Directly in front of Reuben five Indians stepped from behind a huge
rock and halted his progress. Two of them seized his horse by its
bridle, while two more advanced upon him, one from each side.
Startled by the unexpected sight, Reuben gazed at the men a moment, and
then when he tried to bring his gun to his shoulder his arms were held
powerless in the grasp of his captors. A moment later he was thankful
that his enemies had prevented him from using his weapon. If he had
succeeded he was well aware that instantly he would have been
overpowered and doubtless slain by the young redmen.
Several times one of the Indians questioned Reuben, but the boy was
unable to understand what was said, and consequently attempted no
reply. In a brief time the conversation ceased, and his hands were
securely bound behind his back. He was compelled to dismount and to
follow the men, who now took his pony and led the way farther within
the valley.
They were moving cautiously, too, an act which Reuben did not
understand. His confusion, however, was soon gone when, after a walk of
a half-hour, he was conducted to a camp in which fifteen Indians were
seated around a fire over which they were roasting pieces of meat that
he strongly suspected had been cut from the cattle stolen from the
mission.
As the young prisoner was ignorant alike of the language spoken by the
Indians and of the few words of Spanish which one of them was able to
speak, he was at a complete loss to understand not only who they were
and what their plans might be, but also what was likely to be his fate.
His hands had been freed after he had been brought to the camp, but he
was not permitted to leave the enclosure. When night came he was
conducted to a cave among the nearby rocks and there by signs was
informed that he was to remain throughout the night.
Several Indians seated themselves before the mouth of the cave, and
Reuben was convinced that escape for the present at least was
impossible.
Three days slowly passed. Not once was he permitted to leave his
prison, although he was not treated unkindly. Food was given him every
morning and night, and a gourd of water every morning was placed at his
disposal.
[Illustration: “Several Indians seated themselves before the mouth of
the cave”]
As the afternoon of the third day wore on, Reuben became aware of a
partly suppressed but increasing excitement among his captors. At first
he was hopeful that the place was about to be attacked by some of his
friends, in which event he might hope for release. It was impossible
for him, however, to obtain any information from the Indians, and
indeed few of them now even glanced at him as they apparently prepared
to depart.
Reuben was disappointed when he learned that only half of the Indians
were to leave the place. The excitement among the others, however, did
not die away, and they frequently talked with one another in low voices
and pointed anxiously in the direction in which their friends had gone.
When darkness fell Reuben stretched himself upon the hard floor of the
cave, and although he was aware of the excitement which still possessed
his captors, he was convinced that he would be unable to learn the
cause of it, and soon was sleeping soundly.
The first faint streaks of daylight were seen when Reuben was awakened
by the return of the men who had departed the preceding night.
Instantly it was plain to him what the purpose of their journey had
been. With them now were at least threescore horses, and as he looked
keenly at the animals Reuben recognized some of them. They had belonged
to the men whom Kit Carson had been leading. Had their owners perished?
Had there been a night attack by the redmen and had Kit Carson’s band
been destroyed? Excited as Reuben was he was not able to find any
answer to his questions, though he eagerly interrogated several of the
redmen with signs. Not one of them, however, gave any heed to their
prisoner and his demonstrations. All about the camp the redmen were in
action, and it was plain to the boy that they were planning to depart
quickly.
His surmise proved to be correct, for within a few minutes all their
weapons and belongings had been packed on the backs of their horses and
they were ready to start. For a moment Reuben was hopeful that he was
about to be left behind, but this was not to be, for one of the Indians
approached and motioned for him to follow. Obedient to the command,
Reuben accompanied his captor, who led the way to the spot where
several of the Indian ponies were standing. Altogether there were not
more than twenty of the Indian braves. How they had been able to secure
so many horses and to return to their camp without any one having been
injured was still a puzzle to Reuben. In obedience to the motion of his
captor he leaped upon the back of one of the horses and took the reins
in his hands.
