Furthermore, if they did not depart, within a specified time, he notified them that they would be fired upon.

These were such audacious words that the Comanches doubted their sincerity.

To test it, some of them overstayed their time.

Not wishing to break his pledge, Carson ordered his men to fire, One of the warriors fell, while several others, who were badly wounded, came to the conclusion that when the great mountaineer made a statement there was likely to be considerable truth in it.
Food soon became so scarce that mule meat formed the only diet until they reached Los Angeles.

Carson pushed on to Monterey where he delivered the despatches to the proper officer, and then returning to Los Angeles he was assigned to duty in Captain Smith's Company of United States dragoons.