and ran for their lives. Several of them were shot down before they
could reach the shelter of the rocks from behind which they sprang
after the fallen white man.

Carson's devotion to his friend now placed him in an unpleasant if
not dangerous situation. His steed being without restraint, galloped
off beyond his reach, and the commander was thus left on foot, when
there was urgent need that he should be mounted.

Meanwhile the mountaineer who was caught under the body of his
horse, was struggling desperately to withdraw his imprisoned leg,
for there was no saying when the Blackfeet would be upon him again.
He succeeded at last, and, standing upon his feet, shook himself
together, as may be said, and he found that though pretty badly
bruised, no bones were broken, and he was able to do his full part
in the serious duty before him.

The exciting episode benefited the trappers in one respect: it served
to check the seemingly resistless rush of the Blackfeet and gave
the others a chance to rally and fix upon some course of action.

Carson ran rapidly toward the nearest horseman and sprang upon the
back of his animal behind him. The steed was forced to his best
and speedily joined the main body a short distance off. It was
fortunate that just at that moment there came a lull in the furious
fighting, else Carson could scarcely have escaped so well. The
runaway horse was pursued by one of the mountaineers who finally
cornered and brought him back to their leader.

The Blackfeet did not follow the whites, nor did the latter return