CHAPTER XXXVII.
The Pursuit and Attack--Two O'clock.
When Kit Carson and the other scouts found the main trail, they eagerly took up the pursuit.

They had not gone far when all doubt was removed: they were upon the track of a large hostile body of warriors and were gaining steadily; but so rapid was the flight of the marauders that it was not until the sixth day that the first glimpse of the Indians was obtained.

They were encamped on a mountain peak, devoid of trees, and seemingly beyond the reach of danger; but such was the energy of the attack that they reached camp before the Indians could collect their animals and make off.

The fight was a hot one for a few minutes during which quite a number of warriors were killed and wounded.
When night came a squad of men hid themselves near the camp, from which the Indians had fled, in the expectation that some of them would steal back during the darkness to learn what had been done.

The dismal hours passed until near midnight, when one of the soldiers made the call which the Apaches use to hail each other.