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diff --git a/old/lfktc10.txt b/old/lfktc10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0510930 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/lfktc10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6997 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Life of Kit Carson, by Edward S. Ellis + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Life of Kit Carson + +Author: Edward S. Ellis + +Release Date: April, 2005 [EBook #7882] +[This file was first posted on May 29, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: iso-8859-1 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE LIFE OF KIT CARSON *** + + + + +This etext was produced by Martin Robb (MartinRobb@ieee.org) + + + +THE LIFE OF KIT CARSON, + +Hunter, Trapper, Guide, Indian Agent and Colonel U.S.A. + +by Edward S. Ellis. + + + + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +Christopher Carson, or as he was familiarly called, Kit Carson, +was a man whose real worth was understood only by those with whom +he was associated or who closely studied his character. He was +more than hunter, trapper, guide, Indian agent and Colonel in the +United States Army. He possessed in a marked degree those mental +and moral qualities which would have made him prominent in whatever +pursuit or profession he engaged. + +His lot was cast on the extreme western frontier, where, when but +a youth, he earned the respect of the tough and frequently lawless +men with whom he came in contact. Integrity, bravery, loyalty to +friends, marvelous quickness in making right decisions, in crisis +of danger, consummate knowledge of woodcraft, a leadership as +skilful as it was daring; all these were distinguishing traits in +the composition of Carson and were the foundations of the broader +fame which he acquired as the friend and invaluable counselor +of Fremont, the Pathfinder, in his expeditions across the Rocky +Mountains. + +Father Kit, as he came to be known among the Indians, risked his +life scores of times for those who needed, but had no special claim +upon his services. The red men were quick to learn that he always +spoke with a "single tongue," and that he was their unselfish +friend. He went among his hostiles when no one of his race dare +follow him; he averted more than one outbreak; he secured that which +is impossible to secure -- justice for the Indian -- and his work +from the time when a mere boy he left his native Kentucky, was always +well done. His memory will forever remain fragrant with those who +appreciate true manhood and an unswerving devotion to the good of +those among whom he lived and died. + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +Kit Carson's Youth -- His Visit to New Mexico -- Acts as Interpreter +and in Various Other Employments -- Joins a Party of Trappers and +Engages in a Fight with Indians -- Visits the Sacramento Valley. + +"Kit Carson," the most famous hunter, scout and guide ever known in +this country, was a native of Kentucky, the scene of the principal +exploits of Daniel Boone, Simon Kenton, the Wetzel brothers and +other heroic pioneers whose names are identified with the history +of the settlement of the West. + +Christopher Carson was born in Madison county, December 24, 1809, +and, while he was still an infant, his father removed to Central +Missouri, which at that day was known as Upper Louisiana. It was +an immense wilderness, sparsely settled and abounding with wild +animals and treacherous Indians. The father of Carson, like most of +the early pioneers, divided his time between cultivating the land +and hunting the game in the forests. His house was made strong +and was pierced with loopholes, so as to serve him in his defence +against the red men that were likely to attack him and his family +at any hour of the day or night. In such a school was trained the +wonderful scout, hunter and guide. + +No advantages in the way of a common school education were within +reach of the youth situated as was Kit Carson. It is to be believed, +however, that under the tutelage of his father and mother, he +picked up a fair knowledge of the rudimentary branches, for his +attainments in that respect were above the majority of those with +whom he was associated in after life. + +While a mere stripling, Kit became known as one of the most skilful +rifle shots in that section of Missouri which produced some of the +finest marksmen in the world. It was inevitable that he should form +a passion for the woods, in which, like the great Boone, he would +have been happy to wander for days and weeks at a time. + +When fifteen years old, he was apprenticed to a saddler, where he +stayed two years. At the end of that time, however, the confinement +had become so irksome that he could stand it no longer. He left +the shop and joined a company of traders, preparing to start for +Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico, one of the most interesting +towns in the southwest. The majority of its population are of +Spanish and Mexican origin and speak Spanish. It is the centre of +supplies for the surrounding country, and is often a scene of great +activity. It stands on a plateau, more than a mile above the sea +level, with another snow capped mountain rising a mile higher. The +climate is delightful and the supply of water from the springs and +mountains is of the finest quality. + +Santa Fe, when first visited by the Spaniards in 1542, was a +populous Indian pueblo. It has been the capital of New Mexico for +nearly two hundred and fifty years. The houses of the ancient town +are made of adobe, one story high, and the streets are unpaved, +narrow, crooked and ill looking. The inhabitants are of a low order, +scarcely entitled to be ranked above the half civilized, though +of late years the infusion of western life and rugged civilization +has given an impetus and character to the place for which, through +three centuries, it waited in vain. + +The company to which young Kit Carson attached himself, was strongly +armed and it made the perilous journey, across rivers, mountains and +prairies, through a country infested with fierce Indians, without +the loss of one of their number. This immunity was due to their +vigilance and knowledge of the ways of the hostiles who, it may +be said, were on all sides, from the beginning to the end of their +journey. + +After reaching Santa Fe, Carson left the party and went to Taos, +a small station to the north of Santa Fe. There he stayed through +the winter of 1826-27, at the home of a veteran pioneer, from whom +he gained not only a valuable knowledge of the country and its +people, but became familiar with the Spanish language -- an attainment +which proved invaluable to him in after years. In the spring, he +joined a party which set out for Missouri, but before reaching its +destination, another company of traders were met on their way to +Santa Fe. Young Carson joined them, and some days later was back +again in the quaint old capital of New Mexico. + +The youth's engagement ended with his arrival in the town, but +there was nothing indolent in the nature of Carson, who immediately +engaged himself as teamster to a company about to start to El +Paso, on the Rio Grande, near the frontier of New Mexico. He did +not stay long before drifting back to Santa Fe, and finally to Taos, +where he hired out as a cook during the following winter, but had +not wrought long, when a wealthy trader, learning how well Carson +understood the Spanish language, engaged him as interpreter. + +This duty compelled the youth to make another long journey to El +Paso and Chihuahua, the latter being the capital of the province +of the same name, and another of those ancient towns whose history +forms one of the most interesting features of the country. It was +founded in 1691 and a quarter of a century later, when the adjoining +silver mines were in full operation, had a population of 70,000, +though today it has scarcely a fifth of that number. + +The position of interpreter was more dignified than any yet held +by Carson, and it was at his command, as long as he chose to hold +it; but to one of his restless nature it soon grew monotonous and +he threw it up, making his way once more to Taos. The employment +most congenial to Carson's nature, and the one which he had been +seeking ever since he left home, was that of hunter and trapper. +The scarred veterans whom he met in the frontier and frontier +posts gave him many accounts of their trapping experiences among +the mountains and in the gloomy fastnesses where, while they hunted +the bear, deer, beaver and other animals, the wild Indian hunted +them. + +Carson had been in Taos a short time only when he gained the +opportunity for which he was searching. A party of trappers in +the employ of Kit's old friend had just come to Taos, having been +driven from their trapping grounds by the Indians. The employer +set about raising a party strong enough to return to the trapping +grounds, chastise the hostiles and resume business. Knowing the +skill and bravery of the young Kentuckian, the gentleman made him +an offer to join the party and Kit eagerly accepted it. + +The Mexicans have never been particularly friendly toward their +neighbors north of the Rio Grande, and at that time a very strict law +was in force which forbade the issuance of any license to American +citizens to trap within Mexican territory. The company which +mounted their horses and rode out of Taos gave the authorities to +understand that their errand was simply to chastise the red men, +whereas their real purpose was to engage in trapping. With a view +of misleading the officers, they took a roundabout route which +delayed their arrival in the section. Nevertheless, the hunters +were desirous of punishing the Indians who had taken such liberties +with the small party that preceded them. On one of the tributaries +of the Gila, the trappers came upon the identical band whom they +attacked with such fierceness that more than a dozen were killed +and the rest put to flight. The fight was a desperate one, but +young as Carson was, he acquitted himself in a manner which won +the warmest praise of those with him. He was unquestionably daring, +skilful and sagacious, and was certain, if his life was spared, to +become one of the most valuable members of the party. + +Having driven the savages away, the Americans began or rather +resumed their regular business of trapping. The beavers were so +abundant that they met with great success. When the rodents seemed +to diminish in number, the hunters shifted their quarters, pursuing +their profession along the numerous streams until it was decided +to divide into two parties, one of which returned to New Mexico, +while the other pushed on toward the Sacramento Valley in California. +Carson accompanied the latter, entering the region at that early day +when no white man dreamed of the vast wealth of gold and precious +metals which so crowded her soil and river beds that the wonder +is the gleaming particles had not been detected many years before; +but, as the reader knows, they lay quietly at rest until that +eventful day in 1848, when the secret was revealed by Captain +Sutter's raceway and the frantic multitudes flocked thither from +the four quarters of the earth. + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +California -- Sufferings of the Hunters -- The Mission of San +Gabriel -- The Hudson Bay Trappers -- Characteristics of Carson +-- He Leads the Party which Captures an Indian Village and Secures +some Criminals. + +California, one of the most magnificent regions of the earth, with +its amazing mineral wealth, its rich soil and "glorious climate," +has its belts of sterility and desolation, where the bones of many +a traveller and animal lie bleaching in the sun, just as they fell +years ago, when the wretched victim sank down and perished for want +of food and water. + +The hunting party to which Carson was attached numbered eighteen, and +they entered one of those forbidding wastes, where they suffered +intensely. All their skill in the use of the rifle was of no +avail, when there was no game to shoot and it was not long before +they were forced to live on horse flesh to escape starvation. This, +however, was not so trying as might be supposed, provided it did +not last until the entire party were dismounted. + +Fortunately, in their straits, they encountered a party of Mohave +Indians, who sold them enough food to remove all danger. These +Indians form a part of the Yuma nation of the Pima family, and now +make their home on the Mohave and Colorado rivers in Arizona. They +are tall, well formed, warlike and industrious cultivators of the +soil. Had they chosen to attack the hunters, it would have gone ill +with the whites, but the latter showed commendable prudence which +might have served as a model to the hundreds who came after them, +when they gained the good will of the red men. + +Extricating themselves from the dangerous stretch of country, the +trappers turned westward until they reached the mission of San +Gabriel, one of those extensive establishments formed by the Roman +Catholic clergy a hundred years ago. There were over a score, San +Diego being the oldest. Each mission had its priests, a few Spanish +or Mexican soldiers, and scores, hundreds and sometimes thousands +of Indian converts who received a scant support and some religious +instruction. + +The Mission of San Gabriel was by no means the largest in +California, and yet at the time of Carson's visit it owned 70,000 +head of cattle, 200 horses, 3,000 mares, hundreds of mules, oxen +and sheep, while the vineyards produced 600 barrels of wine every +year. + +Those old sovereigns of the soil dispensed hospitality without +stint to all who knocked at their gates. When the trappers caught +sight of the Mission, as they rode out from the wilderness, they +knew what awaited them in the way of entertainment. They were +treated right royally, but remained only one day. + +Not far away they reached another Mission of less extent than the +former, but, without halt, they pressed steadily forward toward the +Sacramento River. The character of the section changed altogether. +It was exceedingly fertile and game was so abundant that they feasted +to their heart's content. When fully rested, they proceeded to the +San Joaquin river down which they began trapping. + +While thus employed, they were surprised to discover signs of +another trapping party near them. They wondered where they came +from and it did not take them long to learn that their neighbors +were a company of trappers belonging to the Hudson Bay Company +-- that enormous corporation, founded two centuries before, whose +agents and employees tramp over British America, far to the northward +of the frozen circle, and until a recent date hunted through Oregon. + +The two parties were rivals in business, but they showed excellent +sense by meeting on good terms and treating each other as friends. +They trapped near each other until they came to the Sacramento once +more, when they parted company. The Hudson Bay trappers started +for the Columbia River, while the one to which Carson was attached +went into camp where they were for the rest of the summer. With +the approach of warm weather the trapping season ended and they +devoted themselves to hunting and making ready for cold weather. + +It will be borne in mind that Kit Carson was still a youth, not +having reached his majority. He was of short, compact stature, no +more than five feet, six inches tall, with light brown hair, gray +eyes, large head, high forehead, broad shoulders, full chest, +strong and possessing remarkable activity. Even at that early age, +he had impressed the veteran hunters and trappers around him as +one possessing such remarkable abilities, that, if his life was +spared, he was certain to become a man of mark. If we should attempt +to specify the particular excellencies in which he surpassed those +around him, it would be said that while Carson was one of the most +fearless men who lived, yet he possessed splendid judgment. He +seemed to know instinctively what could be accomplished by himself +and friends in positions of extreme peril, and he saw on the moment +precisely how to do that which often was impossible to others. + +His knowledge of woodcraft and the peculiarities of the savage +tribes around him was as perfect as it could be. He was a matchless +hunter, and no man could handle a rifle with greater skill. The +wilderness, the mountains, the Indians, the wild animals -- these +constituted the sphere in which nature intended Kit Carson should +move and serve his fellow men as no one before or after him has +done. + +Added to these extraordinary qualifications, was the crowning +one of all -- modesty. Alas, how often transcendent merit is made +repelling by overweening conceit. Kit Carson would have given his +life before he would have travelled through the eastern cities, with +his long hair dangling about his shoulders, his clothing bristling +with pistols and knives, while he strutted on the mimic stage as +a representative of the untamed civilization of the great west. + +Carson was a superior hunter when a boy in Missouri, and the +experience gained among the experienced hunters and trappers, soon +caused him to become noted by those who had fought red men, trapped +beaver and shot grizzly bears before he was born. And yet it could +not have been that alone: it must have been his superior mental +capacity which caused those heroes of a hundred perils to turn +instinctively to him for counsel and guidance in situations of extreme +peril. Among them all was no one with such masterful resources in +that respect as he. + +While the trappers were encamped at this place, a messenger visited +them from the Mission of San Rafael, with a request that they would +help chastise a party of Indians, who, after committing some outrages +at the Mission, had fled to an Indian village. When a demand was +made for the surrender of the refugees, the villagers not only +refused to give them up, but attacked the party and drove them +off. Appreciating the importance of upholding their authority, the +priests sent to the trappers for assistance in bringing the guilty +ones and their friends to terms. + +As soon as the request was made known, Carson and eleven of his +companions volunteered to help their visitors. Thus reinforced, +the company from the Mission set out again for the Indian village. + +Nothing can attest more strongly the skill and bravery of Kit Carson, +than the fact that he was at once selected to lead the party on +its dangerous errand. While he was as modest as a woman and with a +voice as gentle and persuasive, he could not be ignorant of his own +capacities, and he assumed charge without any pretense of unfitness. + +It is easy to understand the great care required in this expedition, +for the warriors in the village, having beaten off their assailants, +naturally looked for their return with reinforcements, and, in +order to insure success, it was necessary that the attack should +be a surprise. + +Having brought his men quite close to the village unperceived, Kit +gave the signal and the whole company swept through the place like +a cyclone. There were a few minutes of terrific fighting, during +which a score of warriors were killed, and then the entire village +was captured. Carson as the leader of the assailants, demanded +the surrender of the offenders against the Mission. Not daring to +disobey such a summons, they were delivered up to the authorities, +and Carson, seeing nothing more to do for his friends, returned with +his companions to camp and resumed hunting and their preparations +for cold weather. + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +The Trapper's Life -- Indian Horse Thieves -- Carson's Skilful +Pursuit and Surprise of the Savages -- Arrival at Los Angeles -- +Trouble with the Authorities -- A Singular Escape. + +The trappers being in the heart of the Indian country, with hostile +on every hand, were cautious in all their movements. When one of the +grizzled hunters in the depths of the wilderness fired his gun at +some deer, antelope or bear, he hastily reloaded his rifle, listening +meanwhile for sounds of the stealthy footprints of his enemy. He +knew not when the treacherous shot would be sent from behind the +rock or clump of bushes, but he had learned long before, that, when +he penetrated the western wilds and followed the calling of trapper, +he took his life in his hands and he was ready to "go under," +whenever the fate so decreed. + +The most flagrant crime on the frontier is horse