In a low voice he explained to his companions the plan which he had formed for catching the black leader. Every man in the camp was interested, but when at last they sought their tents it had been decided that only Reuben and two others were to share in the attempt. CHAPTER XXI—THE CHASE OF THE LEADER Long before daylight the following morning Kit Carson and his three companions mounted their horses and departed from the camp. The plan which had been agreed upon was for Kit Carson himself to go into the valley into which the drove of wild horses had disappeared and await their return to the plains. It was confidently believed that the horses would leave their place of shelter about sunrise or a little before. The three companions of the scout had been stationed at intervals of two or three miles among the foothills in places where they would be concealed from the sight of any passerby. It also was planned that the scout, if it was possible, was to separate the leader from the other horses in the drove and to chase him at his highest speed. If it was in his power to do so, the scout expected to turn the black leader toward the south, where Reuben and Jack were to be ready to take up the pursuit as soon as Kit Carson drew near their hiding-place. In this manner it was believed that however swift the paces of the leader might be he would be soon worn out by the swiftness of the pursuit of the three horses, every one of which was fresh at the beginning of his part of the chase. Never before had Reuben seen Kit Carson so eager to secure one of the wild ponies. Frequently the men in the camp had caught and broken horses, which they had taken on the plains. Indeed, almost every horse in their possession now was one that had been captured and broken and trained to service by the trappers. Several times men had secured these horses by firing at them, stunning the animals without injuring them. However, only the most expert shots were able to do this, and even with them the danger of killing or harming the horses they were chasing was so great that the plan was seldom tried. In the present case long ropes of a lariat or noose were hanging from the horn of Kit Carson’s saddle. It was not often that the fearless scout deigned to use a saddle, as we know, but in this case, as he needed his rope and at the same time was aware that occasions for the use of his gun might arise, he consented to use a light saddle. “Now, then, every man look sharp!” he said in a low voice, as he parted from his companions. “One of you go to the north and the other two to the south. Be sure to hide in places where you can take up the chase without having to climb very much. The most important thing, however, is to find some rock or hill behind which you will not be seen, for this leader, unless I am much mistaken, will be off like a shot the minute he sights you, and you’ll need to be fresh to keep close to him in the chase.”