That very day the two parties met and went into camp together.  Plans were concocted to chastise the red men soundly.  The next day, on quitting this last resting-place, a squad of fifteen men was left concealed in the neighborhood, in order to watch and act against any Indians who, by chance, might be following them from one camp to another, in hopes of finding something.  The main command then moved on slowly, and had advanced but a few miles when they were overtaken by their friends, who came up with two scalps.  These were the sum total of their morning’s work.  The two warriors to whom they had belonged were caught following the trail as scouts of their main body.  The unerring rifles of the party in ambush had performed their fearful duty.

CHAPTER X.

Fremont en route for California—­His men are anxious to punish the Tlamath Indians—­Kit Carson, in command of ten Men, is sent on ahead to reconnoitre—­He discovers the main Village of these Indians—­The Attack and the Victory—­Beautiful Lodges—­The Trophies mostly destroyed—­Fremont saves Kit Carson’s Life—­The Journey resumed—­The Sacramento Valley—­An Indian Ambuscade—­One Savage defies the Party—­Kit Carson shoots him—­The Tlamath Indians still on the War Path—­Another Lesson given to them—­A Thief is shot—­Arrival at Lawson’s Trading Post—­A period of Inactivity—­A Detachment sent to capture Sonoma—­Prisoners taken—­The Mexicans come to punish the Americans—­Their Courage deserts them—­The Retreat—­The Pursuit—­Fremont goes to Sutter’s Fort and establishes a Military Post—­Monterey is taken by the American Squadron—­Fremont marches there—­Further Operations—­The taking of Los Angelos.

The news of war having been declared between the United States and Mexico, determined Fremont to return to California; and, in doing so, he decided to enter that country by a new route of his own selection.

He commenced his journey by traveling around Lake Tlamath, and had not proceeded far in that direction, before he found himself encamped on a small stream which empties into the lake, nearly opposite to the place where his three men were killed.  The distance of each day’s progress had been carefully reckoned and noted by the party.  Upon their minds there was still resting a sadness, which, their leader saw, was only to be effaced by a satisfactory revenge, and that they were eager to obtain it before quitting the country.  Perhaps, also, their commanding officer thought it best, while the opportunity offered, for the benefit of his countrymen, whom he felt sure would some day possess this territory, to impress these savages with the power and bravery of the white men.  Whatever was the object to be gained, it matters not in relating the particulars.  The next morning he sent Kit Carson on ahead, with ten chosen men, giving him orders to the effect that if he discovered a large village of Indians, which was