stealing. He who +shoots one of his fellow men has a chance of escaping punishment +almost as good as that afforded in civilized communities, but if he +steals a horse and is caught, his case is hopeless. It may be said +that the value of the animal to the hunter or trapper is beyond all +calculation, and, inasmuch as the red man is equally appreciative, +Carson always warned his friends to be on the watch against the +dusky thieves. Sentinels were on guard while others slept, but the +very calamity against which they thus sought to protect themselves +overtook them. + +One dark night a number of Indians stole by the sentinels and +before their presence was discovered, drove off the major part of +the horses. In the morning, when the alarming truth became known, +the employer of the trappers asked Carson to take twelve of the +men and do his utmost to recover those that were stolen. Carson +assented at once, and, in his quiet, self possessed fashion, collected +his comrades who were speedily in the saddle and galloping along +the trail of the thieves. + +It may strike the reader that an offhand statement like the foregoing +relates to a proceeding of no special difficulty or peril. A party +of brave white men were pursuing a company of Indian horse thieves +and the chances of escape and capture were about equal. Thus the +matter presents itself to the ordinary spectator, whereas the truth +was far different. + +In the first place, the savages, being as well mounted as their +pursuers, were sure to maintain a swift pace, so long as they +believed any danger threatened. They would keep a keen watch of the +back trail and would be quick to detect the approach of enemies. +If pressed hard, they would act as the Apaches and Comanches do, +when they find the United States troops at their heels -- break up +in so many small parties that it is impossible to follow them. + +First of all, therefore, Carson had two achievements before him +-- and the accomplishment of either seemed to render the other +impossible: he must travel at a faster rate than the thieves, and, +at the same time keep them in ignorance of his pursuit. It is on +such occasions that a man's woodcraft and knowledge of the country +serve him so well. Many a time, during the career of Kit Carson, +did he outwit the red men and white criminals, not by galloping +along with his eye upon their footprints, but by reasoning out with +unerring skill, the destination or refuge which the criminals had +in mind. Having settled that all important question, he aimed at +the same point and frequently reached it first. Thus it came about +that often the fugitive, while hurrying along and glancing furtively +behind him, suddenly found himself face to face with his pursuer, +whose acquaintance with the country enabled him to find the shorter +route. + +It took Carson only a few minutes to satisfy himself that the +criminals were heading for the Sierra Nevada Mountains, but, inasmuch +as they were following a direct course, he could only take their +trail. Where there were so many animals in flight, it was impossible +to hide their tracks and the thieves made no attempt to do so. +They struck the horses into a sweeping gallop, which with a few +interruptions they maintained until they were a hundred miles from +the camp of the white men and among the fastnesses of the Sierras. + +Then it was the red men made a careful survey of the trail behind +them. The black penetrating eyes scanned the country with a +piercing keenness which it would seem shut out all possibility of +concealment. Nowhere could they detect the faint smoke climbing +toward the sky from among the trees nor could they gain sight +of the line of horsemen winding around the rocks in the distance. +Nothing resembling a human being was visible. Surely they were +warranted in believing themselves perfectly secure. + +Such being their conclusion, they prepared for a great feast. Six +of the stolen horses were killed and the red men became as ardent +hipophagi as was the club of advanced Parisians a short time ago. +The roasted meat tasted as fine to them as though it was the choicest +slices from the bison or deer, and they ate and frolicked like so +many children let loose for a holiday. + +But in the midst of their feast was heard a series of frightful +yells and whoops. The appalled Indians had scarcely time to turn +their eyes when a dozen horsemen, that seemed to have risen from +the very ground, thundered down upon them. Carson and his men +had overtaken the thieves and they now swept down upon them with +resistless fury. The fight was as short as it was fierce. The red +men fell on the right and left, and those who escaped the wrath of +the trappers, scattered and ran as if a hundred bomb shells were +exploding around them. Every horse stolen (except the six killed +for the feast) were recovered and Carson took them back to camp +without the loss of a man. + +The hunters stayed until early autumn, when their employer decided +to go to New Mexico. The journey led for a great portion of the +way through a country over which they had travelled, and which +therefore was familiar to them. After halting a brief while at the +Mission of San Fernando, they arrived at Los Angeles, which like +the rest of the country as the reader knows, belonged to Mexico. +As it was apparent that the horsemen were hunters and trappers, the +authorities demanded their written license to pursue their calling +in Mexican territory. Such was the law and the officials were +warranted in making the demand, but it need not be said that the +party were compelled to admit they had nothing of the kind in their +possession. + +The authorities thereupon determined to arrest the hunters, but +knowing their desperate nature, hesitated as to the safe means of +doing so. They finally hit upon a rather ingenious, though unfair +means of disarming the white men: they began giving them "fire +water" to drink, refusing to accept pay therefor. Those who lead +lives of hardship and peril are generally fond of such indulgence, +and, though the trappers could not fail to understand the purpose +of the Mexicans, and though they knew the disastrous consequences +of giving away to temptation, they yielded and took in their mouths +the enemy which stole away their brains. + +The employer became alarmed and saw that something must be done at +once or everything would be lost. Carson had been too wise to fall +into the snare, and he turned to him. + +"Take three of the soberest men," said he, "and the loose animals +and camp equipage and push out of the place. I will join you as +soon as I can, but you mustn't linger for me. If I fail to join +you, hasten to New Mexico and make known that I and the rest of my +men have been massacred." + +These instructions were definite and they showed the gravity +of the situation. Carson did as directed, while the employer gave +his attention to the rest of the men. It was high time that he did +so, for they were fast succumbing to their appetites. Despite the +indignant protests and efforts of the employer they would have +undoubtedly fallen victims but for an unlooked for occurrence. + +One of the trappers who was so much under the influence of liquor +as to become reckless, fired upon and slightly wounded a native of +the place. The act threw the Mexicans into a panic of terror, and +they fled from the presence of the dreaded Americans who seemed +eager for any sanguinary deed. + +The employer was wise enough to take advantage of the occurrence +and he succeeded, after much labor, in getting his half intoxicated +men together and out of the place. The horses were forced to their +utmost and the same night they overtook Carson and his anxious +companions. All danger from that source was ended. + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +An Alarming Visit -- Carson's Resources -- On the Colorado and Gila +-- Capturing a Herd of Horses and Mules -- The Raiders -- Turning +the Tables -- Caching their Peltries -- Return to Santa Fe -- +Carson Goes upon a Second Trapping Expedition -- Hunting with an +Old Mountaineer -- A Visit from Crow Indians. + +A week or more later, the trappers again reached the Colorado River. +They had traveled at a leisurely pace and once more they went into +camp, where they were familiar with the country. Men leading such +lives as they, were accustomed to all kinds of surprises, but it +may be doubted whether the trappers were more amazed in all their +existence than when five hundred Indian warriors made their appearance +and with signs of friendship overran the camp before they could be +prevented or checked. + +The hunters did not know what to make of the proceeding, and looked +to Carson for advice. He had already discovered that the situation +was one of the gravest danger. Despite the professions of friendship, +Kit saw that each warrior had his weapons under his dress, where +he hoped they were not noticed by the whites. Still worse, most of +the hunters were absent visiting their traps, only Kit and a few +of his companions being in camp. The occasion was where it was +necessary to decide at once what to do and then to do it without +flinching. + +Among the red men was one who spoke Spanish and to him Carson +addressed himself: + +"You must leave the camp at once; if you don't do so without a +minute's delay, we shall attack you and each of us is sure to kill +one warrior if not more." + +These brave words accompanied by such determination of manner +were in such contrast to the usual course of the cowardly Mexicans +that the Indians were taken all aback. They could not suspect the +earnestness of the short, sturdy framed leader, nor could they +doubt that though the Indians would be sure to overwhelm the little +band, yet they would have to pay dearly for the privilege. It took +them but a few minutes to conclude the price was altogether too high +and they drew off without making a hostile demonstration against +the brave Carson and his men. + +The trappers worked their way down the Colorado until they arrived +at tidewater, when they moved to the Gila, along which they trapped +until they reached the mouth of the San Pedro. They were in sore +need of horses with which to transport their furs and peltries, +that had become numerous and bulky. While in this neighborhood, +they discovered a large herd of horses and mules in the possession +of a few Indians. According to the morality of the border this +property was legitimate prey, but in point of fact when the trappers +determined to take the animals from the aborigines, they became +thieves and robbers. However, it is not to be hoped that a single +member of the company felt the slightest twinge of conscience when +he rode at full speed, yelling to the highest bent, and helped +scatter the terrified red men to the winds. The entire herd fell +into the hands of the whites, and, congratulating themselves on +their good fortune, they kindled a huge fire and encamped for the +night. + +Most of the men had lain down with the intention of sleeping until +morning, and Kit sat looking in the fire, when his trained ear +caught a peculiar sound. At first, it seemed to be the faint roll +of distant thunder, but he knew it was not. He listened carefully +and was able to tell the direction whence came the singular noise, +but remained uncertain as to its cause. Then, as he had done many +a time, he leaned over and pressed his ear to the solid earth. +Immediately the rumbling became more distinct and he recognized +what it meant: it was the tramp of numerous hoofs galloping forward. + +Carson and several of his men stole noiselessly out to reconnaissance +and found a half dozen warriors hurrying along a drove of more +than a hundred horses. They had been on a raid among the Mexican +settlements in Sonora and were now returning home with their plunder. + +The temptation was one which Carson and his companions could not +resist. They sent a volley from their rifles among the thieves, +which threw them into such a panic that they dashed off at full +speed without giving the least thought to their valuable property. +The latter as a matter of course was taken charge of by the trappers, +who were glad of the opportunity to chastise the cowardly marauders. + +Under the circumstances, however, the animals were of little value +to the hunters, who had all they needed. It was beyond their power +to return them to their owners, but the best were selected, several +of the plumpest killed and cured, and the rest turned loose to go +whither they chose. + +The trappers continued up the Gila until near the copper mines of +New Mexico, where they found a party of white men trading with the +Indians. The peltries were cached and placed in charge of their +friends, while Carson and his companions continued on until they +reached Santa Fe. There their employer bought a license to trade +with the Indians who lived near the copper mines. Then they went +back and procuring their furs, returned once more to Santa Fe, +where they were sold for more than twenty thousand dollars. This +being equitably divided among the hunters, furnished each a goodly +sum. Like so many sailors just ashore from a long voyage, most of +the trappers went on a prolonged carousal, which caused their money +to melt like snow in the sun. When their pockets were empty, they +had aching heads, weak frames and only the memory of their feverish +pleasures. + +Kit Carson did not go through this trial unscathed. He drank and +spreed with the rest, but he awoke to the folly and madness of +his course sooner than they and the sad lesson learned at the time +lasted him through life. The baneful habit was not fastened upon +him, and he not only acquired the mastery over self, but was able +more than once to save others from falling into the whirlpool which +has swept unnumbered multitudes to wretchedness and death. + +Carson found little in the way of congenial employment until the +fall of the year, when he joined a second trapping expedition. The +first had won him such a reputation for sagacity, daring and skill, +that his services were always in demand, and those who were forming +such enterprises sought him out among the very first. + +The new party was in charge of an experienced mountaineer, who +told Kit his intention was to trap along the principal streams of +the Rocky Mountains. He was well acquainted with the region and +was confident that the expedition would not only be enjoyable and +thrilling in the highest degree, but would prove profitable to all. + +The party travelled northward until they reached the Platte River +where the business began. They moved from stream to stream, as +necessity demanded, shooting such game as they needed, exchanging +shots with the watchful red men, who killed four of the trappers +while hunting bison, and steadily adding to their stock of furs +until the close of the season in the spring of 1831. Learning that +an old mountaineer, named Captain Gaunt, had spent the winter at +Laramie River and was then at New Park, Kit Carson and four of his +friends set out to join him. It was a long and perilous journey, +but they made it in safety and the Captain gave them glad welcome. +They hunted together for many months following until the Captain +went to Taos to sell his peltries. On his return, operations were +resumed until the weather became so cold they were forced into +winter quarters. + +The winter proved very severe. The snow was so deep that only by +cutting down numerous cottonwoods and using the bark and twigs for +fodder were the animals saved from starvation. Fortunately, they had +laid in a good stock of bison meat so that the trappers themselves +underwent no suffering for food. In fact, they found little to do +except to pass the time in idleness. With abundant food, plenty +of tobacco and the means of engaging in certain games, they whiled +away the long winter days and evenings until the signs of spring +appeared. + +But while the winds were moaning around their hut, in which they +made their home, and the snow rattled like fine sand against the +logs, they were taught again that no weather is severe enough to +keep the wily red man within his wigwam. A party of Crow Indians +discovered the camp of the trappers and one tempestuous night made +them a stealthy visit. They departed during the darkness, and, +when they went away, took with them nine of the very best horses of +the hunters -- a loss too serious to be borne without using every +recourse to prevent it. + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +Kit Carson's Decision -- A Hot Pursuit an and Unexpected Discovery +-- Weary Waiting -- A Snow Balling Party -- A Daring Attack -- +Brilliant Exploit. + +Instinctively every one turned to Carson to learn what he had to +advise and yet each was certain what he would say. + +"It'll never do, boys, to let them steal our horses in that style," +he remarked in his quiet fashion, compressing his lips and shaking +his head, while his eyes flashed with a dangerous light. + +All knew what his words and manner meant, and in a twinkling the +thirteen men were in their saddles, and, with their gallant leader +at their head, galloped forth off in pursuit. + +It would be supposed where the ground was covered with snow to +such a depth, that it was the easiest matter imaginable to follow +the trail, and yet Kit and his companions found it one of the +most difficult tasks they had ever undertaken. Hundreds of bison +had repeatedly crossed the tracks since they were made and less +experienced eyes than those of the trappers would have given over +the search in despair. + +But no one thought of turning back, and the pursuit was pushed +unflaggingly for fully forty miles. Not the first glimpse had been +obtained of the Indians, and the horses that had been pushed so +hard finally gave out. They were in poor condition, and, when the +company came to a halt, showed such exhaustion that it was evident +they could not be forced much further. It was decided, therefore, +to go into camp. Accordingly, they turned the heads of their panting +animals toward a piece of woods a short distance away. + +Before the shelter was reached, the trappers were astonished to +observe a column of smoke rising above the trees. They looked in +each others' faces with a smile of gratification: inasmuch as the +trail led into the grove and it was evident a camp fire was burning +there, it followed that they were close to the thieves whom they +had followed such a long distance. + +The discovery infused new warmth into the blood of the hunters, +who were fairly atremble with eagerness to attack the unsuspecting +Indians. + +But all were too experienced in the ways of the wilderness to allow +their impatience to betray them into any indiscretion. They deemed +it necessary their assault should be a surprise and they, therefore, +withdrew to a secluded place in the woods and waited for night. + +This was trying to a painful degree. The weather which had been +bitterly cold during the day, grew still colder, until the animals +shivered as if with the ague. They were carefully tied where the +trees partly sheltered them from the cutting wind and the hunters +made sure their arms were ready. Then, when the sun went down and +darkness crept over the snowy landscape, the men moved around so +as to approach the camp from the direction opposite to that from +which the Indians would naturally look for pursuit. + +When close enough to catch sight of the flames among the trees, +the hunters sank on their knees and crept noiselessly forward until +able to gain a full view of the dusky thieves. They were surprised +at what they saw. The savages had thrown some logs and stones +together so as to make a couple of rude forts and had divided +themselves into two parties. It was characteristic of them that they +were holding a dance and feast in honor of the brilliant style in +which they had outwitted the trappers forty miles away. + +The scene was quite interesting, especially when our friends plainly +saw their stolen animals tied near one of the forts. The sight of +their property was anything but soothing to the wrathful trappers, +who were resolved not to go back to their own camp without taking +the horses along. + +But the Crows were strong in numbers, well armed and ready to fight +on the briefest notice. It would have been an act of the greatest +rashness to charge upon their camp, while they were excited to an +unusual degree by the rejoicing in which all took a hilarious part. +The whites decided to wait several hours longer until most of their +enemies would be unconscious in slumber. + +All this time the weather was growing colder, and, toughened as the +trappers