the
Sierra Nevada and Coast Range by means of an easily travelled pass. The
latter chain was followed until they came upon the Spanish trail, along
which they passed to the Mohave River. Where the Trail diverges from
that stream, Carson became involved in a characteristic adventure.

While in camp two Mexicans, a man and a boy, rode up and told a sad
story. They belonged to a party of Mexican traders from New Mexico. Six
of them, including two women who acted as cooks, were left in charge
of a band of horses while the rest were away, engaged in barter. When
endeavoring to find better grazing for their animals and while the man
and boy were on guard, they were attacked by a band of thirty Indians.
The warriors were after the horses and their first demonstration was
a flight of arrows. The only chance of escape was to make off with
the animals and the two started them on a dead run straight toward
the Indians. The charge was so impetuous, that they forced their way
through, and continued their flight, while the warriors remained behind
to massacre the others.

When the couple had gone a long distance, they left the horses and
turned back to look for their friends. While they were doing so, they
came upon Fremont's camp. When it is added that among those who were
left behind by the Mexicans, were the wife of the man and the father and
mother of the boy, their pitiful situation must touch the hearts of
all. They were overcome with grief, and Carson was so stirred that he
volunteered to go back with the couple and help rescue their friends
if alive, or punish the Indians, if it should prove that they had been
massacred.

Richard Godey, a mountaineer almost the equal with Carson, willingly
agreed to accompany him. The two were perfectly familiar with the
country, which was an immense advantage. When the Mexicans described the
spring, a long ways distant, where they had abandoned the horses to
hunt for their friends, Carson recalled its exact location. It was about
thirty miles away and he said that that was the point toward which they
must push with all speed.

Accordingly they turned the heads of their horses thither and struck
into a sweeping gallop, resting only when compelled to do so, and
reaching the spring at daylight the next morning. Not a horse was
visible, but an examination of the ground showed that the Indians had
followed the fleeing Mexicans and stock to the spring, where, finding
the animals, they had ca