At first the approaching man was thought to be a priest, as he was dressed in a strange garb that somewhat resembled that worn by the priests in charge of the mission. As he came nearer, however, they discovered that he was not a priest, and when he spoke, his words confirmed Kit Carson in his conclusion.
“I am looking for a man named Kit Carson,” explained the newcomer.
“You won’t have to look very far,” replied the guide quietly.
“Where is he?”
“Not very far away.”
“Tell me where he is and I will go to him.”
“I reckon I am the man you’re looking for.”
“You?” exclaimed the stranger in surprise. “You? Are you Kit Carson? Why, you’re nothing but a boy.”
“I’m not very old,” replied the guide with a smile, “but that’s a fault I hope to correct some day. Meanwhile let me tell you that my name is Kit Carson. If you have any message for him you had better give it to me.”
“I came from the Mission San Gabriel,” explained the newcomer, after a brief silence in which he had steadily looked into the face of the young hunter. “One of the padres sent me. He says that some Indians have run away with some of our sheep. It is the same band that stole some horses from the mission a few weeks ago. Before that they stole some of our cattle. The padre wants to know if some of your men will help us to punish them.”