had become by years of exposure, they suffered greatly. +They dare not move about to keep up the circulation of their blood, +for the slightest noise was liable to attract the suspicion of some +of the Crows who might be prowling through the grove. More than +once Carson feared his limbs were freezing, but he held out like +the genuine hero he was, and his companions were all worthy of him. + +At last the dance was over and the tired warriors wrapped their +blankets around their forms and stretched out to rest. Their +manner showed they had no thought that a foe was anywhere in the +neighborhood. Although such men sleep lightly, they do not remain +long awake when courting sleep, and in a brief while all were +unconscious except the sentinels on duty. Even they were so confident +that nothing threatened, that they became less vigilant than usual. + +"Sh! now is the time," whispered the youthful leader. They had +decided long before upon their plan of action, so that no time +was now lost in consultation. Kit and five of his men began slowly +creeping toward their horses. This was anything but a pleasant +occupation, for the snow, it will be remembered, was deep on the +ground; but such veterans cared nothing for a trifle like that, +and they speedily reached their animals. + +Such an attempt is always a dangerous one, for the horse of the +Indian or white hunter often proves his most skilful sentinel. He +is able to detect the stealthy approach of a scout, long before +the straining ear of his master can catch the slightest sound. If +the beasts should become frightened by the shadowy figures crawling +over the snow, they would be likely to alarm the camp; but Carson +and his companions managed it so well that there was not a single +neigh or stamp of a hoof. + +Silently rising to their feet, they cut the halters which held the +horses fast, and then, withdrawing a slight distance, began throwing +snowballs at them. These feathery missiles fell among and struck +against them, until, to escape the mimic bombardment they moved +out the wood altogether, where they were taken charge by the others +who were waiting. All this was accomplished without attracting the +attention of a single Indian. + +Having met with such success, common prudence and sense suggested +that the trappers should make all haste to their own comfortable +quarters, so many long miles away; but they had scarcely joined +each other when they fell into an earnest discussion as to what +the next step should be. + +Some were in favor of withdrawing with the least possible delay, +but Kit Carson and a couple of daring spirits were bent on going +back and punishing the thieves who had given them so much trouble. +As they could not be argued out of their purpose, the others, as +a matter of course, agreed to give them their aid. + +Three of the trappers were sent to take the recaptured animals +to where the saddle horses were secured while the others advanced +directly upon the Indian camp. They moved cautiously as was their +custom and were almost upon the Crows, when one of their dogs gave +notice of danger by a vigorous barking. On the instant, the warriors +leaped to their feet and the fight opened. So many of the Indians +were shot down and the advantage was so strongly against them, that +the survivors hastily ran into the nearest fort, from which they +returned the fire of their assailants. The latter, however, had +stationed themselves behind trees, where they were safe against +the whistling bullets, and in their attack they threw away very +few shots indeed. + +It began growing light in the east, and, as soon as the Crows +discovered how few composed the besieging force, they in turn became +the assailants, and rushed out of their fort with their frightful +war whoops, but they were met by such a destructive fire that they +scurried back again. + +The second attack of the savages was so furious that the trappers +were forced to fall back, but the reserve, as it may be called, +speedily joined them, and once more drove the Indians into their +fort. Several of the whites had been wounded though not dangerously, +and both parties having had enough of fighting, the battle ended. + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +The British and American Trapper -- Hunting on the Laramie -- The +Deserters -- The Vain Pursuit -- Arrival of Friends -- The Return +Journey -- The Night Alarm -- The Attack Upon the Camp -- Pursuit +and Recovery of Horses. + +A half century ago the vast region beyond the Rocky Mountains was +comparatively unknown and unexplored. Its general features of course +were understood, but the interior was like the central portion of +Australia or Africa. Clarke and Lewis made their famous expedition +to Oregon during the early days of the century, and helped to turn +general attention in that direction. Its growth and development +since then is one of the wonders of the age. + +But there was one class (if the word may be used), who never +hesitated to penetrate the wildest and most dangerous recesses of +the far West and Northwest: those were the hunters and trappers. +As we have already stated, the employees of the venerable and +all embracing Hudson Bay Company ranged over British America and +through Oregon, to which vast territory they possessed the clear +legal right, besides which they and the trappers of the American +Fur Company frequently trespassed on each others reserves, and not +infrequently came in bloody collision with each other. + +Far to the northward, the Indian drove his birch canoe across the +silent Athabasca and Great Bear Lakes, on his way with his peltries +to the distant factory or post of the Company; along the frozen +shores of the lone Mackenzie (the only American river flowing into +the Arctic Ocean), the trapper glided on his snow shoes, or with +his sturdy dogs and sleigh, fought his way over the snowy wastes +of Prince Rupert's Land; the brigades in their boats rounded the +curves of the Saskatchewan, keeping time with their paddles to +their own cheery songs; their camp fires were kindled in the land +of the Assiniboine and they set their traps in the wildest recesses +of the Rocky Mountains where the whirling snow storms almost carried +them off their feet; but north of the dividing line, the hunters +had little if anything to fear from the red men. Though they +encountered in the loneliest and most desolate distant regions, +they generally met and separated as friends. Among the perils of +the trapper's life in British America was not reckoned that from +the hostile natives. + +It was far different within our own territory. Those who left +our frontier States and pushed westward, and those who penetrated +northward and eastward from the Mexican country, knew they were +invading the hunting grounds of the fiercest Indians on the American +continent. We have already told enough to show the intense hostility +of the red men; between them and the hunters and trappers raged a +war that never ceased or slackened, except when policy held it for +a time in check. + +The little group of horsemen, who rode out from Independence or +Westport, or who took steamer at St. Louis up the Missouri, often +came back with several of their number missing. Up among the mountains, +they had gone out to visit their traps and had never come back to +camp. The lurking Blackfoot, or Sioux, or Crow, had aimed all too +well, and, as he bounded whooping away, he swung aloft the scalp +of his victim whose trapping days were ended forever. + +After recovering their horses from the band of Crows, Carson and +his companions returned to camp, where they remained until spring, +when they cached their furs and made their way to the Laramie River +on another hunting expedition. While thus employed, a couple of the +men deserted taking several of the best animals. Kit Carson and a +single companion were sent in pursuit, the rascals having a good +day's start. A desperate fight was sure to follow a meeting between +the parties, for Carson would never forgive such treachery, and the +deserters were not the ones to permit themselves to be despoiled +of their booty without doing their utmost to prevent it. + +It was suspected that they were on their way to the place where +the beaver had been cached; and disregarding the trail, therefore +Carson made all haste thither. It need not be said that he lost +no time on the road, but when he reached their old camp, he found +the deserters had preceded him. They had stolen several thousand +dollars worth of furs and departed. + +Carson was more anxious than ever to overtake the scoundrels. +He and his companion made diligent search, but failed utterly to +find them. They were never seen or heard of again, and Carson was +convinced they had fallen victims to the Indians who in turn made +off with the stolen peltries. + +It will be borne in mind that Kit and his friend were several +hundred miles from the main body of hunters, and in one of the most +dangerous countries they had ever visited. So dangerous, indeed, +did they consider an attempt to return to them, that they decided +not to make it, but to stay in the old camp. Inasmuch as it would +be impossible to keep their presence from the knowledge of the +Indians, they threw up some rude fortifications and never relaxed +their vigilance. When Carson wrapped his blanket around him, and +lay down to rest, he knew his companion was on guard and would +not slumber. It was the same with his friend, their watchfulness +undoubtedly preventing the attack which scarcely could have failed +to be effectual. + +It was needful now and then that one of them should venture out to +procure game, but that was so plentiful that he was never compelled +to go far, and he used such extreme care that he was not even so +much as fired upon. + +Thus the time passed, until at the end of several weeks, the +hunters were surprised and delighted by the arrival of more than +a dozen men on their way with a complete outfit to join the main +body. Carson and his friend were glad enough to go with them and the +long journey was begun. They had not gone far, when they exchanged +shots with hostiles and there were almost daily skirmishes with +them. By sunset they had travelled a long distance, and went into +camp, feeling certain that though Indians had not shown themselves, +they were in the vicinity. To prevent a stampede of their animals, +the long ropes around their necks were fastened to stakes driven +deep into the earth. This arrangement allowed them to graze over +sufficient ground and opposed an almost insuperable obstacle to +the success of the dusky thieves prowling around. + +It was yet early in the evening when one of the dogs belonging to +the camp began barking. A score of causes might have caused this +but Carson believed the incitement in that instance was the one +most dreaded. Several men were added to the guard and the rest lay +down, too uneasy to gain much slumber, however. + +The trappers were right in their suspicion that savages were near +but they could not have failed to note what precautions had been +taken by the whites against surprise and they withdrew without +molesting them. The party were in a beaver country, and Carson and +three of his men went up the stream some distance to learn whether +it was worth their while to set the traps. + +They had not been gone long when a party of Indians, who were probably +awaiting such an opportunity, charged upon the camp and drove off +all the loose horses. Four of the hunters instantly saddled the +swiftest of those remaining and started in hot pursuit. So hot indeed +was the pursuit that they speedily came up with the marauders and +opened a running fight. One of the hunters was badly wounded, while +a warrior was shot from his horse pitching headlong to the earth +with a screech of agony. The remaining ones were pressed so hard +that they were glad enough to abandon the property which came +back to the rightful owners, probably before an animal was able to +comprehend what had taken place. + +The promptness and daring of the hunters had prevented a serious +loss, and though one of their number was severely hurt, his wound +was not mortal. It may be said that he suffered much but fully +recovered in time. Men with such iron constitutions and rugged frames +rallied from injuries that would have swept off those accustomed +to less stirring lives. + +Having righted matters, so far as possible, the trappers picketed +their horses and awaited the return of Carson and his companions. +They were much disturbed by fears for their safety, as in truth +they had good cause to be. + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +An Unexpected Meeting -- The Ambush -- A Daring and Perilous Ride +-- Return to Camp -- Disappointments -- The Beaver. + +Meanwhile the Indians made it exceedingly lively for Kit Carson +and his three companions. + +The latter had heard so much of the abundance of beavers in a +certain section that they determined to visit it and make a thorough +exploration. To do this, it was necessary to ride over a lofty Rocky +Mountain peak or take many hours to pass around it. Very naturally +they concluded to "cut across lots," confident of their ability to +take care of themselves, no matter what danger threatened. + +The ascent proved very exhausting to men and animals, for the +trappers did not compel the weary beasts to bear them up the steep +slope where it tired them to force their own way. They rested many +times, but finally accomplished the ascent and passed over into +the valley beyond. There, disappointment awaited them. The most +careful search failed to show the first sign of a beaver and they +had their labor for their pains. The toil of climbing the mountain +peak was so severe that the hunters concluded to take the longer +route home. Their steeds had been pushed so hard, that they were +permitted to set their own pace on the return. This naturally enough +was a deliberate walk, while their riders talked, laughed, jested +and occasionally made some remark on the magnificent scenery by +which they were surrounded. There was no call for haste, and they +knew nothing of what had taken place in camp after their departure; +otherwise, they might have felt more impatience to rejoin their +friends. + +All at once, the hunters descried four Indian warriors in the path +in front. They were splendidly mounted, their hair ornamented with +stained eagle feathers, their ugly countenances daubed with yellow, +black and crimson paint, and they were fully armed. Their appearance +showed they were on the war path. + +Such undoubtedly being the case, a sight of the braves was a challenge +to the hunters who accepted it without a second's hesitation. + +Pausing not a moment to consult on their plan of action, Kit and +his companions spurred their horses to a dead run, with the purpose +of bringing them within range of their rifles, but the steeds of +the dusky foes were fleet of foot and they sped away like the wind. + +The pursuit was a furious one, until the flying fugitives shot by a +hill, when more than fifty warriors similarly mounted and accoutred, +dashed out to intercept the enthusiastic hunters. Just then it +dawned upon Kit and his companions that the whole proceeding was +a trap arranged by the Indians into which he and his friends had +dashed at headlong speed. + +It was in such crises that Kit Carson displayed his marvelous +resources and lightning-like perception of the best course to adopt. +The discovery of the ambush would have thrown almost any company of +men, no matter how brave into a panic, or at least into temporary +confusion which would have been equally disastrous. Most probably +they would have reined up or wheeled about and fled in the opposite +direction. The whole band would have dashed in pursuit and the +running fight between four men and more than twelve times their +number, every one of whom it is fair to presume was thoroughly +familiar with the country, could have resulted in but one way. +Skilled and daring as were Carson and his comrades, they could not +accomplish the impossible, as they would have had to do in order +to escape the yelling band behind them. + +Kit was slightly in advance of the others, and he did not check his +animal in the least. On the contrary, he urged him to his utmost, +and the four sped straight ahead on a dead run, seemingly as if +they meant to charge the entire war party. + +Such, however, was not their intention: they shied off as much as +they could, and, throwing themselves forward and over the side of +their horses, ran the terrible gauntlet. No one of the trappers +fired a shot, for if dismounted by the bullets of their enemies, +each wished to have his loaded rifle in hand, with which to make +his last defense. + +The very audacity of the movement amazed the Indians. By the time +they comprehended what the white men were doing, they were thundering +in front of them. Then the warriors opened fire, and the bullets +whistled about the horses and riders, who kept their steeds to the +highest bent and finally passed beyond danger -- their escape one +of the most extraordinary on record. + +The Indians did not pursue the hunters, two of whom had been struck +by their bullets, and Carson and his friends drew their horses +down to a more moderate pace. The great scout admitted that he was +never more utterly deceived and entrapped by the red man in all +his life. But he saw in the occurrence a deeper significance than +appeared on the surface. The ambush into which he and his friends +had been led was only a part of the campaign against the entire +party, who, weakened by the absence of Carson and his companions +were likely to fall victims to such a large band of warriors. +Trembling with fear for their comrades, they again forced their +animals to a high speed and lost no time in making their way back +to camp. They found everything in good shape, much to their relief, +and were not at all surprised to learn of the visit that had been +made by the savages during the absence of Kit and his companions. + +The wounds of the two trappers who were shot while running the fiery +gauntlet, were found to be of such a serious nature that the party +had not gone far when they were obliged to go into camp again. +One of them especially, was in such a bad way that it was found +necessary to carry him on a litter until the main camp was reached. +There he was allowed to rest and everything possible was done +to make him comfortable. When he had fully recovered, the entire +company headed for Old Park, once famous on account of the immense +numbers of beavers found there. Disappointment, however, awaited +them, for other trappers had preceded them, and made such thorough +work that it was useless for the last arrivals to unload and set +their traps. + +The party visited other sections but in every instance they +appeared to be "a day too late for the fair;" the beaver runs had +been worked so thoroughly by others that it was useless for them +to expect success. + +The beaver, as the reader probably knows, aside from its great value +in producing fur and perfume, possesses a most wonderful instinct. +They live in communities and prefer to build their houses by small +clear rivers and creeks or close to springs. Sometimes they are +found on the banks of lakes. + +The dams which they construct with the skill of a professional +civil engineer, are built for the purpose of making sure of a full +supply of water at all times and seasons. These dams are composed +of stones, mud and tree branches, the base being ten or twelve feet +in thickness sloping gradually upward to the summit. + +In building their dams, the beaver does not thrust the ends of the +stakes into the bed of the river, but lays them down horizontally, +holding them in place by piling mud and stones upon them. The logs +which compose the dams are mostly from six to eight inches in +diameter, though some have been found nearly two feet through. The +enormous number of such logs used may be imagined perhaps, when +the ponderous character of the dams is remembered, and when it is +stated that some of them are more than an eighth of a mile wide. +Every log, after being gnawed off the proper length, is stripped +of its bark which is stored away for use as food during the winter. + +The lodges of the beavers are composed principally of mud, moss and +branches, circular in shape, the space within being seven feet in +width and about half as high. The walls are so thick that on the +outside the corresponding dimensions are nearly three times as +great as within. The roof is finished off with a thick layer of +mud, laid on with wonderful smoothness and renewed every year. The +severe frosts of winter freeze the lodge into such a solid structure +that the beaver is safe against the wolverine, which is unable to +break through the wall, resembling the adobe structures found in +Mexico and the Southwest. Even the trapper who attempts to demolish +one of the structures finds it tiresome labor, even with the help +of iron implements. + +The beavers excavate a ditch around their lodges too deep to be +frozen. Into this opens all their dwellings, the door being far +below the surface, so that free ingress and egress are secured. + +The half dozen beavers occupying a lodge arrange their beds +against the wall, each separate from the other, while the centre +of the chamber is unoccupied. During summer they secure their stock +of food by gnawing down hundreds of trees, the trunks or limbs of +which are sunk and fastened in some peculiar manner to the bottom +of the stream. During the winter when the beaver feels hungry, he +dives down, brings up one of the logs, drags it to a suitable spot +and nibbles off the bark. + +It is impossible fully to understand how this remarkable animal +does its work, for as it never toils in the day time, it is out of +the power of any one to watch its method. + +The peculiar odoriferous substance, secreted in two glandular sacs +near the root of the tail, is "castoreum," more generally known as +"bark stone" among the trappers. The odor is powerful and is so +attractive to the animals themselves, that the trapper has only +to smear some of it near the trap which is hidden under water. Any +beaver which catches the scent, is sure to hasten to the spot and +is almost certain to be caught in the trap. