o, the
owner of which has taken great pains and spent much valuable time
with its construction, lives Maxwell, whose honest pride is the being
master of a model farm. In the residence next most to be admired in
Rayado, Kit Carson sometimes sojourns.

The mansion which belongs to Maxwell would be an ornament to any
country. At one time, it was used as a garrison for American troops,
and on it, the soldiers made many improvements. It is built one story
high, in the shape of a hollow square, and has the size of an ordinary
block in a city. Around the whole runs a fine veranda. With its lofty
ceilings, large and airy rooms, and its fine yard in the centre of the
square, which is well stored with its fowls, pigeons, and other pet
animals, with appropriate kennels; with antlers of noble buck and elk;
hams of venison, buffalo meat, wild turkeys, etc., and near by a
fine vegetable garden; altogether, it presents a picture of sumptuous
living rarely seen within the pale of civilization. Maxwell counts
his steeds and cattle by hundreds, while his flocks of sheep are
enumerated by thousands. Near by stands Kit Carson's ranche, which,
though more modest, yet, when the hunter occupies it, in dead game and
comfort, it fully rivals its compeer. Around these two hunters live
a handful of Mexican friends, who are either engaged in agricultural
pursuits for themselves, or else in the employ of the "lords of the
manor," Carson and Maxwell.

In this his residence at Rayado, Kit Carson is only kept from spending
his whole time by business for which his tastes are more suited. Soon
after the commencement of the settlement, and while he was engaged
in his vocation as farmer, news reached him that the Apaches had been
committing a most wicked murder, the details of which are horrible
in the extreme. A merchant by the name of White, who was engaged in
business at Santa Fe, had been into the United States for the purpose
of purchasing goods. With his train of wagons and his small escort
of men, traveled his private carriage, in which there were, as
passengers, his accomplished but unfortunate lady and her only child.
On arriving at a point where he anticipated no further danger, Mr.
White started on ahead of his caravan, in order that he might reach
Santa Fe as soon as possible, and thus relieve his family from the
privations of camp life. He had proceeded but a few miles when he was
attacked by some Indians who had concealed themselves in the