It was necessary to avoid the well beaten trails, so that the route was not only made longer, but much more difficult on account of the obstacles named.
Yet they were working for a great stake.

The lives of General Kearney and his brave men were in the balance.

If Carson and Beale failed to bring help right speedily, they were doomed.
All night long, through the succeeding day and far into the following night, the couple, worn, wearied and with bleeding feet, pushed ahead.
When exhausted, they would halt for a brief while, but the thought of their imperilled comrades, and the fear that some of the Mexicans were pursuing them, speedily started them off again and they kept to their work with a grim resolution which heeded not fatigue, suffering and wounds.
The only compass Carson had was his eye, but he was so familiar with the country that he never lost himself.

The weary men were still trudging forward, when through the darkness ahead suddenly flashed out a star-like point of light.

Several others appeared and a minute after they dotted the background of gloom like a constellation.
"That's San Diego!" exclaimed Carson, who could not be mistaken.