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +Carson and two Companions set out on a Trapping Expedition of Their +Own -- They Meet With Great Success -- Is Engaged by Captain Lee +-- Carson's Pursuit of an Indian Thief. + +Kit Carson finally grew tired of wandering over the country without +gaining sight of a beaver. He proposed to two of his companions +that they start on a private expedition of their own. They were as +disgusted as he and eagerly agreed to the proposition. + +The employers of the men commended the enterprise of the little +company and gave them their best wishes. Cordial farewells were +exchanged all around, and Kit and his comrades left the camp on +their perilous errand. + +On this occasion, as on innumerable other ones, Carson showed most +excellent judgment. His scheme was to keep entirely to the streams +never once venturing upon the plains. Several advantages were likely +to flow from this course. During the summer season the mountain +Indians generally placed their women and children in charge of the +old men and a few warriors and came down from their retreats to +engage in hunting bison or in marching on the war path. Occasionally +they are at peace with the Indians of the plains, which was a bad +thing for the Mexican settlements, for they left a track of desolation +among them. + +Few of the trappers ventured far into the mountains, where game was +abundant, so that Carson was confident of finding plenty of beavers. +In this he was not mistaken. The fur bearing animals seemed to be +overrunning the country, while the Indians acted not only as if +unaware of the fact but as if entirely ignorant of the little party +of visitors, who, making hay while the sun shines, were not long +in finding themselves with as large a supply as they could carry +home. + +This was the ordeal more to be dreaded than all the others. While +on their way to the beaver runs, they had nothing to do beyond taking +care of themselves; but now their valuable peltries were liable to +be captured by the Indians, who could compel their abandonment by +pressing the owners hard. + +But extreme and altogether unexpected good fortune attended them, +and they reached Taos, without receiving a scratch or losing a fur. +They found on arriving at that quaint town, that there was great +demand for peltries and prices were correspondingly high. They +sold out their stock for a very liberal price, and Kit's friend, +despite his advice, went on a carousal which soon squandered all +their hard earned wages. Kit himself, however, had not lost the +lesson he learned under somewhat similar circumstances, and he laid +away his funds, against the proverbial rainy day. + +By this time the character of Carson was fairly formed. He was +resolute, self reliant, sober, thoughtful, cool headed, wonderfully +quick to grasp all the points of a situation, chivalrous, agile as +a panther, a perfect master of woodcraft, and withal, charmingly +modest. + +While Carson was in Taos, waiting for some favorable opening to +present itself, he met Captain Lee, formerly of the United States +Army, but who was then a member of the firm of Bent and St. Vrain, +engaged for so many years in furnishing supplies to those who +visited the mountains and plains. Captain Lee at that time was +thus employed and knowing the value of a man like Carson, he made +him so liberal an offer that he accepted it on the spot. + +In the Autumn of 1832, with a train of mules loaded with such goods +as were needed by trappers, Captain Lee, Carson and a number of +men started northward to find their purchasers. They followed the +well worn mule path leading from New Mexico to California and which +had been known for years as the "Old Spanish Trail." + +They reached White River without mishap, and made their way down it +until Green River was forded, when they struck across the country +to Winty River, where they came upon a party of twenty hunters, who +were engaged in trading and trapping as opportunity offered. They +affiliated at once, for there is something in the presence of a +common danger which draws men closely together. + +The weather became very cold and snow began to fall. It was decided, +therefore, to go into winter quarters near the mouth of Winty River. +There they erected skin lodges, such as are used by many tribes of +American Indians, and were content to wait the coming of spring. + +The skill and address of Carson seemed to create a call for his +services, no matter where he happened to be, and it was not long +before he became involved in a most remarkable adventure. + +Among the employees of the other party, was a shrewd civilized +Indian, who was held in high regard by the whites on account of +his native keenness, and who stood well in the confidence of his +employer; but one day he disappeared, simultaneously with several +of the very best horses. The circumstances were such that there +could be no doubt the two occurrences were inseparably connected. + +The loss was too serious to be borne, and the angered leader of +the other company (though he had not the least claim upon young +Carson), appealed to him to help him to recover his property. Carson +said he was perfectly willing, provided Captain Lee would give his +consent, and as the Captain was more willing to help his friend, +he directed Carson to do as he saw fit. + +The matchless hunter made sure his weapons were in the best order, +and, mounting one of the fleetest horses in camp, he waved a merry +farewell to his friends and galloped off. He had not ridden far +when he turned off toward an Indian village, whose people were on +friendly terms with the hunters, and, riding directly among the red +men, whose lingo he understood, he asked for one of their bravest +warriors to join him in hunting down a California Indian that had +run off with their best horses. + +Such a request coming from any other hunter would have received +little notice; but those dusky barbarians not only knew Carson by +name, but looked upon him as the greatest white warrior they had +ever seen. He could have secured a score of braves had he wanted +them, but he desired only one -- a sinewy, daring fellow whom he +knew could be relied on in any emergency. This Indian required no +more time than Carson himself to make ready, and, shortly after +Kit's arrival in the village, he rode forth again with his faithful +friend at his elbow. + +It was impossible for the thief to conceal the trail of the stolen +horses and he made no attempt to do so. A slight examination showed +the pursuers that it led down the Green River, the general course +being such that Carson was confident the thief was making for +California -- a long distance away. + +As the fugitive was well mounted and all his horses were fleet, and +as he must have been quite certain he would be pursued, he lost no +time on the road. The trail showed he was going at a full gallop, +and, under the most favorable circumstances, the chase was sure to +be a long one. + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +A Hot Pursuit -- An Unexpected Calamity -- Carson Continues the +Chase Alone -- The Result. + +Everything now depended on speed. Not only was the dusky thief +pushing his animals to the utmost, but Kit Carson knew he would +give them little rest night or day. He was familiar with the route +to California and the pursuit would be no child's play. + +There could be no doubt, however, of the destination of the redskin, +and Carson and his brave warrior were equally persistent with their +horses. The ground flew beneath their hoofs. Across the stretch of +prairie, along the bank of the rushing streams, around the rocks, +over mountains, through torrents, they forced their way, with no +thought of turning back or checking the speed of their animals. +Occasionally the bright eyes of the pursuers glanced at the ground +in front, when the displaced gravel or the indentation in the soft +earth showed they had not lost the trail. + +In this headlong fashion the friends galloped forward until they had +placed a full hundred miles behind them. They were a long distance +from home and camp, but in spite of the speed of the fugitive, Carson +was confident they had gained considerably upon him. If everything +went well, they ought to catch sight of him on the morrow. At this +juncture, when the prospect was so encouraging, an unlooked for +calamity occurred. + +Carson's steed stood the great strain admirably, but the one +bestrode by the Indian succumbed. He suddenly slackened his pace, +staggered and trembled so violently, that, when the warrior leaped +from his back, he saw he was fearfully ill. If he did not die, he +would not recover for hours and even then could not be forced hard. + +Carson contemplated the situation with dismay. He had not counted +on anything like this, and the help of the Indian was beyond all +price to him. He was unusually strong, active and experienced, and +would not hesitate to attack any person single handed. + +Seeing the condition of the exhausted steed, Kit proposed to his +dusky companion that he should abandon him and continue the pursuit +on foot, but the brave shook his head. He was equal to the exploit +of running ten or twenty miles at a high pace, but a great deal +more was likely to be required and he needed all his powers when the +shock of the battle should come. He not only refused to continue the +chase, but, knowing the character of the thief, tried to dissuade +Carson from going further. They had certainly done all that could +be asked of them and no one could find fault if, in the face of +such difficulty, they should withdraw and return to their friends. + +"No," said Carson, "I have set out to recover those horses and +nothing shall turn me back. I am sorry to lose you, but it can't +be helped; so good bye and good luck attend you." + +And putting spurs to his steed, he dashed over the trail with +compressed lips and flashing eye, determined on running down the +fugitive if he had to follow him to the bank of the Pacific itself. +This single act of the famous mountaineer shows his character in +its true light. + +In the first place, it must be remembered that Kit Carson was a +man of slight figure and was never noted for his strength. Many of +his companions were much more powerful, though none was so quick and +active in his movements. His wonderful success lay in his coolness, +agility, skill and bravery, which never "overleaped itself." As we +have stated, he was below the medium stature, and never could have +attained a tithe of his renown, had his muscular strength formed +a necessary part of his requirements. + +On the other hand, the Indian thief whom he was pursuing, was +exceptionally powerful, athletic and one of the most desperate men +on the whole frontier. He cared nothing for Carson, nor for any +single member of the company he had left. He would expect pursuit +and would be on the watch for it. Whenever he caught sight of those +who were seeking him, he would not abandon the horses and flee. +Far from it: he would stand his ground, and if his booty should +be wrested from him the men who did it would be compelled to the +fiercest kind of fight. He would not run from the attack of two or +three persons: much less from one of the most insignificant men in +the entire company. + +The course of Carson illustrated another marked feature of +his character -- that of loyalty to his friends and resolution in +carrying through any task he undertook. Where scarcely one man in a +multitude would have pushed forward, he advanced without hesitation. +He deliberately resolved to attack a fierce criminal who was as fully +armed as he, as daring and perfect in his knowledge of woodcraft, +and much his superior in strength. + +Carson had proven the mettle of his steed, and he now showed him +no mercy. The trail indicated he was gaining rapidly and he was +anxious to force matters to an issue before night. Among the horses +the Indian was running off were one or two whose endurance was less +than the others. Their tardiness moderated the pace of the rest, +and thus gave Kit a chance of lessening the distance between him +and the fugitive. + +At the end of the ten miles he scanned the ground in front, but +nothing was seen of the thief or his horses; but the hoof prints +were fresh and the scout knew he was closer to him than at any +time since the chase began. The flanks of his steed shone with +perspiration and froth, but it would not do to lag now. The lips +were compressed and the gray eye flashed fire as before. + +Ten more miles were speedily thrown behind him, and he knew he was +not far from the dusky desperado, who doubtless was continually +glancing backward in quest of pursuers; but the keen vision which +swept around every portion of the visible horizon, discovered no +sign of the thief. + +Carson anticipated some attempt on the part of the fugitive to +confuse pursuit and he, therefore, watched the hoof prints more +closely than ever. The eagle eye continually glanced from the ground +to the country in front, and then to the right and left. Nothing +escaped his vision, but when his foamy steed had thundered over +another ten miles the fugitive was still beyond sight. + +"He can't be far off," was the thought of Carson, "I'm bound to +overtake him before long." + +At that moment, he caught sight of the Indian galloping leisurely +forward, amid the stolen horses. The cunning savage, as the scout +had suspected, was constantly on the alert, and detected Carson +the same moment that he himself was discovered. Quick as a flash, +he leaped from the back of his horses and started on a swift run for +a clump of trees between him and his pursuer. The latter understood +his purpose on the instant. If the Indian could secure the shelter +of the grove, he would have his enemy at his mercy; for not only +would he be able to protect his body, while loading and firing, +but Carson himself, being in an open space, would be without the +slightest protection against his deadly aim. + +Carson cocked his rifle and driving his spurs into the flanks of +his high spirited steed, charged at full speed for the same shelter. +Whoever should reach it first would be the master. + +The Indian had much less distance to run, and was as fleet of foot +as a deer. He bounded forward with such tremendous strides, that +while the horseman was still some distance away, he plunged in among +the trees; but for the last few seconds the foes had approached each +other at a terrific pace, a result that was not only inevitable, +but desirable, to the pursuer. + +The very second the savage arrived on the margin of the grove, +he made a leap for the nearest tree from behind which he meant to +shoot his enemy; but in the very act of doing so, he was smitten +by his bullet. Without checking his animal in the slightest, Carson +had aimed and fired. + +The death screech of the savage rang out, as he leaped in the air +and tumbled prostrate to the earth, killed by the shot that was +unerring in its accuracy. The Indian himself was so near firing +his gun, that his piece was also discharged, the ball whizzing +harmlessly above the head of his pursuer. A couple of seconds delay +on the part of Carson must have proved fatal to him, for the savage +was a good marksman, and was standing still, with such a brief space +intervening, that he could not have missed. It is hard to conceive +of any escape more narrow than that of the daring mountaineer. + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +Carson Returns with the Recovered Property -- Journey to Snake +River -- Starts on a Trapping Expedition with Three Companions -- +Carson's Stirring Adventure with Two Grizzly Bears. + +Carson gathered the horses together and set out on his return. +The distance was considerable and he was compelled to encamp more +than once on the road, while he was continually exposed to attack +from Indians, but with that remarkable skill and foresight which +distinguished him when a boy, he reached home without the slightest +mishap and turned over the recovered animals to their owner. Some +days later, several trappers entered camp with the statement that +a large body of hunters were on Snake River, a fortnight's journey +distant. Captain Lee at once set out with his men and found the +company who gave them a warm welcome. They purchased all the supplies +Captain Lee had for sale, and then, as Carson's engagement with +the Captain was ended, he attached himself to the other body. He +remained, however, only a few weeks, for he saw there were so many +that they could never take enough peltries to bring much money +to the individual members. He decided to do as he had done before +-- arrange an expedition of his own. He had but to make known his +intentions, when he had more applicants than he could accept. He +selected three, who it is needless to say had no superiors in the +whole party. The little company then turned the heads of their +horses toward Laramie River. + +At that day, the section abounded with beaver, and although the +summer is not the time when their fur is in the best condition, the +party trapped on the stream and its tributaries until cold weather +set in. They met with far greater success than could have come to +them had they stayed with the principal company of trappers. But +they had no wish to spend the winter alone in the mountains and +gathering their stock together, they set out to rejoin their old +companions. + +One day, after they had gone into camp, Carson, leaving his horse +in charge of his friends, set out on foot to hunt some game for +their evening meal. They had seen no signs of Indians, though they +never forgot to be on their guard against them. Game was not very +abundant and Carson was obliged to go a long ways before he caught +sight of some elk grazing on the side of a hill. Well aware of +the difficulty of getting within gunshot of the timid animals, the +hunter advanced by a circuitous course toward a clump of trees, +which would give him the needed shelter; but while creeping toward +the point he had fixed upon as the one from which to fire, the +creatures scented danger and began moving off. This compelled him +to fire at long range, but he was successful and brought down the +finest of the group. + +The smoke was curling upward from the rifle of Carson, when he was +startled by a tremendous crashing beside him, and, turning his +head, he saw two enormous grizzly bears making for him at full +speed. They were infuriated at this invasion of their home, and +were evidently resolved on teaching the hunter better manners by +making their supper upon him. + +Carson had no time to reload his gun: had it been given him he +would have made short work of one of the brutes at least, but as +it was, he was deprived of even that privilege. Fortunate indeed +would he be if he could escape their fury. + +The grizzly bear is the most dreaded animal found on this continent. He +does not seem to feel the slightest fear of the hunter, no matter +whether armed or