Slowly and sadly, in that dense forest, hundreds of miles from their nearest countrymen, was this funeral procession formed. A spot was selected on one side of the main trail, at a distance of about one half mile, where a rude grave was dug, and, wrapped in their blankets, in the same common house, were deposited all that remained of these three brave men. An observer of these obsequies, would have seen the lips of daring men, now and then, giving spasmodic twitchings; eyes swimming in tears, and a silence and solemnity that bespoke the truest kind of grief. Among that party, such a one would have been sure to have marked out the countenance of Kit Carson; for, engraven on it were the throes which were troubling his kind heart on being thus obliged to separate from old friends. Not a man left that grave, but who resolved, secretly and silently, to make these dastardly Indians suffer for the lives they had thus wantonly taken. In fact, they felt it an imperative duty they yet owed to their departed comrades; who, if they but stood in their places, would have sworn to be avenged; hence, the reader must not judge them harshly if they nourished these feelings. That very day the two parties met and went into camp together. Plans were concocted to chastise the red men soundly. The next day, on quitting this last resting-place, a squad of fifteen men was left concealed in the neighborhood, in order to watch and act against any Indians who, by chance, might be following them from one camp to another, in hopes of finding something. The main command then moved on slowly, and had advanced but a few miles when they were overtaken by their friends, who came up with two scalps. These were the sum total of their morning's work. The two warriors to whom they had belonged were caught following the trail as scouts of their main body. The unerring rifles of the party in ambush had performed their fearful duty. CHAPTER X. Fremont en route for California--His men are anxious to punish the Tlamath Indians--Kit Carson, in command of ten Men, is sent on ahead to reconnoitre--He discovers the main Village of these Indians--The Attack and the Victory--Beautiful Lodges--The Trophies mostly destroyed--Fremont saves Kit Carson's Life--The Journey resumed--The Sacramento Valley--An Indian Ambuscade--One Savage defies the Party--Kit Carson shoots him--The Tlamath Indians still on the War Path--Another Lesson given to them--A Thief is shot--Arrival at Lawson's Trading Post--A period of Inactivity--A Detachment sent to capture Sonoma--Prisoners taken--The Mexicans come to punish the Americans--Their Courage deserts them--The Retreat--The Pursuit--Fremont goes to Sutter's Fort and establishes a Military Post--Monterey is taken by the American Squadron--Fremont marches there--Further Operations--The taking of Los Angelos.