was Frustrated—Gratitude2 of the Gentlemen Whom Carson was the Means of
Saving From Death.
Carson returned to his ranche where he spent the winter. One day in spring a wounded herder managed to reach the place with the news that he and his companion, stationed a few miles away, had been attacked by Apaches, who wounded both, and ran off all the horses and mules3.
A squad4 of ten dragoons and a sergeant5 were on guard near Carson's ranche. They and three settlers, including Carson, started at once in pursuit. It was so late in the day that when they came to the place where the outrage6 had been committed, it was dark and they went into camp; but they were astir at the earliest dawn, and soon striking the trail of the thieves, put their animals to a keen gallop7. Some twenty miles further, the Apaches were described a long distance away. As it was upon the open prairie the contest at once resolved itself into an open chase.
It was no time to spare the animals, whose rapid gait was increased until it became a killing8 pace. The pursuers were steadily9 gaining, when four of their horses succumbed10 and their riders, much to their chagrin11, were shut out from the impending12 fray13. The others had no time to stop: they could simply shout goodbye to them and spur their steeds to greater exertions14. Fortunately the pursuers were better mounted than the fugitives15 who numbered a full score. With a bravery characteristic of their tribe, they clung to their stolen property, preferring to be overtaken and forced into a fight rather than abandon it.
As soon as the parties were within rifle range, the battle began and became of the most exciting character. The Apaches were splendid horsemen and displayed great skill. They threw themselves on the far side of their steeds, firing from under the neck, and keeping their bodies so well concealed16 that it was a difficult task to bring them down.
But the white men were accustomed to that sort of work, and the Apaches learned a lesson they never forgot. Five of their best warriors17 were killed, several badly wounded and nearly all the animals recaptured. Kit18 Carson directed every movement of his men and to that fact their great success was due.
The mountaineer was favored with prosperous times on his ranche. He and a companion drove fifty head of mules and horses to Fort Laramie, where they were disposed of at a liberal profit. The round journey of a thousand miles was attended with much danger, but it was accomplished19 without mishap20.
He reached home just in time to learn that the Apaches had visited the little settlement and run off all the animals. But as enough soldiers were within call, a pursuit was soon organized and very nearly all the stock was recovered.
Some months later an officer of the United States Army in Taos learned of a most atrocious plot that was on foot. Two wealthy gentlemen, travelling leisurely21 through that section of the country, had engaged an American named Fox to hire enough men to escort them across the plains. This Fox was one of the most conscienceless wretches22 and desperadoes that ever lived. He formed a scheme to murder the two gentlemen at a certain point on the plains and to divide their money among him and his companions. Those whom he secured were taken into his confidence and agreed to the crime before hand.
Among those to whom he applied23 was a miscreant24 in Taos, who, for some reason, refused to go with him. However, he kept the secret until sure the entire party were so far out on the plains that nothing could prevent the perpetration of the crime. He then told it to several associates, one of whom made it known to the officer of whom we have spoken.
This gentleman was horrified25, and uncertain what could be done, if indeed he could do anything, hastened to Kit Carson, to whom he made known the story. The mountaineer listened eagerly, and, as soon as he grasped the whole plot, declared there was reason to believe it was not too late to frustrate1 it. With that wonderful intuition which was such a marked characteristic of his nature, he fixed26 upon the very place where it had been decided27 the crime was to be committed. Knowing the entire route, it was easy to determine the spot most likely to be selected, which was more than two hundred miles distant. Instead, therefore, of following the trail, he struck directly across the open prairie by the most direct course to his destination.
Ten finely mounted dragoons accompanied, all ready for any deed of daring. The route led through a country where the Indians were very hostile, but they were avoided with little difficulty. The second night out, they came upon the encampment of a detachment of United States troops, whose captain volunteered to take twenty of his soldiers and help bring the desperadoes to justice.
The expedition was a complete success. They overtook the party at the very spot fixed upon, and Fox was arrested before he suspected the business of the strangers in camp. When the overthrow28 of the wretches was complete, the gentlemen were told the story. They were speechless for a moment and could not believe it; but the proof was complete, and they turned pale at the thought of the fate they had escaped.
Their gratitude was unbounded. Taking the hand of Carson they begged him to name some reward he would accept, but the mountaineer shook his head.
"I am more than repaid in being able to help frustrate such a crime as was contemplated29; I cannot think of accepting anything of the kind you name."
The gentlemen, however, could not forget that under heaven, they owed their lives to Kit Carson. The following spring a couple of splendid revolvers arrived at the mountaineer's ranche addressed to him. Beautifully engraved30 on them were a few sentences expressive31 of the feelings of the donors32 and the special occasion which called forth33 the gift.
It is easy to understand how much more acceptable such an acknowledgement was to Kit Carson than any sum of money could have been.
Fox was lodged34 in jail, but though there was no doubt of his guilt35 in the minds of every one, yet the meditated36 crime was so difficult to establish that ultimately he was set free.
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1
frustrate
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| v.使失望；使沮丧；使厌烦 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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mules
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| 骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者 | |
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squad
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| n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组 | |
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sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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10
succumbed
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| 不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的过去式和过去分词 )； 屈从； 被压垮； 死 | |
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chagrin
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| n.懊恼；气愤；委屈 | |
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12
impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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fray
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| v.争吵；打斗；磨损，磨破；n.吵架；打斗 | |
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exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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16
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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18
kit
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| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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mishap
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| n.不幸的事，不幸；灾祸 | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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wretches
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| n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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miscreant
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| n.恶棍 | |
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horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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27
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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28
overthrow
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| v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆 | |
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29
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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engraved
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| v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的过去式和过去分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中） | |
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expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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32
donors
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| n.捐赠者( donor的名词复数 )；献血者；捐血者；器官捐献者 | |
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33
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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34
lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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35
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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36
meditated
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| 深思，沉思，冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 )； 内心策划，考虑 | |
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