LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 175 



parried. In the centre of the room the whites stand 

 shoulder to shoulder, covering the floor with Mexicans by 

 their stalwart blows ; but the odds are fearful against them, 

 and other assailants crowd up to supply the place of those 

 who fall. 



The alarm being given by the shrieking women, rein- 

 forcements of Pelados rushed to the scene of action, but 

 could not enter the room, which was already 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 each blow, dealt by the nervous arms of Wooton 

 and La Bonte", mowing down a good half-dozen of the 

 assailants. At this the mountaineers gave a hearty whoop, 

 and charged the wavering enemy with such resistless 

 vigour, that they gave way and bolted through the door, 

 leaving the floor strewed with wounded, many most dan- 

 gerously ; 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 re- 

 treat to the house where they were domiciled, and where 

 they had left their rifles. Without their trusty weapons 

 they felt, indeed, unarmed ; and not knowing how the 

 affair just over would be followed up, lost no time in 

 making preparations for defence. However, after great 

 blustering on the part of the prefecto, who, accompanied 

 by a posse comitatus of " Greasers," proceeded to the house, 

 and demanded the surrender of all concerned in the affair 

 which proposition was received with a yell of derision 



* The knives used by the hunters and trappers are manufactured 

 at the " Green River " works, and have that name stamped upon the 

 blade. Hence the mountain term for doing anything effectual is 

 " up to Green River." 



