The round journey of a thousand miles was attended with much danger, but it was accomplished without mishap.
He reached home just in time to learn that the Apaches had visited the little settlement and run off all the animals.

But as enough soldiers were within call, a pursuit was soon organized and very nearly all the stock was recovered.
Some months later an officer of the United States Army in Taos learned of a most atrocious plot that was on foot.

Two wealthy gentlemen, travelling leisurely through that section of the country, had engaged an American named Fox to hire enough men to escort them across the plains.
This Fox was one of the most conscienceless wretches and desperadoes that ever lived.

He formed a scheme to murder the two gentlemen at a certain point on the plains and to divide their money among him and his companions.

Those whom he secured were taken into his confidence and agreed to the crime before hand.
Among those to whom he applied was a miscreant in Taos, who, for some reason, refused to go with him.