By this time the men who had attacked the camp were near enough to enable Reuben to recognize them as his recent companions. Among them he saw the youthful form of Kit Carson riding at some distance to the left of his comrades and evidently fearful of an attack from the redmen who might still remain in the camp. Aside from those who had fallen, Reuben was convinced, as he lifted his head and gazed about him, that he was the only one left there alive. All those who had been able to escape had fled from the place. “Here I am, Kit! Don’t shoot!” he called loudly, afraid to lift his head lest instantly he should be made the target of the excited trappers. “Who’s calling? Who is it?” demanded Kit Carson quickly, as he and his companions stopped to stare blankly all about them at the unexpected hail. “Here I am!” repeated Reuben. “If you won’t shoot I’ll stand up.” “Go ahead, show yourself!” called Kit Carson. At the command Reuben instantly arose and was recognized by the scout and his band. CHAPTER XV—A LONELY RIDE The surprise of the trapper at first made him speechless, as he gazed at his young companion. He had been aware that Reuben had left the camp, but as yet he was without any suspicion that evil had befallen the lad. “Where did you come from? Why are you here?” he demanded slowly, as he advanced to the place where Reuben was standing. “I came because they made me come,” replied the boy somewhat ruefully. “They cut me off in the valley, so I couldn’t get back to the camp, and then they tied me up and made me come.” “You were very good to consent,” replied Kit Carson dryly. “That wasn’t the point,” laughed Reuben, immensely relieved now that he was once more among his friends. “It wasn’t whether I wanted to come, it was simply because I couldn’t get away!” “How far do you think you have come?” “I haven’t any idea. It seems like a long way.” “It’s a hundred miles.” “Whew!” whistled Reuben. “The way we came when we first started made me think that you were close on our heels. I never saw a band go faster than they did, and they kept the horses well together, too. Why didn’t you overtake us?” “The redskins had too good a start. Some of the men thought we ought not to keep on.” “Why not?” “Because they said they were hiding among some of the gulches in the Sierras, and we never would stand any chance of getting them, while there was every chance that they would get us.” “But it has turned out all right,” laughed Reuben. “You have found me and you have got back your horses.” “Yes, and we got some redskins, too,” added the guide quietly. As he spoke he turned toward the place where several of the fallen bodies were lying, and after he had examined every one to make sure that all were lifeless he turned once more to his followers and said: “I don’t think there is much danger of the rascals following us, but at the same time I think we had better start back for camp.”