not, and, while other beasts are disposed to give +man a wide berth, old "Ephraim," as the frontiersmen call him, always +seems eager to attack him. His tenacity of life is extraordinary. +Unless pierced in the head or heart, he will continue his struggles +after a dozen or score of rifle balls have been buried in his body. +So terrible is the grizzly bear, that an Indian can be given no +higher honor than the privilege of wearing a necklace made from his +claws -- that distinction being permitted only to those who have +slain one of the animals in single handed combat. + +No one understood the nature of these beasts better than Kit Carson +and he knew that if either of the animals once got his claws upon +him, there would not be the faintest chance of escape. The only +thing therefore that could be done was to run. + +There were not wanting men who were fleeter of foot than Carson, +but few could have overtaken him when he made for the trees on which +all his hopes depended. Like the blockade runner, closely pursued +by the man of war, he threw overboard all the cargo that could +impede his speed. His long, heavy rifle was flung aside, and the +short legs of the trapper doubled under him with amazing quickness +as he strove as never before to reach the grove. + +Fortunately the latter was not far off, and, though the fierce +beasts gained rapidly upon him, Carson arrived among the timber a +few steps in advance. He had no time even to select the tree, else +he would have chosen a different one, but making a flying leap, +he grasped the lowermost limb and swung upward, at the moment the +foremost grizzly was beneath him. So close in truth was his pursuer +that the hunter distinctly felt the sweeping blow of his paw aimed +at the leg which whisked beyond his reach just in the nick of time. + +But the danger was not over by any means. The enthusiastic style +in which the bears entered into the proceedings proved they did +not mean that any trifles should stop them. They were able to climb +the tree which supported Carson, and he did not lose sight of the +fact. Whipping out his hunting knife, he hurriedly cut off a short +thick branch and trimmed it into a shape that would have made a +most excellent shillelagh for a native of the Green Isle. + +He had hardly done so, when the heads of the bruins were thrust +upward almost against his feet. Carson grasped the club with both +hands and raising it above his shoulders brought it down with all +his might upon the nose of the foremost. The brute sniffed with +pain, threw up his head and drew back a few inches -- just enough +to place the other nose in front. At that instant, a resounding +whack landed on the rubber snout and the second bear must have felt +a twinge all through his body. + +Though each blow caused the recipient to recoil, yet he instantly +returned, so that Carson was kept busy pounding the noses as if he +was an old fashioned farmer threshing wheat with a flail. + +It was a question with Carson which would last the longer -- the +club or the snouts, but in the hope of getting beyond their reach, +he climbed to the topmost bough, where he crouched into the smallest +possible space. It was idle, however, to hope they would overlook +him, for they pushed on up the tree which swayed with their weight. + +The nose of the grizzly bear is one of the most sensitive portions +of his body, and the vigorous thumps which the hunter brought down +upon them, brought tears of pain to their eyes. But while they +suffered, they were roused to fury by the repeated rebuffs, and +seemed all the more set on crunching the flesh and bones of the +insignificant creature who defied them. + +It must have been exasperating beyond imagination to the gigantic +beasts, who feared neither man nor animal to find themselves +repeatedly baffled by a miserable being whom they could rend to +pieces with one blow of their paws, provided they could approach +nigh enough to reach him. + +They came up again and again; they would draw back so as to avoid +those stinging strokes, sniff, growl and push upward, more eager +than ever to clutch the poor fellow, who was compressing himself +between the limb and the trunk, and raining his blows with the +persistency of a pugilist. + +They were finally forced to desist for a few minutes in order to +give their snouts time to regain their tone. The bulky creatures +looked at each other and seemed to say, "That's a mighty queer +customer up there; he doesn't fight fairly, but we'll fetch him +yet." + +Once more and for the last time, they returned to the charge, but +the plucky scout was awaiting them, and his club whizzed through +the air like the piston rod of a steam engine. The grizzlies found +it more than they could stand, and tumbling back to solid earth +they gave up the contract in disgust. Carson tarried where he was +until they were beyond sight, when he descended and hastily caught +up and reloaded his rifle, having escaped, as he always declared, +by the narrowest chance of all his life. + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +On the Green River -- In the Blackfoot Country -- The Blackfeet +-- An Unwelcome Visit -- The Pursuit and Parley -- Dissolution of +the Peace Congress. + +The day was drawing to a close when Carson set out for camp, which +was not reached until after dark. His companions did not feel any +special alarm over his continued absence, for the good reason that +they were confident he could take care of himself no matter in what +labyrinth of peril he might become involved. + +It was too late to send for the carcass of the elk and more than +likely it had already been devoured by wolves. So the trappers made +their breakfast on one of the beavers found in their traps, and +went into camp to await the arrival of the main body of trappers, +which Carson was confident would come that way. Some days later +they put in an appearance, and the company proceeded to the general +rendezvous on Green River, where were found assembled the principal +trappers of the Rocky Mountains. There were fully two hundred +divided into two camps. What a history could have been written from +the thrilling experiences of such a body of men! + +They had gathered at the rendezvous to buy what supplies they needed +and to dispose of their peltries. It was several weeks before the +negotiations were over, when the assemblage broke up into smaller +companies which started for their destinations hundreds of miles +apart. + +Carson joined a party numbering about fifty who intended to trap +near the headwaters of the Missouri. Hundreds of beavers had been +taken in that section, but poor success went with the large band +of which Carson was a member. That was bad enough, but they were +in a neighborhood which, it may be said, was the very heart of the +Blackfoot country, and those hostiles were never more active and +vigilant in their warfare against the invaders. + +The Blackfeet or Satsika today, are the most westerly tribe of the +Algonquin family of Indians, extending from the Hudson Bay to the +Missouri and Yellowstone. They number over 12,000 warriors about +equally divided between Montana and British America. They have +always been a daring and warlike people, and the early explorers +of the Far West probably met with more trouble from them than from +any other tribe on the continent. + +Carson and his companions ran in difficulty at once. The Blackfeet +seemed to swarm through the woods, and sent in their treacherous +shots from the most unexpected quarters. Whoever made the round +of the traps in the morning was almost certain to be fired upon. +Matters became so bad that after a time the trappers decided to +leave the country. Accordingly they made their way to the Big Snake +River where they went into quarters for the winter. Even there they +were not safe from molestation at the hands of their old enemies +the Blackfeet. + +One night, when there was no moon or stars, a band of warriors +stole into camp and ran off about twenty of the best horses. This +outrage touched the hunters in the most sensitive part of their +nature, and the truth no sooner became known than they unanimously +agreed that the animals not only should be recovered but the +audacious aggressors should be chastised. + +Twelve men were selected for the most difficult and dangerous task +and need we give the name of the youth who was made the leader? + +With his usual promptness, Carson took the trail which was followed +without trouble over the snow. The Blackfeet had reason to fear +some such demonstration, and they hurried off with such speed that +they were not overtaken until fifty miles from camp. + +The situation was a novel one. The Indians had come to a halt and +the horses were grazing on the side of a hill where the wind had +blown away the snow. The Blackfeet had on snowshoes which gave +them an advantage over the trappers. The latter galloped in the +direction of their horses, the moment they caught sight of them. The +Blackfeet fired at the trappers, who returned a scattering volley +but no one was hurt on either side. Then followed skirmishing and +manoeuvering for several minutes, without either party gaining +advantage. Finally the Blackfeet asked for a parley to which the +trappers assented. + +In accordance with the usual custom, one of the Indians advanced +to a point midway between the two parties and halted. At the same +time, one of the trappers went forward, the rest of the whites and +red men keeping their distance and watching them. + +The Blackfoot opened business by what might be termed an apology +which was no more genuine than many made by his civilized brethren +under somewhat similar circumstances. He expressed great surprise to +learn that the horses belonged to their good friends the trappers. +They had supposed all along that they were the property of the Snake +Indians whom the Blackfeet considered it their duty to despoil on +every suitable occasion. + +This glaring misrepresentation did not deceive the man who was +acting as spokesman for his side. By way of reply, he asked that +if such was the case, why had not the Blackfeet come forward on +discovering their mistake, greeted their white brothers as friends +and returned their property to them. + +The replies were evasive and the hunters became convinced that the +Indians were seeking to gain time for some sinister purpose; but a +full parley having been agreed upon, both parties left their guns +behind and advanced to where their representatives were holding +their interview. + +The Blackfeet still professed the most ardent friendship, and as an +emphatic token of the same, produced the calumet and began smoking +the pipe of peace. The tobacco having been lit, each took several +whiffs and then passed it to his neighbor, who did the same until +the round was completed. This solemn pledge of good will having +been exchanged, the convention or peace congress was opened as may +be said, in due and ancient form. + +Carson and his companions were distrustful from the start, though +it was hard for them to decide the meaning of the prolonged +negotiations, since no one could see what the Blackfeet were to +gain by such a course. They may have hoped to deceive the hunters +and throw them off their guard, but, if such was the case, they +failed. + +First of all, the leading warriors indulged in several long speeches +which were without point, but what was said in reply could admit of +no doubt as to its meaning. The trappers understood the Blackfoot +tongue well enough to make their responses models in the way of +brevity and force. They said that it was idle to talk of friendship +or peace until the stolen property was returned to its owners. The +Indians still attempted to postpone or evade, but the complainants +were in no mood for trifling and they repeated their declaration +more positively than before. + +The Blackfeet were much more numerous than the whites, and confident +of their strength, began to bluster and to assert that whatever +they did would be dictated by their own wishes and not by any fear +of their visitors. Whether they desired to avoid a fight or not +can only be conjectured, but they finally sent back to where the +horses were tethered and caused five of the worst to be picked out +and brought forward. + +When the trappers inquired the meaning of this proceeding, the +Indians said that it was the best they could do and the hunters +must be content. + +This last insult was the spark which exploded the magazine. Instantly +every white man ran for his gun, and the Blackfeet did the same. A +few seconds after they wheeled about and the sanguinary fight began. + +Kit Carson and a companion were the first to obtain their guns and +as a consequence they led the advance. Each selected a warrior who +was partially hidden by the trunk of a tree. Carson was in the act +of firing, when he observed that his friend was examining the lock +of his gun all unmindful of the fact that one of the Blackfeet had +levelled his weapon directly at his breast. On the instant, Kit +changed his aim and shot the savage dead, thereby saving the life +of his friend, who could not have escaped had the weapon of his +adversary been discharged. + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +Carson Badly Wounded -- A Drawn Battle -- An Ineffectual Pursuit +-- The Summer Rendezvous -- Carson's Duel. + +This act of chivalry on the part of Carson simply transferred the +peril of his friend to himself, for the Indian whom he had selected +for his target was carefully sighting at him, at the very moment +the gun was discharged. Kit saw what was coming and bounded to one +side in the hope of dodging the bullet. Quick as he was, however, +he did not entirely succeed, though the act doubtless saved his +life. The ball from the rifle of his adversary grazed his neck and +buried itself in his shoulder, shattering the head of one of the +bones. + +Carson though badly hurt, did not fall or retreat. On the contrary, +he tried desperately to reload his gun, but found it impossible +to raise his arm. He was hors de combat beyond all question, and +bleeding so fast that his weakness compelled him to lie down on the +ground while the conflict went on about him. The fight was very +hot for a time, the result being what may be called a drawn battle, +with the advantage inclining to the side of the Indians. The trappers +fell back to the safest place that presented itself and went into +camp. They dared not start a fire; for they knew it would bring an +attack from the Indians, but wrapping their saddle blankets around +them, they bore the intense cold as best they could. + +The sufferings of Carson were great. His wounds continued bleeding +and froze upon the dressings, which were of the most primitive +character. And yet not once through those hours of anguish did he +utter a word of complaint. Many a strong man would have cried out +in his agony, but one might have sat within arm's length of the +mountaineer without knowing he was hurt at all. + +More than that, Carson took his part in the council which was +held in the cold and darkness. The conclusion reached was that the +party of trappers were not strong enough to pursue the Blackfeet, +and the proper course to pursue was to rejoin the main body and +report what had been done. It would then be time enough to decide +upon their future action. + +When this programme was carried out, a larger party of hunters +under the lead of an experienced mountaineer resumed the pursuit; +but nothing could be found of the savages. They had utilized the +grace allowed them so well that it was impossible to overtake or +trace them, and the indignant trappers were obliged to submit to +their loss. + +The severe cold moderated, and, as spring was close at hand the +hunters pushed their trapping operations along the Green and Snake +Rivers, meeting with unbounded success. They gathered more peltries +than they had dared to hope for, and when warm weather approached, +went into quarters where they remained until the following fall, +a party of traders having brought them all the supplies they needed. + +The rugged constitution of Carson and his temperate habits caused +him speedily to recover from his severe wound. He again became the +active, vigilant, keen witted guide and hunter who was looked up +to by all as the most consummate master of woodcraft that had ever +been known in the west. + +Such a large party as were gathered at the summer rendezvous was +certain to include many varieties of people. The frank, brave and +open hearted, the sly and treacherous, the considerate and courteous, +the quarrelsome and overbearing -- indeed the temperaments of the +individuals composing the company were as varied as it is possible +to imagine. + +Among them was a powerful Frenchman known as Captain Shunan. He had +won his title by hard fighting, possessed a magnificent physique, +was brave and skilled in the use of arms, and was the most quarrelsome +individual in camp. It is impossible to picture a more irascible +and disagreeable personage than Captain Shunan, who appeared to +spend all his spare time in trying to provoke quarrels with those +around him. Sometimes he succeeded, but more often his insolence +was submitted to by men as brave as he, but who wished to avoid +trouble with him. + +The activity and strength of the Frenchman were so great that a +skilful pugilist would have found difficulty in handling him. The +only ground upon which he could be met with anything like fairness +was where firearms were used. + +On one of these occasions, the bully became unbearable in his +behavior. He knocked down several weak and inoffensive persons, +and swaggered back and forth through camp, boasting that he could +trounce any one there. In the midst of his bluster, Carson walked +up in front of him and said in a voice loud enough to be heard by +those around: + +"Captain Shunan, there are plenty here who can easily chastise you, +but they prefer to submit to your impudence for the sake of peace: +however, we have had enough and now I notify you to stop at once +or I shall kill you!" + +These were astounding words, and, as may be supposed, when uttered +by a man six inches shorter and many pounds lighter than the +blustering Captain, they fairly took away his breath. Carson spoke +in his quiet, soft voice, as though there was not the least cause +for excitement; but those who knew him, noted the flash of his +clear, gray eye and understood his deadly earnestness. + +Captain Shunan was infuriated by the words of Carson. As soon as +he could recover himself, he turned about and without speaking a +word, walked to his quarters. Kit did not need be told what that +meant. He did the same, walking to his own lodge, from which he +speedily emerged holding a single barrel pistol. He was so anxious +to be on the ground in time, that he caught up the first weapon +that presented itself. + +Almost at the same moment, Captain Shunan appeared with his rifle. +Carson observed him, and, though he could have secured without +difficulty a similar weapon, he did not do so. He was willing to +give his burly antagonist the advantage, if it should prove such. +The other trappers as may be supposed, watched the actions of the +two men with breathless interest. The quarrel had taken such a course +that they were convinced that one or the other of the combatants +would be killed. Captain Shunan had been so loud in his boasts that +he did not dare swallow the insult, put on him by the fragile Kit +Carson. Had he done so, he would have been hooted out of camp and +probably lynched. + +As for Kit, his courage was beyond suspicion. He feared no man and +was sure to acquit himself creditably no matter in what circumstances +he was placed. He was the most popular member of the large company, +while his antagonist was the most detested; but the love of fair +play was such that no one would interfere, no matter how great the +need for doing so. + +The duellists, as they may be called, mounted each his horse and +circling about the plain, speedily headed toward each other and +dashed forward on a dead run. As they approached, they reined up +and halted face to face, within arm's length. + +Looking his antagonist straight in the eye, Carson demanded: + +"Are you looking for me?" + +"Have you any business with me?" + +"No," growled the savage Frenchman; but, while the words were in +his mouth, brought his rifle to his shoulder, and, pointing it at +the breast of Carson, pulled the trigger; but Kit expected some +such treacherous act, and, before the gun could be fired, he threw +up his pistol and discharged it as may be said, across the barrel +of the leveled weapon. + +The ball broke the