ns in all phases, on beholding
these Apaches in their most nourishing condition, would at once decide
they had but little else to lose than their bodies, for they usually
have but a small quantity of clothing on them; but this is but an
instance where human eyes can be easily deluded. As long as he has his
rifle with plenty of ammunition, or even when he is reduced to his bow
and arrows, the Apache still considers that he is amply provided to
carry on war. Least of all the Indians in the far West does this race
prepare for the future. When deprived of his horse, which he is ready,
at a moment's warning, to convert into food by killing, his spirits
are as buoyant as if he was mounted on the fleetest charger. He is
equally careless about partaking of his last morsel of nourishment,
although his rashness may drive him, and often does, to the
alternative of subsisting on roots and bark, or such other articles as
may fall in his way.

On the morning of the day that the Apache village was discovered and
captured, Kit Carson rode up to his superior officer and said, "Major,
if no accident shall happen to prevent us, we are certain to overtake
the Indians by two o'clock this afternoon. The signs are becoming so
fresh that I feel confident that I will not be mistaken." Carleton
replied that if his words came true, he would present him with the
finest hat that could be purchased in the United States. Strange as
it may appear, the Indians were found at the hour which the guide had
predicted. Sometime afterward, as it required quite a length of time
to write and have the commission executed, Kit Carson was
presented with a superb hat, in which there was a very appropriate
inscription--viz.

+----------------+
| AT 2 O'CLOCK. |
| |
| KIT CARSON, |
| |
| FROM |
| |
| MAJOR CARLETON.|
+----------------+

This prophecy was not guesswork. On the contrary, it was a matter of
calculation, made on the same principle which any experienced workman
would adopt, in reference to some undertaking that was within the
range of his calling. A few years later, an officer, who had been an
eye-witness of this incident, had the opportunity of trying Kit Carson
a second time on the same business, but Kit was not mistaken. The
Indians were overtaken within five minutes from the time he had
foretold they would be.

Major Carleton, having performed all