounded very much like distant
thunder; but a close application of the sense of hearing showed
plainly that an enemy was near at hand. Springing up, with rifle in
hand--for generally in the mountains a man's gun rests in the same
blanket with himself on all sleeping occasions--they sallied forth to
reconnoitre, and discovered a few warriors driving along a band of at
least two hundred horses. The trappers comprehended instantly that the
warriors had been to the Mexican settlements in Sonora on a thieving
expedition, and that the horses had changed hands with only one party
to the bargain. The opportunity to instill a lesson on the savage
marauders was too good to be lost.

They saluted the thieves with a volley from their rifles, which, with
the bullet-whizzing about their heads and bodies, so astonished them,
that they seemed almost immediately to forget their stolen property,
and to think only of a precipitous flight. In a few moments, the
whites found themselves masters of the field, and also of the
property. To return the animals to their owners was an impossibility;
Mr. Young, therefore, selected as many of the best horses as he needed
for himself and men, and game being very scarce, killed two and dried
most of the meat for future use, turning the remainder loose. Such
either became wild mustangs or fell again into the clutches of the
Indians. The company then renewed their trapping, and continued it up
the Gila to a point opposite the copper mines of New Mexico. Here they
left the river and proceeded to the copper mines, where they found Mr.
Robert McKnight engaged in trading with the neighboring Indian tribes.
These mines were not then, and ever since have not been, worked. The
holes which had many years before been made by the miners--but who
they were is unknown--formed a safe hiding-place for their skins. The
stock of beaver was therefore placed under the care of Mr. McKnight.
Young and his men then renewed their march, and in due time arrived
safely at Santa Fe. Here they purchased