294 IN THE OLD WEST 



other assailants crowd up to supply the place of 

 those who fall. 



The alarm being given by the shrieking women, 

 reinforcements of Pelados rushed to the scene of 

 action, but could not enter the room, which was al- 

 ready full. The odds began to tell against the 

 mountaineers, when Kit Carson's quick eye caught 

 sight of a high stool or stone, supported by three 

 long heavy legs. In a moment he had cleared his 

 way to this, and in another the three legs were 

 broken off and in the hands of himself, Dick 

 Wooton, and La Bonte. Sweeping them round 

 their heads, down came the heavy weapons amongst 

 the Mexicans with wonderful effect. At this the 

 mountaineers gave a hearty whoop, and charged 

 the wavering enemy with such resistless vigor, that 

 they gave way and bolted through the door, leav- 

 ing the floor strewed with wounded, many most 

 dangerously ; for, as may be imagined, a thrust 

 from the keen scalp-knife by the nervous arm of a 

 mountaineer was no baby blow, and seldom failed 

 to strike home — up to the " Green River " * on 

 the blade. 



The field being won, the whites, too, beat a quick 

 retreat to the house where they were domiciled, and 

 where they had left their rifles. Without their 



* The knives used hy the hunters and trappers are manu- 

 factured at the " Green River " works, and have tliat name 

 stamped upon the blade. Hence the mountain term for 

 doing anything effectual is " up to Green River." 



