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 captured and driven them off in
another direction.

It seems like a piece of madness for three men to pursue ten times
as many Indian warriors; but the blood of Carson was up and he
told Godey it was too soon for them to turn back. The eyes of both
flashed, when they reflected upon the shameful outrage, and they
meant that the marauders should not get off scot free.

As the boy was only an incumbrance, he was left behind, and, taking
the trail of the warriors, the three put their horses to their
best, confident the chase would be a long one. On such occasions,
the red men are accustomed to travel a long distance before making
a halt. With so much booty in their hands, they were liable to