The authorities thereupon determined to arrest the hunters, but
knowing their desperate nature, hesitated as to the safe means of
doing so. They finally hit upon a rather ingenious, though unfair
means of disarming the white men: they began giving them "fire
water" to drink, refusing to accept pay therefor. Those who lead
lives of hardship and peril are generally fond of such indulgence,
and, though the trappers could not fail to understand the purpose
of the Mexicans, and though they knew the disastrous consequences
of giving away to temptation, they yielded and took in their mouths
the enemy which stole away their brains.

The employer became alarmed and saw that something must be done at
once or everything would be lost. Carson had been too wise to fall
into the snare, and he turned to him.

"Take three of the soberest men," said he, "and the loose animals
and camp equipage and push out of the place. I will join you as
soon as I can, but you mustn't linger for me. If I fail to join
you, hasten to New Mexico and make known that I and the rest of my
men have been massacred."

These instructions were definite and they showed the gravity
of the situation. Carson did as directed, while the employer gave
his attention to the rest of the men. It was high time that he did
so, for they were fast succumbing to their appetites. Despite the
indignant protests and efforts of the employer they would have
undoubtedly fallen victims but for an unlooked for occurrence.

One of the trappers who was so much under the influence of liquor
as to become reckless, fired upon and slightly wounded a native of