uring her captivity. It was
the will of Providence that, having suffered like a martyr on earth,
she should be taken to himself before we arrived to where her remains
lay; upon coming upon which, we shed tears at thus being defeated in
what had been our cherished hopes even had it cost some of us our own
lives."

By this language it can be readily seen that Kit Carson regretted the
failure of this attempt made to rescue Mrs. White as deeply as any
one, either in the expedition, or among her friends at the home from
which she had so recently, in health and happiness, been torn. "Yet I
cannot," says Kit Carson, "blame the commanding officer, or the other
guide, for the action they took in the affair. They evidently did as
they thought best, but I have no doubt that they now can see, that
if my advice had been taken, the life of Mrs. White might have been
spared for at least a short period." This expedition was far from
being a failure, for the Indians lost all their provisions, camp
equipage and a few animals. Many of these savages ran away leaving
behind them everything they possessed in the world, except the scanty
amount of clothing they had on.

For six miles they were pursued over the level prairies when another
brave was killed, several wounded and three children taken prisoners.
The horses belonging to the Expedition broke down, one by one, until
at last, the chase had to be given over, after which the Indians made
short work in getting out of sight. Among the trinkets and baggage
found in the captured camp, there was a novel which described Kit
Carson as a great hero who was able to slay Indians by scores. This
book was shown to Kit and was the first of the kind he had ever seen.
After glancing at it he made the remark, "that perhaps Mrs. White,
to whom it belonged, knowing he lived not very far off, had prayed to
have him make his appearance and assist in freeing her. He wished that
it might have been so, but consoled himself by thinking that he had
performed his duty." While on their route back to Taos, the command
was overtaken by a terrible snow storm which was accompanied by a high
wind; as there were no hills to break its force, it amounted almost
to a tornado. The snow was driven with such force into the men's faces
that they became nearly blind, and were bewildered as to the course
they should travel. During its continuance, they wandered about on the
prairies. Finally they were so fortunate that at last