taken by these Indians was soon found, and on it, the command traveled in full chase for twelve days, without seeing the outline of a savage.  Carson describes this as being the most difficult trail to follow he remembers ever to have undertaken, for the rascally Apaches, on breaking up their camps, would divide into parties of two and three, and then scatter over the vast expanse of the prairies to meet again at some preconcerted place, where they knew water could be had.  In several of these camps the pursuers found remnants of dress and other articles, that were known to have belonged to Mrs. White.  By these signs, they were led to believe that she still lived.  Although these things would be trifles on ordinary occasions, yet, at the present time, they were the cause of stimulating the white men to their utmost exertions; and, as they grew fresher, the excitement among the party increased.  At last, the camp, and even the persons of the savages, became visible to the foremost of the pursuers; and, among the first to get a glimpse of them was Kit Carson.  At the time the discovery was made, Kit Carson was considerably in advance of most of the men.  Turning to those near him, he shouted to have the command come on as fast as possible, for he saw at once that there was no time to be lost in consultation as to the best mode of assaulting the Indians.  They, already, were in commotion, and were making hurried preparations to decamp.  Riding on at full speed for some distance, Kit Carson again turned his head and saw, to his dismay, that he was not followed; but instead, the command had halted.  The cause of this curious order being given, at such a precarious moment, was, as he afterwards learned, brought about by the advice of the chief guide, who told the commanding officer that the Indians wished to have a parley.  On seeing what was transpiring behind him, Kit Carson had no alternative but to rein up his horse also; for, to ride on alone into the midst of the savages, would have been unjustifiable rashness, and might, perhaps, have destroyed the plans his superior officers were concocting.  So, he stood paralyzed and confounded at the inactivity of his companions.  Just about this time, a bullet, fired from the Indian camp, struck the commanding officer in the breast, and bent him forward.  Those around him, for a little while, supposed that he had received a mortal wound.  Still, he retained his seat in the saddle, but could not speak.  Thus again was precious time lost, as the party, during this time, were virtually without a leader, and did not seem to be inclined to make one.  Fortunately for this officer, just before he received the shot, he had taken off his thick buckskin gauntlets and crowded them into a breast pocket.  The ball had struck this bundle; and, as its force was somewhat expended by the distance it had come, it was unable to more than penetrate the mass and contuse the soft parts of the chest.