156 IN THE OLD WEST 



That warrior, on learning that the trappers 

 numbered less than fifteen, became alarmingly 

 brave, and ordering out the whole of his dispos- 

 able force, some two hundred dragoons, sallied 

 out to intercept the audacious mountaineers. 

 About noon one day, just as the latter had 

 emerged from a little town between Socorro and 

 Albuquerque, they descried the imposing force of 

 the dragoons winding along a plain ahead. As 

 the trappers advanced, the officer in command 

 halted his men, and sent out a trumpeter to order 

 the former to await his coming. Treating the 

 herald to a roar of laughter, on they went, and, as 

 they approached the soldiers, broke into a trot, 

 ten of the number forming line in front of the 

 packed and loose animals, and, rifle in hand, charg- 

 ing with loud whoops. This was enough for the 

 New Mexicans. Before the enemy were within 

 shooting distance the gallant fellows turned tail, 

 and splashed into the river, dragging themselves 

 up the opposite bank like half-drowned rats, and 

 saluted with loud peals of laughter by the victo- 

 rious mountaineers, who, firing a volley into the 

 air in token of supreme contempt, quietly con- 

 tinued their route up the stream. 



Before reaching the capital of the province 

 they struck again to the westward, and, following 

 a small creek to its junction with the Green River, 

 ascended that stream, trapping en route to the 

 Uintah or Snake Fork, and arrived at Roubideau's 