forearm of Captain Shunan, at the very moment he +discharged his gun. The shock diverted the aim so that the bullet +grazed his scalp, inflicting a trifling wound; but the combatants +were so close that the powder of the rifle scorched the face of +the mountaineer. + +Captain Shunan had been badly worsted, and was disabled for weeks +afterward. He accepted his fate without complaint and was effectually +cured of his overbearing manner toward his associates. + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +On the Yellowstone -- Repeated Disappointments -- Carson Enters the +Employ of a Hudson Bay Trader -- Poor Success -- A Trying Journey +-- Arrival at Fort Hall -- The American Buffalo or Bison. + +With the approach of cool weather, preparations were made for the +fall hunt. When all was ready, the trappers headed for the Yellowstone, +which was reached without mishap, and they immediately set their +traps. The country as a rule, was a good one for those valuable +animals, but the visitors were disappointed to learn they were +unusually scarce. + +When it became evident that it was useless to work on the Yellowstone, +they gathered up their traps and made their way to the Big Horn, +but, failing again, tried their fortunes on other rivers in that +vicinity with no better results. + +It was while engaged in this discouraging work that they met +a trader belonging to the Hudson Bay Company. He had been pushing +operations in every direction, but the stories he told were of the +same general tenor as those of the larger party. He had been as +unsuccessful in the way of trade as they had been in catching the +fur bearing animals. + +The Hudson Bay trader, however, was confident he could succeed +where they had failed, and he made such liberal offers to Carson +that he and several of his companions accepted them on the spot. + +The first point which they visited was the Humboldt River, from +which had come reports of the abundance of beavers. They began near +the head waters of the stream, and carefully trapped down to the +Great Basin. Meeting with only moderate success, they made their +way to Big Snake River. After remaining there a considerable time, +the party divided, the Hudson Bay trader and his friends going +northward toward Fort Walla Walla, while Carson and the larger +number set out for Fort Hall. + +The journey thither was one of the most distressing which Kit +Carson ever undertook. The country through which most of the march +led is one of the most dismal wastes on the American continent. +Except in extent, a journey across it is similar to that of the +parched caravans across the flaming sands of Sahara. Carson and his +companions were accustomed to all manner of privations, but more +than once their endurance was tried to the utmost point. + +The trappers had gathered some nutritious roots upon which they +managed to subsist for a time, but these soon gave out, and their +situation grew desperate. When almost famishing they bled their +mules and drank the warm current. They would have killed one of +the animals, but for the fact that they could not spare it, and, +as there was no calculating how long the others would last, they +were afraid to take the step, which was likely to cripple them +fatally. + +This strange source of nourishment served them for the time, but +a repetition would endanger the lives of their animals, who were +also in sore straits, inasmuch as the grass was not only poor but +very scanty. Matters rapidly grew worse, and soon became so desperate +that Carson said they would have to kill one of their animals or +else lie down and perish themselves. + +At this trying crisis, they discovered a band of Indians approaching. +Perhaps the hapless situation in which all were placed left no room +for enmity, for the red men showed a friendly disposition. The high +hopes of Carson and his friends were chilled when it was found that +the Indians were in about as bad a plight as themselves. They had +barely a mouthful of food among them, and, when besought to barter +with the whites, they shook their heads. They had nothing to trade, +and, while they felt no hostility toward the suffering trappers, +they gave them to understand they could not afford any help at all. + +But Carson had fixed his eyes on a plump old horse, and never did +a shrewd New Englander apply himself more persistently to secure a +prize than did he. Kit's companions put forth all their powers of +persuasion, but in vain, and they advised Carson that he was throwing +away his efforts in attempting the impossible. + +But Carson succeeded, and when the equine was slaughtered and +broiled, the trappers enjoyed one of the most delicious feasts +of their lives. They filled themselves to repletion and felt that +the enjoyment it brought was almost worth the suffering they had +undergone to obtain it. + +When their strength was recruited, they resumed their journey and +a few days later reached Fort Hall. There they found abundance of +food and received a cordial welcome. In a brief while they were as +strong as ever and eager for any new enterprise. + +Hundreds of bisons were in the neighborhood of the fort and Carson +and his friends slew them by the score. Indeed they kept the post +well supplied with fresh meet as long as they remained there. + +The animal almost universally known as the "buffalo" is miscalled, +his correct name being the "bison," of which there are droves +numbering, it is said, as high as a hundred thousand. The flesh +is held in high repute by hunters, and not only is nourishing but +possesses the valuable quality of not cloying the appetite. The +most delicate portion of the animal is the hump which gives the +peculiar appearance to his back. That and the tongue and marrow +bones are frequently the only portions made use of by the hunter. + +The hide answers many useful purposes. All know how much a "buffalo +robe" is appreciated in wintry weather by those exposed to cold. +It serves to form the Indian's tents, his bed, parts of his dress +and is sometimes made into a shield which will turn aside a rifle +ball that does not strike it fairly. + +Hundreds of thousands of bisons are killed annually -- myriads of them +in pure wantonness -- and yet enormous droves may be encountered +today in many portions of the west, where it is hard for the +experienced hunters to detect any decrease in their numbers. + +Some of the methods employed to slay bisons are cruel in the +extreme. Many a time a large herd has been stampeded in the direction +of some precipice. When the leaders found themselves on the edge, +they have endeavored to recoil; but there was no stemming the tide +behind them. The terrified animals literally pushed the leaders over +the rocks and then tumbled upon them. In a little while the gully +or stream would be choked with the furiously struggling creatures +and hundreds would be killed within a few minutes. + +The bison is as fond as the hog of wallowing in mud. When he comes +upon a marshy spot he lies down and rolls about until he has worn +out a large and shallow excavation into which the water oozes +through the damp soil. Lying down again he rolls and turns until +he is plastered from head to tail with mud. Though it cannot be +said that it adds to his attractiveness, yet the coating no doubt +serves well as a protection against the swarms of insects, which +are sometimes terrible enough to sting animals to death. + +Those who have viewed the scraggy specimens in the menageries and +zoological gardens would scarcely suspect the activity and power +of running possessed by them. The body is covered with such an +abundance of hair that it looks larger than it really is, while +the legs appear smaller. But the bison not only can run swiftly, +but possesses great endurance. They will often dash at full speed +over ground so rough that the more graceful horse will stumble. + +When wounded by the hunters, a bull will sometimes turn in desperation +on his persecutor. Then, unless the horse is well trained, serious +consequences are likely to follow. The plunging thrust of his stumpy +horns perhaps rips open the steed, sending the rider flying over +the back of the furious bison, who may turn upon him and slay him +before he can escape. + +This rarely happens, however, the bison being a huge, cowardly +creature which prefers to run rather than fight, and a hunt of the +game in these days often takes the character of wholesale butchery +in which no true sportsman would engage. + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +A Strange Occurrence -- Arrival of Friends -- Carson Joins a Large +Company -- Trapping on the Yellowstone -- The Blackfeet -- A Dreadful +Scourge -- In Winter Quarters -- The Friendly Crow Indians -- Loss +of Two Trappers -- On the Head Waters of the Missouri. + +A singular occurrence took place a few nights after the return of +Carson and his friends from an extended bison hunt. Their horses +and mules were corralled near the post and a sentinel was on duty +at all hours of the night to prevent the animals being stolen by +the Indians who were always prowling through the neighborhood. + +In the dim uncertain light, just beyond midnight, the sentinel saw +two men walk forward from the darkness, and without any appearance +of haste, let down the bars and drive out the stock. Very naturally +he concluded they were his friends who intended to take out the +animals to graze. As there was nothing more for him to do, he sought +his quarters, lay down and went to sleep. + +In the morning not a horse or a mule was to be found. The two +individuals who had let down the bars and driven them out, were +Blackfeet Indians, whose complete success was due to their amazing +audacity. Had they shown any hesitation or haste, the suspicions +of the sentinel would have been aroused, but when the truth became +known, he was the most astonished man at the fort. + +The hunters were in a most sorry plight, for the Blackfeet having +made a clean sweep, they were without the means of pursuing and +recovering their property. The parties who belonged at the fort +had suffered a somewhat similar trick a short time before from the +same tribe, so that only a few rickety horses remained in their +possession. + +Under the circumstances, the trappers were compelled to accept their +misfortune with grim philosophy, and await the arrival of the rest +of the party, who had promised to rejoin them after completing +their business at Fort Walla Walla. + +Sure enough, a few weeks later, their friends appeared and +providentially indeed they brought with them an extra supply of +excellent horses. The trappers were in overflowing spirits once +more and soon started for the general rendezvous on Green River. + +Other trappers continued to arrive for a number of days, until +about all that were expected had come in. Trade and barter then +began and lasted some three weeks. The scene was picturesque and +stirring and there was much hand shaking and pleasant wishes when +the time came to separate. + +Kit Carson left the employ of the Hudson Bay Company trader +and attached himself to a party numbering fully a hundred who had +determined to trap along the Yellowstone. It will be recalled that +Carson once quit a company of trappers because it was too large, +and it may be wondered why he should join one that was still more +numerous. The reason he did so was because they were going into the +very heart of the Blackfoot country. They had suffered so much from +these daring marauders that they knew there would be no safety +unless they went in strong force. Furthermore, the whites had +so many old scores to settle with those redskins that they meant +to invite attack from them. If the Blackfeet would only offer the +opportunity for battle, the trappers meant to give them their fill. + +The formidable company arranged matters according to a system. +Dividing into two equal parties, the duty of one was made to trap +beaver, while the other furnished food and guarded the property. +By this means, they would always be in shape to meet their sworn +foes, while the real business which brought them into the country +would not be neglected. + +The hunters were confident they would not be left alone very long. +The Blackfeet would resent the invasion of their hunting grounds, +and to say the least, would take measures to prevent the time +hanging heavily on the hands of the pale faces. + +But, to the astonishment of the trappers, the days passed without +bringing a glimpse of the savages. No hostile shot awoke the +impressive stillness of the wilderness. Could it be the Blackfeet +were seeking to throw the whites off their guard? Did they expect +to induce a degree of carelessness that would enable the Blackfeet +to gather their warriors and overwhelm them before they could reply? + +It was not reasonable to suppose that the sagacious tribe held any +such belief, for they could not have failed to know that any such +hope was idle. + +But the explanation came one day by a party of friendly Crow +Indians, who stated that the small pox was raging with such awful +virulence among the Blackfeet that they were dying by hundreds and +thousands. Indeed, the havoc was so dreadful that there was reason +to believe the whole tribe would be swept away. + +It would not be the first time that such an annihilation has taken +place among the American Indians. The treatment required by that +frightful disease is precisely the opposite of that which the red +man in his ignorance pursues. When small pox breaks out among them, +therefore, the mortality becomes appalling. + +The Crow Indians affiliated with the trappers and guided them to a +secluded valley, where they established themselves for the winter. +The lodges were made strong and substantial, and it was fortunate +that such precautions were taken, for the winter proved one of +the severest known for many years. With their abundance of fuel, +they kept enormous fires going and passed the days and nights in +comparative comfort. + +But it was far different with their stock. During the severe +weather, the only food that could be obtained was the bark of the +cottonwood. The inner lining of this is quite palatable to animals +and in cases of extremity it affords temporary sustenance to men. +With its help actual starvation was kept away, though it came very +close. + +Unusual weather always brings unusual experience, and the intense +cold developed an annoyance to the trappers upon which they had +not counted. The difficulty of finding food was felt by the wild +animals as well as domestic, and the bisons became desperate. When +they saw the horses eating their fodder, they rushed forward and +with lowered heads drove them away. If a horse or mule refused, he +was likely to be gored to death. + +The beasts finally became so numerous and fierce they would have +killed all the stock of our friends if they had not kindled large +fires and mounted constant guard. When the weather moderated those +annoyances ended. + +Had any explorer of the west found his way to the secluded valley +where the trappers were in winter quarters, he would have looked +upon a striking scene. The Crow Indians and white men engaged in +numerous athletic sports in friendly rivalry. They maintained the +best of terms, and when the bisons departed, the strange community +enjoyed themselves far better than would be supposed. In truth where +they were favored with such rugged health and where they had plenty +of food and comfortable quarters, it would have been remarkable +had they not been comparatively happy. They were not disturbed by +political discussions or diversity of views on any public questions +and were satisfied that the glorious Union was safe without any +worriment on their part. + +When spring came, two of their party were sent to Fort Laramie to +procure needed supplies. They went off well mounted and armed and +were never heard of again. Somewhere in the recesses of the forest +or mountain, the Blackfeet had probably killed them as they had done +with many a brave man before, and as they have done with multitudes +since. + +When it became certain the messengers had been slain, the company +began the spring hunt without them. After trapping a brief while +on the Yellowstone, they worked their way to the head waters of +the Missouri. They met with fair success and while engaged in that +section, learned that the reports of the ravages of the small pox +among the Blackfeet had been greatly exaggerated. Instead of being +decimated, the tribe had not suffered to any serious extent and +were as strong and aggressive as ever. + +The trappers were not displeased to learn that such was the case, +for they desired a settlement of accounts with them. Under such +circumstances it was impossible that hostilities should be long +delayed. + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +A Fierce Battle with the Blackfeet -- Daring Act of Kit Carson -- +Arrival of the Reserves and End of the Battle. + +When near the head waters of the Missouri, the trappers discovered +they were approaching the principal village of the Blackfeet. They +determined to attack and punish the Indians who had caused them +so much trouble and suffering; but the whites were so numerous and +powerful that extreme care was necessary to prevent their presence +becoming known. + +When a number of miles from the village, the trappers came to a halt, +and Kit Carson with several men was sent forward to reconnoitre. +With extreme caution they made their way to a point from which they +could overlook the village. + +A glance showed the Indians hurriedly making ready to move elsewhere. +The shrewd red men had discovered their danger before their enemies +caught sight of them. Carson galloped back as rapidly as he could, +and made known what had been seen. A council was hastily called +and about half the company advanced to give the Blackfeet battle. +Kit Carson, as might be supposed, was made the leader. The others +were to guard the property, advance slowly and act as reserve, +which could be hurried forward should it become necessary. + +As agreed upon, Kit Carson galloped ahead, and the moment his men +came in sight of the village, they dashed through it, killing a +number of warriors. The others slowly fell back, fighting as they +went, and without showing the least panic. They received charge +after charge of the white men, with the steadiness of veterans. By +and by the eagerness of the trappers reduced their ammunition and +their firing became less destructive. The Blackfeet were quick to +perceive the cause, and in turn they charged upon their assailants +who became immediately involved in a desperate hand to hand fight. +It was then the small arms in the possession of the whites played +their part. They were used with such effect, that the fierce warriors +were compelled once more to retreat. + +But the courageous red men recoiled a short distance only, when they +halted and then, with exultant yells, dashed toward the trappers, +who despite all they could do, were forced back until it looked as +if the whole party would be overwhelmed and destroyed. + +On this retreat, one of the horses belonging to the hunters was +shot, and plunged to the ground so suddenly that his rider was caught +before he could spring from the saddle. Several of the warriors +were quick to perceive his sore straits, and dashed toward him, +eager to secure his scalp. The poor fellow struggled desperately, +but could not extricate himself, and his expression of horrified +despair when he perceived the fierce red men running a race with +each other to reach him, would have melted the heart of almost any +one. + +Carson was several rods distant, but seeing the danger of his +friend, he bounded out of his saddle, and shouted to the others to +rally to the defence of their imperilled comrade. Kit raised his +rifle while on the run and shot the leading warrior dead. The other +whites were so close behind that the remaining Blackfeet whirled +and ran for their lives. Several of them were shot down before they +could reach the shelter of the rocks from behind which they sprang +after the fallen white man. + +Carson's devotion to his friend now placed him in an unpleasant if +not dangerous situation. His steed being without restraint, galloped +off beyond his reach, and the commander was thus left on foot, when +there was urgent need that he should be mounted. + +Meanwhile the mountaineer who was caught under the body of his +horse, was struggling desperately to withdraw his imprisoned leg, +for there was no saying when the Blackfeet would be upon him again. +He succeeded at last, and, standing upon his feet, shook himself +together, as may be