A favorite policy of the Indian horse thieves is to creep into camp, cut loose one animal and thoroughly frighten him.  This animal seldom fails to frighten the remainder, when away they all go with long ropes and picket pins dangling after them.  The latter sometimes act like harpoons, being thrown with such impetus as to strike and instantly kill a valuable steed from among the brother runaways.  At other times, the limbs of the running horses get entangled in the ropes, when they are suddenly thrown.  Such seldom escape without broken legs or severe contusions, which are often incurable.  The necessity of traveling on, at any rate, renders it an impossibility to undertake the cure, when it might be practicable under other circumstances.]

This day the party travelled fifty miles and thought themselves clear of Indians, as there were no visible signs of their presence.  The experience of the day, however, had admonished them to be on their guard against surprise.  To make things sure as to their animals, they fastened them to stakes driven in the earth, sufficient rope being given them for grazing.  The place selected for their camp was a beautiful spot, being on a small stream which empties into the Arkansas, the water of which is sparkling and clear.  There are many of these charming little brooks which, emptying into, form this river.  To the general traveler, however, they present one great drawback as eligible camping sites.  Their banks are usually pretty thickly lined with rattlesnakes.  The mountaineer is quite well accustomed and reconciled to this venomous reptile, as they abound in nearly every section of his hunting and trapping grounds.  Not so however with the mere visitor of, or casual traveller over, the Western Territories.  To them his rattlesnake-ship is a formidable personage.

The rattlesnake rarely moves after sunset.  The night air is generally too chilling for him.  In the day time they are a noble enemy, always warning their antagonist of their hostile intentions by springing their rattles, thus giving a person warning of his danger.  By these two wise provisions of the Creator the power of this otherwise terrible reptile, is so limited or restrained, that the trapper rarely gives him a thought unless he comes in direct contact.  Although they are so numerous, it very seldom happens that either the Indian or the trapper is bitten by them.

The party had not been long at rest before their suspicions were aroused that hostile Indians were near them.  A faithful dog belonging to the camp kept up a furious barking, much more lustily than when wolves annoyed him.  An extra guard was therefore immediately posted, when the remainder of the party lay down; but, not for sleep.  They expected at every moment that their services would be needed to defend the camp.  Everything however passed as usual during the night; and, with the morning, all suspicion was laid aside.  Kit Carson, with three companions, proposed a visit to a fork of a river close by, to look for signs of beaver.  They had been informed that these animals were numerous in this particular stream.  Carson and the three men had been absent about one hour when the signs of Indians proved to be realities, in the shape of a bold and well-sustained charge upon their camp.  The rascals succeeded in running off all of their loose animals.