The excitement of the band increased when at last it set forth from the
place. Every rider was leading two or three horses. It was plain, too,
that the Indians were fearful of pursuit. Frequently they would glance
behind them, as if expecting an attack. They had not gone far, however,
before a brief halt was called and three of the braves were sent back
to form a rear guard.
Throughout the day the flight was continued, with only two or three
breaks, when the men and horses stopped to quench their thirst at a
running stream. Even when night fell the march was continued.
Occasionally the band halted, while the men who formed the rear guard
joined them and a brief conference was held. In every case, however,
either the guard or those who were to take their place returned to the
rear and the journey was resumed.
There were only slight and occasional rests during the second day. It
was becoming increasingly plain to Reuben that the men were not only in
desperate haste, but were in great fear of pursuit.
Grimly the young prisoner assured himself that their fears were well
grounded, if their horses had been stolen from the band of which Kit
Carson was the leader. Still Reuben was not ill-treated, although his
conviction became stronger that if he should try to escape his fate
would be quickly sealed.
The way over which they had come had been rough, and in places it was
only with great difficulty the horses were able to advance. The ride
was hard and all the braves by this time were showing the effect of
their almost continuous ride. The distance which they had covered,
however, had been much less than if they had been fleeing over the
plains.
When the darkness of the third night fell the wearied warriors halted,
and Reuben suspected from their actions that now a longer time for rest
was to be granted. It was also plain that much of the fear which had
urged the Indians forward was gone. And even Reuben did not dare to
hope that his friends would follow the redmen so far. One hundred miles
or more had been covered in the three days, he assured himself. With a
sinking heart he was beginning to believe, with his captors, that the
possibility of pursuit no longer existed. Evidently the Indians all
felt now that they were safe. The silence which had rested over the
party gave place to noisy calls and shouts.
Not long after the halt had been called, Reuben was startled when he
saw that the Indians were preparing for a feast. Two of the poor beasts
that had carried them safely throughout their flight and were nearly
exhausted were taken apart from the others and killed. The skins were
stripped from the bodies, and then over the fires, which were speedily
kindled, the flesh was roasted, and a wild feast followed.
With strength restored by the food they had eaten and their fears of
pursuit now gone, the Indians were like children. They laughed and even
played pranks upon one another.
After the hunger of the band had been appeased Reuben was given a
portion for his own needs. It was almost impossible for him to bite
through the tough flesh, but hunger provided a strong incentive and
soon he, too, was sharing in the changed mental attitude of the entire
group. As he glanced behind him at the hills among which they had
passed he saw that the moon had risen and that night was at hand. There
was still sufficient light, however, to enable him to see distinctly
all about him as he watched the antics of his childlike captors.
Suddenly in the midst of their pranks there came a rude and sharp
interruption. The reports of rifles were heard from two sides of the
camp. Several of the Indians fell to the ground, and Reuben instantly
followed their example, although he was uninjured.
With wild cries the redmen now ran for their horses, but as they
approached the place where they had corralled them there were fresh
shots, and others of the Indians fell.
With renewed and louder shouts they now turned and ran swiftly toward
the plains beyond. Many of them had been able to secure mounts and some
of the horses were carrying double loads. Most of the animals, however,
had been abandoned in the sudden flight.
By this time the men who had attacked the camp were near enough to
enable Reuben to recognize them as his recent companions. Among them he
saw the youthful form of Kit Carson riding at some distance to the left
of his comrades and evidently fearful of an attack from the redmen who
might still remain in the camp.
Aside from those who had fallen, Reuben was convinced, as he lifted his
head and gazed about him, that he was the only one left there alive.
All those who had been able to escape had fled from the place.
“Here I am, Kit! Don’t shoot!” he called loudly, afraid to lift his
head lest instantly he should be made the target of the excited
trappers.
“Who’s calling? Who is it?” demanded Kit Carson quickly, as he and his
companions stopped to stare blankly all about them at the unexpected
hail.
“Here I am!” repeated Reuben. “If you won’t shoot I’ll stand up.”
“Go ahead, show yourself!” called Kit Carson.
At the command Reuben instantly arose and was recognized by the scout
and his band.