said, and he found that though pretty badly +bruised, no bones were broken, and he was able to do his full part +in the serious duty before him. + +The exciting episode benefited the trappers in one respect: it served +to check the seemingly resistless rush of the Blackfeet and gave +the others a chance to rally and fix upon some course of action. + +Carson ran rapidly toward the nearest horseman and sprang upon the +back of his animal behind him. The steed was forced to his best +and speedily joined the main body a short distance off. It was +fortunate that just at that moment there came a lull in the furious +fighting, else Carson could scarcely have escaped so well. The +runaway horse was pursued by one of the mountaineers who finally +cornered and brought him back to their leader. + +The Blackfeet did not follow the whites, nor did the latter return +to their charge against them. Both parties had gained a thorough +taste of each other's mettle, and the conclusion reached was like +that of two trained pugilists -- their strength was so nearly equal +that neither could afford to throw away his advantage by leading +in the assault. + +Undoubtedly Carson and his men would have withdrawn but for the +hope that the reserves were close at hand. The trappers had fought +valiantly but not more so than the Indians, who still possessed +plenty ammunition while that of the whites was nearly exhausted. +Had they advanced and encountered the warriors again, the latter +would have swept everything before them. As it was, the mountaineers +were by no means safe even when acting on the defensive. If the red +men should charge upon them with their old time fierceness, it was +by no means certain they would not destroy the whites. The fight +would necessarily be of the most sanguinary nature, but when guns +and small arms were useless for lack of ammunition, nothing short +of a miracle could save them from annihilation. + +Several hours had gone and Carson and his men wondered what +could delay the reserves. Time always passes slowly to those in +waiting, and to some of the hunters the tardiness of their friends +was unaccountable. Carson was on the point of sending messengers +back to hurry them forward, when the whole party appeared and the +situation changed. + +But those who expected the Blackfeet to flee in panic when they +observed the doubling of the assailing forces, were much mistaken. +The feeling among the Indians could not be described as in the least +"panicky." They quietly surveyed the new arrivals and prepared with +the coolness of veterans for the conflict that was sure to come, +within the next few minutes. + +The powder was distributed among the trappers, who were more eager +than ever to attack their old enemies, who were as ready as they +for the conflict. Nearly two hundred yards separated the combatants, +when the mountaineers, leaving their horses behind, advanced on +foot. The Blackfeet stationed themselves behind rocks and trees +and defiantly awaited the attack. + +In a few minutes the most savage fight of the day was raging. A +hundred rifles were flashing in every direction and the yells of +the red men mingled with the shouts of the excited mountaineers. + +As the warriors had used every means to shelter themselves, it +was necessary to dislodge them before they could be driven back. +Without remaining together in a compact mass, the trappers made +for them with the fierceness of tigers. + +The result of this charge were a number of remarkable combats. A +hunter would dash at a warrior crouching behind some rock, and the +two would begin dodging, advancing, retreating, firing, striking +and manoeuvering against each other. Sometimes one would succeed and +sometimes the other. The Blackfoot, finding the situation becoming +too hot, would break for other cover and probably would be shot on +the run or would escape altogether. Again, it would be the white +man who would be just a second too late in discharging his gun and +would pay the penalty with his life. + +At last the Indians began falling back and the mountaineers pushing +them hard, they finally broke and fled in a wild panic, leaving +many dead behind them. On the part of the trappers three had been +killed and quite a number badly wounded. + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +At Brown's Hole -- Trading in the Navajoe Country -- Carson Serves +as Hunter at Brown's Hole -- Trapping in the Black Hills -- On +the Yellowstone -- Fight with the Blackfeet -- Their Retreat to +an Island -- Their Flight During the Night -- An Imposing Array of +Warriors. + +The fight between the Blackfeet and trappers was one of the most +important in which Kit Carson, previous to the late war, was ever +engaged. The forces must have included several hundred, and the +lesson administered to the aggressive red men was remembered by +them a long time. + +After burying their dead, looking after the wounded and setting +matters to rights, the hunters resumed trapping through the Blackfoot +country. They were scarcely disturbed by their old enemies who +dreaded rousing the resentment of such a formidable body of daring +and unerring marksmen. + +Our friends were very successful, and, when they made their way +to the rendezvous, a week's journey away, they carried with them +an immense stock of peltries. When the trading was finished, the +parties made new combinations and departed in different directions. +Instead of attaching himself to a large company, Kit Carson and +seven choice spirits started for a trading post known at that time +as Brown's Hole. They reached there just in time for the leader to +join an expedition, numbering only two beside himself, which went +into the Navajoe country for purposes of barter. The venture proved +a great success and Carson drifted back again to Brown's Hole. +There such liberal offers were made him to serve as hunter for the +fort, that he accepted and entered upon his rather singular, but +exceedingly congenial duties. + +These, as the reader must know, simply consisted of keeping +the garrison supplied with all the meat they needed. Though the +country was noted for its fine game, it required much time, skill +and patience for Carson to make sure that none of the vigorous +appetites at the post suffered. No one could have done better +and very few as well as he. When spring came, and he gave up his +position, he was complimented by those whom he left behind on the +admirable manner in which he had met all requirements. + +During those years there was much similarity in the life and +experience of Kit Carson. He had become known all through the west +and southwest as the most daring, sagacious and brilliant leader in +that country. His services were in demand wherever he went, and as +he was in the enjoyment of perfect health, overrunning with life +and activity, he made money rapidly and showed his wisdom by laying +aside a respectable sum for a rainy day. + +In the spring following his engagement at Brown's Hole, he went with +a small party to the Black Hills, where they were quite successful +in hunting. Later in the summer they joined the main body of trappers +on Green River. All meeting at the general rendezvous on a branch +of the Wind River. Still later, the majority of the trappers went +into winter quarters on the Yellowstone. They were again in the +country of their bitter enemies, the Blackfeet, and were certain +of a fight with them; but several months passed without molestation. + +One day, however, several of the trappers who were making the +rounds of the traps, came upon signs which showed they were close +to a strong force of the Blackfeet. The men lost no time in hurrying +back to camp with the news, where it was agreed that trouble was +at hand. + +Forty men were selected at once to hunt out the Indians and engage +them in battle. It goes without saying, that Kit Carson was made the +leader and there was not a moment's unnecessary delay in starting +out to find the enemy. + +They were successful in their search. They suddenly found themselves in +the presence of a scouting party, who were undoubtedly looking for +them; but perceiving the strength of the whites, they began retreating. +Carson and his men pressed them hotly, when, as anticipated, they +fell back on the main body and one of the old fashioned battles +between trappers and Indians began. + +The Blackfeet always fight bravely, and, for a time, they held +their ground well, but they were forced to give way and retired to +a small island in the Yellowstone, where they had thrown up rude +fortifications and felt able to hold their own against a much +superior force. + +Darkness closed in upon the contending forces, and the assailants +ceased firing and encamped for the night on the bank of the river. +They were on the qui vive through the still hours, and so eager +for the attack that with the earliest streakings of light in the +east, they plunged into the stream and made for the barricades. It +was not to be supposed that the Blackfeet would be taken off their +guard, and the trappers expected to reach the defences through a +hot fusillade from the dusky defenders. + +To their surprise, however, not a single gun was discharged and +they rushed pell mell over the rugged fortifications to engage +the enemy in hand to hand conflict. To their chagrin, however, not +a solitary Blackfoot was visible. Despite the watchfulness of the +white men, the entire Indian force had withdrawn during the night +without arousing the least suspicion on the part of the watchers. + +But the trappers were too wise to misconstrue the action of the +Blackfeet. Their withdrawal was a strategic movement, and did not +by any means signify they were afraid of the large force or that they +would prefer not to molest them. The signs around the fortifications +showed that the Indians had suffered severely and they would never +content themselves until full retaliation had been made. + +The trappers returned to camp, where a long council was held. The +conclusion was that the Blackfoot village was near by, and when they +learned of the severe punishment received by the scouting party, +they would lose no time in entering upon a campaign of revenge. +As the Blackfeet nation included several thousand warriors, there +was reason to fear they would overwhelm the trappers, despite +their bravery and skill. Barricades were thrown up and the best +men stationed as sentinels. One of them hastened to the top of an +adjoining hill, which commanded an extensive view of the surrounding +country. + +The sentinel had been in position but a short time when he signalled +to his friends the approach of a large body of Indians. The hunters +immediately began strengthening their defences, and before the +redskin arrived, they had rendered their position almost impregnable +against any force that could be gathered in the country. + +As the Blackfeet approached, the sentinel hurried down from the +hill and joined the main body. Shortly after, the advance party of +Blackfeet came in sight and made a reconnaissance which apprised +them of the nature of the defences. They did not fire a shot but +waited until the arrival of the main band. + +When that came in sight, it was enough to strike dismay into every +heart. There were few if any less than a thousand warriors. Dr. +Peters, the biographer of Carson, says: + +"It was a sight which few white men of the American nation have +looked upon. Arrayed in their fantastic war costume and bedaubed +with paint, armed with lances, bows and arrows, rifles, tomahawks, +knives, etc., some mounted and some on foot, they presented a wild +and fearful scene of barbaric fancy. + +"Soon after their last company had reported, the frightful war +dance, peculiar to the American savages, was enacted in sight of the +trappers' position. The battle songs and shouts which accompanied +the dance reached the ears of the whites with fearful distinctness. +Any other than hearts of oak with courage of steel would have quailed +before this terrible display of savage enmity and ferocity. This +dance, to men well skilled in the ways of the Indian warrior, was +a sure signal that the next day would be certain to have a fearful +history for one party or the other and doubtless for both. The odds, +most assuredly, were apparently greatly in favor of the savage host +and against the little band of hardy mountaineers." + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +The Morrow -- Withdrawal of the Indian Army -- At Fort Hall -- In +the Blackfoot Country -- The Ambush -- The Trappers Decide to Withdraw +-- Trapping in Other Localities -- Carson Decides to Abandon the +Business -- Visits Bent's Fort Where He Serves as Hunter for Eight +Years. + +Having gone through what the red men consider the necessary +preliminaries of such a grand campaign, the vast number of warriors +awaited the dawn that was to witness the annihilation of the entire +force that had dared to venture upon their hunting grounds without +so much as asking permission. + +It was scarcely light when the imposing array advanced upon the +mountaineers, who coolly awaited their approach. When the Blackfeet +came close enough to see the fortifications thrown up by the +whites, they were astonished. They knew from previous experience +the strength of such means of defence and suddenly lost their +eagerness to make the attack. + +After a full survey of the work before them, they concluded the +task was beyond accomplishment. The magnificent force, therefore, +began withdrawing. It was the turn of the trappers to feel disappointed. +They had not thought of any such issue and were enraged. They +shouted and made tantalizing gestures to the Blackfeet, in the hope +of goading them to stand their ground, but they were too wise to +do so. They retreated to a safe point where a council of war was +held. It was not to be expected that after such an abrupt withdrawal, +they could summon enough courage to make the assault. + +When the conference was over, the Indian army, as it may be called, +broke into two divisions, one of which went back toward their own +village while the other set their faces toward the Crow country. +Uncertain whether they would not reappear when they believed there +was hope of surprising the mountaineers, the latter maintained +their vigilance day and night. + +It may have been that the red men made several reconnaissances, +but, if so, they concluded it would be imprudent to attack the +mountaineers who held their position and continued trapping as +opportunity presented through the winter. + +After trapping in various localities, Kit Carson and several +friends visited Fort Hall, where they joined a party in the employ +of the Northwest Fur Company. They trapped around the head of Salmon +River and other streams, and finally returned to Fort Hall, where +the peltries were sold for a fair valuation. Then Carson and a few +others set out to join a party which he knew was trapping in the +Blackfoot country. Upon coming up with them, he was told that they +had had several sharp skirmishes with the Indians, in one of which +a trapper was severely wounded. The following morning, Carson and +his comrades parted from the rest and were trapping slowly up stream, +when they were fired upon by Blackfeet and compelled to retreat. +They hurried back and succeeded in escaping a serious danger; but +the pursuit was so close that Carson hastily stationed his men in +ambush. A hot fire dropped several of the warriors and caused the +others to hesitate. + +The halt was just long enough to allow the trappers to reload +their pieces, when the Blackfeet made a fiercer rush than before; +but with that pertinacious courage for which the tribe is noted, +they kept up the fight through the rest of the day, determined +to throw away no advantage they might gain. Had Carson chosen his +position with less judgment, he and his command must have been +overwhelmed, for nothing could have exceeded the daring of their +assailants, who in their desperation set fire to the thicket in +which the mountaineers had ensconced themselves; but the shrubbery +was too green to burn well, and, after a little while, it died +out. Then it must have been the red men concluded it was useless +to strive further, and, learning that the main body of the trappers +were not far off, they departed. + +The annoyance from these Indians was so great that it was decided +to leave the country. While the trappers were able to hold their +own against them, yet it was impossible to make much progress in +taking furs, when their attention was mainly taken up in fighting +the warriors, who varied their shooting by destroying the traps +that were set for the beavers. + +The next scene of operations was the North Fork of the Missouri +where they had been engaged only a short time when they came +upon an extensive village of Flathead Indians. These showed their +friendliness to the trappers by sending one of their chiefs and a +number of warriors who helped them hunt along the different streams. + +The following spring Carson and a single companion set their traps +in the vicinity of Big Snake River. This was the country of the +Utah Indians, who were well disposed towards the whites. Thus, +while furs were plenty, the couple were enabled to devote their +whole time to taking them, without fear of being fired upon every +time they ventured out of sight of camp. As a consequence, they +succeeded beyond their own expectations, and, making their way to +the nearest post, sold the stock for a fair sum. + +The peltries were scarcely disposed of, when Carson organized +another expedition which visited the Grand River, over which they +trapped until winter, when they returned to Brown's Hole, where +Carson remained until spring. Then he trapped once more in the land +of the Utahs and at New Park, taking their furs to the post where +he was obliged to sell them for a much less sum than he had ever +received before. + +The transaction had an important bearing on the fortunes of Kit +Carson, for it was proof of an unpleasant truth that had been forcing +itself for a number of months upon him: the days of remunerative +trapping were ended. + +For years, the demand had been growing steadily less both in Europe +and America. The ingenuity of the manufacturer showed itself in +the make of cheaper substitutes, while the beavers that had been +hunted so persistently were becoming scarce: there were few regions +in which trapping could be pursued with any success. + +Nothing could be plainer, therefore, to Carson than the fact that +he must soon give up the business and engage in something else to +gain a livelihood. What should it be? + +Carson and several veteran trappers started for Bent's Fort, located +on the Arkansas, near an immense forest of cottonwoods, known as +the Big Timbers. Messrs. Bent and St. Vrain, the proprietors, no +sooner learned that Carson contemplated a change of occupation, than +they offered him the position of hunter for the fort, his duties +being to keep it supplied with all the game that was required. + +Carson was more willing to accept the offer than he would have been +under other circumstances. He agreed that the large number of men +should never want for animal food, and, having given his promise, +he kept it most faithfully for a period of eight years. + +This statement includes a great deal, for it means that his +wonderful rifle brought down thousands of deer, antelope, elk and +bisons; that he tramped over hundreds of leagues of wilderness; +that his splendid health never failed him, and that his knowledge +of the woods and its inhabitants was as full and complete as it +could be. + +Furthermore, it is stated by Dr. Peters, that during that entire +period, not a single impatient word passed between Carson and his +employers. He attended to his duties with such regularity, promptness +and skill that the only comments they could make on his work were +in the nature of strong compliments. + +Inasmuch as we have claimed that Carson was the superior in every +respect of those with whom he was associated, we must dwell for a +moment on this fact. Let the reader ask himself how many cases he +knows where the term of service has been so long, in which not a +single unkind word has passed between employer and employee. + +His occupation as hunter was not monotonous, for where there were +so many to provide for, difficult and dangerous work was required +and the journeys which he often made through the long stretches of +wilderness were sometimes attended with much personal danger. + +But the surrounding tribes, including the Arapahoes, Kiowas, +Cheyennes, Comanches and others, looked upon the great hunter with +affectionate admiration and no guest was more welcome and honored +in their lodges than he. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +Carson Visits his Old Home in Missouri -- He Goes to St. Louis -- +Voyage up the Missouri -- Makes the Acquaintance of Lieutenant John +C. Fremont -- Is engaged as a Guide for Fremont's First Expedition +-- The Start Westward -- Various Mishaps -- The Emigrants -- The +False Alarm. + +Kit Carson had left his home in Missouri when only a boy and he +was now in the prime of a vigorous young manhood. The years since +he turned his back upon his old home had been busy and eventful +ones and now, as is often the case with those placed as was he, he +longed to visit the scenes of his childhood, and to meet and shake +the hands of those of his old friends who were still among the +living. + +In the spring of 1842, Carson went eastward with a train of wagons, +carrying goods to the States. When the borders of Missouri were +reached, he bade his companions goodbye and made his way back to +his old home. His experience was touching. His parents were dead, +the old building which would ever linger in his memory, had tumbled +down and nearly every one whom he met was a stranger. The cheeks +of the hardy mountaineer were wet with tears, and with a sigh, he +turned his face away forever. + +Carson had never seen a large city, and he made his way to St. +Louis, where he spent more than a week in sight seeing. Before the +end of that time, the old yearning for the mountains, prairies and +streams of the West came back to him, and he engaged passage on a +steamer up the Missouri. + +On the same boat John C. Fremont was a passenger. He was two years +younger than Carson and had been commissioned Second Lieutenant +in the Corps of Topographical Engineers, in 1838. Four years later +he projected a geographical survey of the entire territory of the +United States from the Missouri River to the Pacific. + +Carson was attracted by the fine, manly and intellectual appearance +of Fremont, and, learning he was in search of a skilful mountaineer, +he introduced himself, referring in a modest fashion to his experience +in the west and expressing the belief that he could be of service +to the explorer. + +Fremont was an excellent judge of character and was favorably +impressed with Carson from the first. The answers to the inquiries +which he made concerning the famous guide and mountaineer, were +satisfactory in the highest degree. He engaged Carson as his guide, +agreeing to pay him a salary of one hundred dollars a month. + +The party of explorers were mainly gathered in St. Louis. It was +composed mostly of Creole and Canadian voyageurs, Charles Preuss, +a learned German, a young son of Colonel Benton (which statesman +was the father in law of Fremont), several other friends, including +a noted mountaineer named Maxwell, who was employed as the hunter +of the party. Including the commander, the entire company numbered +twenty-eight. + +With this party of explorers Fremont ascended the Missouri until +the mouth of the Kansas was reached, when they disembarked and +made their preparations for the long and dangerous journey before +them. The march westward began June 10, 1842. + +The course lay along the banks of the Kansas. All the party were +well armed and well mounted, excepting eight men, each of whom +drove a cart, drawn by two mules. These carts contained the stores, +baggage and instruments of the expedition. A number of spare horses +were taken along, so as to provide against loss in that respect. +In addition, they had four oxen intended to serve as a reserve in +the event of provisions running short. + +It was the custom to arouse the camp at daybreak and turn out the +animals to graze; breakfast followed and the march was begun. The +noon halt lasted from one to two hours and the afternoon's march +ended a short time before sunset. The tents were then pitched, horses +hobbled and turned out to graze, and the evening meal prepared. +When it became dark, all the animals were brought in and picketed, +the carts arranged so as to serve as barricades and guard mounted. + +An Indian guide conducted the expedition for the first forty miles +along the Kansas, when he departed and the responsibility was turned +over to Carson. The pilot had guided the steamer out of the harbor +and upon the great ocean, and henceforth the hand of Carson was to +be at the helm. + +The soil over which they journeyed for many miles was of the most +fertile character. Numbers of Indian farms were seen, and one could +not but reflect on the possibilities of the future for the red man, +who should abandon war and give his energies to the cultivation of +the ground. + +Such an expedition could not go far without a taste of the trials +that awaited them. On the second night, the four spare horses +seemed to become disgusted with the whole enterprise, and turning +their heads eastward started on a rapid gallop for the States. +Their loss was too serious to be borne, and a number of men were +dispatched in pursuit. The chase was a long one and the animals +were not recovered for several hours. One of the men lost his way +and was forced to spend the night on the open prairie. At midnight +it began to rain, and then the exceedingly unpleasant discovery was +made that the tents on which the explorers relied for protection +and shelter were so thin that they were drenched as if the water +came through a sieve. + +The morning, however, brought clear weather and bright sunlight, and +all were in high spirits. The scenery for a time was of a pleasing +and picturesque character, and they pushed contentedly forward, +until they arrived at the ford of the Kansas, one hundred miles +from the point where it emptied into the Missouri. + +The stream was found so swollen from recent rains that it could +not be forded. Accordingly several of the mounted men forced their +animals into the stream and swam them across to serve as guides +for the rest. They succeeded quite well, excepting the oxen, which, +after floundering awhile, landed on the same side from which they +started. The following morning they succeeded in crossing. + +Among the useful articles with which Fremont had provided himself, +was an India rubber boat, twenty feet long and five feet wide. +This was very buoyant and the carts and baggage were carried over +piecemeal in it, with the exception of the last two carts. Laden +with these the boat left the shore but had not gone far when the +man at the helm, who was exceedingly nervous, managed to capsize +the craft, with all its precious cargo. The hunters were so dismayed +over the prospect of losing their stores that nearly all plunged +into the stream and made frantic efforts to save what they could. +Several did not stop to remember that they could not swim, so that +the principal efforts of some of the others were directed to saving +them. + +Most of the goods were recovered, but nearly all the sugar dissolved +and every grain of coffee was lost. It would be hard to imagine any +deprivation greater than that to which this misfortune condemned +the explorers. Carson and one of the others made such strenuous +efforts in the water that they were ill the next day, and Fremont +remained in camp for twenty-four hours with a view of giving them +time to recruit. + +The journey westward progressed without any special incident. A +large party of emigrants on their way to Oregon were several weeks +in advance of the explorers. Bad fortune seemed to have followed +them from the start, and numerous freshly made graves were seen. +One of the emigrants who had been peculiarly unfortunate, came into +camp with a hunter on his way home. He took charge of the letters +which the explorers desired to send to their families. + +The party soon reached the Pawnee country where they were forced to +unusual vigilance, for those Indians have long been noted as most +persistent horse thieves. Game was abundant. Large flocks of wild +turkeys were found roosting in the trees along the streams; elk, +antelope and deer were plentiful, and as for bisons, they were +beyond all computation. + +One day a member of the company happened to be riding at the rear +galloped up in hot haste, shouting, "Indians!" He declared that +he had seen them distinctly and counted twenty-seven. An immediate +halt was called, and Carson, leaping on one of the fleetest horses, +crossed the river and galloped over the prairie. + +"Mounted on a fine horse without a saddle," says Fremont, "and +scouring, bareheaded, over the prairies, Kit was one of the finest +pictures of a horseman I have ever seen. He soon returned quite +leisurely, and informed them that the party of twenty-seven Indians +had resolved itself into a herd of six elk who, having discovered +us, had scampered off at full speed." + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +On the Platte -- A False Alarm -- The Cheyennes -- Fremont's Account +of his Buffalo Hunt -- Division of the Party -- Fremont's Journey +up the South Fork -- The Band of Indians -- Arrival at St. Vrain's +Fort -- The Journey to Fort Laramie. + +Fremont and his party, after traveling something over three hundred +miles from the mouth of the Kansas reached the Platte river, where +they encamped in a charming place near Grand Island. The country +was most beautiful, though they suffered somewhat from the violent +storms which frequently broke over them. + +The noon halt was made and all were lounging about the camp, when +one of the men on guard called an alarm. Everybody sprang to his +feet and grasped his rifle, expecting an attack from Indians. A +strange wild looking company were seen approaching, but, as they +came closer, they were discovered to be white men. They were a +striking sight, numbering fourteen, in the most ragged and woebegone +condition imaginable. They had been on a trapping expedition, but +having met with nothing but disasters from the beginning, were now +straggling back to St. Louis on foot. + +The explorers proceeded at a leisurely pace that day and having +gone into camp, observed three Indians drawing near, one of whom +was a boy about a dozen years of age. They were Cheyennes that had +been out among the Pawnees to steal horses, but having met with +no success, were returning home. Catching sight of the white men, +they unhesitatingly entered camp, confident of being treated well, +as of course proved to be the case. After supper one of the warriors +drew a rude but correct map of the country around them, and gave +it to Fremont. + +On the first of July, while riding over a delightful prairie country, +on the right bank of the river, a herd of buffaloes, numbering +nearly a thousand, came up from the water and began slowly crossing +the plain, cropping the grass as they went. As the prairie was +three miles broad only, a fine opportunity was given the hunters +to charge before the animals could scatter among the hills. + +The fleetest horses were quickly saddled and Carson, Fremont, and +Maxwell prepared for the chase. By that time the herd was a half +mile away and they did not notice the hunters until they were within +three hundred yards. Then followed an agitation of the animals, +quickly followed by their precipitate flight. The horses dashed after +them. A crowd of bulls brought up the rear, they having stationed +themselves there to defend the females. Every once in a while they +would whirl about and stare, snorting at the horsemen, as if they +had made up their minds to fight; but when the hunters came nigher, +they turned about and plunged after the herd. Describing the exciting +incident, Fremont wrote; + +"In a few moments, during which we had been quickening our pace, we +were going over the ground like a hurricane. When at about thirty +yards we gave the usual shout and broke into the herd. We entered +on the side, the mass giving away in every direction in their +heedless course. Many of the bulls, less fleet than the cows, paying +no heed to the ground, and occupied solely with the hunters, were +precipitated to the earth with great force, rolling over and over +with the violence of the shock, and hardly distinguishable in the +dust. We separated, on entering, each singling out his game. + +"My horse was a trained hunter, famous in the west under the name +of Proveau, and with his eyes flashing and the foam flying from his +mouth, he sprang on after the cow like a tiger. In a few moments +he brought me alongside of her. Rising in the stirrups, I fired, +at the distance of a yard, the ball entering at the termination +of the long hair, passing near the heart. She fell headlong at +the report of the gun. Checking my horse, I looked around for my +companions. + +"At a little distance Kit was on the ground engaged in tying his +horse to the horns of a cow, which he was preparing to cut up. +Among the scattered band at some distance, I caught a glimpse of +Maxwell. While I was looking, a light wreath of white smoke curled +away from his gun, from which I was too far to hear the report. +Nearer, and between me and the hills, toward which they were +directing their course, was the body of the herd. Giving my horse +the rein, we dashed after them. A thick cloud of dust hung upon +their rear, which filled my mouth and eyes and nearly smothered me. +In the midst of this I could see nothing, and the buffaloes were +not distinguishable until within thirty feet. They crowded together +more densely still, as I came upon them, and rushed along in such +a compact body that I could not obtain an entrance, the horse almost +leaping upon them. + +"In a few moments the mass divided to the right and left, the horns +clattering with a noise heard above everything else, and my horse +darted into the opening. Five or six bulls charged on us as we +dashed along the line, but were left far behind. Singling out a +cow, I gave her my fire but struck too high. She gave a tremendous +leap and scoured on swifter than before. I reined up my horse, +and the band swept on like a torrent, and left the place quiet and +clear. Our chase had led us into dangerous ground. A prairie dog +village, so thickly settled that there were three or four holes +in twenty yards square, occupied the whole bottom for nearly two +miles in length." + +The stirring buffalo hunt ended, the company advanced over the +prairie for more than twenty miles, and encamped on the banks of +a stream, where they enjoyed a fine feast on choice bison steaks. +While they were thus employed, the wolves were attracted thither by +the smell of broiling meat and prowled around camp, licking their +chops, impatient for the time when they would be permitted to gorge +themselves upon what should be left. + +For several days there was little variation in the experience of +the explorers, and no special incident took place. At the junction +of the north and south fork of the Platte, Fremont, who wished to +explore the south branch and to secure some astronomical observations, +set out with nine men intending to advance to St. Vrain's fort, +where he was hopeful of obtaining some mules. The rest of the party +followed the north fork to fort Laramie, where it was agreed they +would wait for the others to join them. + +Fremont's experience in going up the south branch was in strong +contrast to the pleasant scenes of the previous. It was midsummer +and the weather was suffocatingly hot. Fierce storms of wind and +gusts of rain swept the country, while the bisons were everywhere. +They literally numbered hundreds of thousands, and, look in whatsoever +direction the men chose, they were sure to see the huge creatures +cropping the grass or lumbering across the prairie. + +On the fourth day a band of three hundred mounted Indians suddenly +appeared. The chief proved to be an old acquaintance of Maxwell +and showed genuine pleasure in meeting him. They shook hands and +the sachem conducted the little party to his village, where they +received most hospitable treatment. + +Resuming their journey, they encamped in a cottonwood grove in a +chilly drizzling rain. The next morning dawned bright and clear, +and they caught their first glimpse of the Rocky Mountains. They +gazed long on the snowy peaks outlined in the far distance like +fleecy clouds against the blue sky. + +St. Vrain's Fort was reached on the tenth day. They were made +welcome by Mr. St. Vrain, who was much interested in the expedition +westward and did everything he could to assist Lieutenant Fremont +in the enterprise. The needed horses and mules were secured, and +three men were hired to accompany them across the country to Fort +Laramie. + +This station was a hundred and twenty-five miles distant, and the +new hands engaged, as a matter of course, were so familiar with +it, that there was no possibility of going astray. The journey +was resumed on the second day after reaching the fort, and without +meeting with any particular incident they arrived at their destination, +three days later. + +Fort Laramie, at that time, was one of the most important posts of +the far west. It had large bastions at the corners, and its high +walls were whitewashed and picketed. + +Several lodges of Sioux Indians were pitched close by, and the +division under charge of Kit Carson having arrived several days +before, had also gone into camp with the appearance of the commander +of the expedition. + + + +CHAPTER XX + + +Alarming News -- Fremont Presses Forward and is Not Molested -- +Arrival at South Pass -- Fremont's Account of the Ascent of the +Highest Peak of the Rocky Mountains -- The Return to Fort Laramie +-- Carson Starts for New Mexico -- End of Fremont's First Exploring +Expedition. + +Alarming news awaited Fremont at Fort Laramie. A number of trappers +informed them that the Sioux, through whose country their route +lay, were excited to exasperation by several recent conflicts +with hunters in which the red men were worsted. The Sioux warriors +were gathered in large numbers and would attack any white men who +ventured beyond the fort. They had already massacred a number and +it was impossible for Fremont and his party to get through without +a battle in which they were likely to be overwhelmed. + +Carson looked upon the situation as so serious that he made his +will and left it at the fort. When consulted by Fremont, he said +he considered the prospect full of peril, but he was ready to go +the moment required. The commander was confident the danger was +greatly exaggerated, and, without much misgiving, he resumed his +journey westward, following up the north fork of the Platte. Game +and water were found, and, at the end of three weeks, they arrived +at the South Pass of the Rocky Mountains without having exchanged +a shot with a red man on the way. + +They had now reached their destination and Lieutenant Fremont at +once began his observations. When they were concluded he undertook +the ascent of the highest mountain peak. The situation was anything +but encouraging: they were in the country of the hostile Blackfeet, +some of whom were observed hovering in the vicinity; men and animals +were worn out and it was hard to procure game. But the ascent was +begun, Fremont taking fourteen men with him. Those who were left +in camp erected a rude but strong fort, behind which they were +confident they could sustain themselves against any force the +Indians were likely to muster. + +The ascent of the mountain was laborious in the extreme. Kit Carson +climbed to one of the loftiest peaks from which he gained a full +view of the very highest elevation. The next day Fremont sent Carson +and several of the men back. He unquestionably intended that no +one should share with him the honor of climbing the most elevated +point. This exploit is worthy of description at the hands of the +Pathfinder himself. + +"At intervals we reached places where a number of springs gushed +from the rocks, and about 1,800 feet above the lakes came to the +snow line. From this point our progress was uninterrupted climbing. +Hitherto, I had worn a pair of thick moccasins, with soles of +parfleche but here I put on a light thin pair, which I had brought +for the purpose, as now the use of our toes became necessary to a +further advance. I availed myself of a sort of comb of the mountain, +which stood against the wall like a buttress, and which the wind +and solar radiation, joined to the steepness of the smooth rock, +had kept almost entirely free from snow. Up this I made my way +rapidly. Our cautious method of advancing in the outset had spared +my strength; and, with the exception of a slight disposition to +headache, I felt no remains of yesterday's illness. In a few minutes +we reached a point where the buttress was overhanging, and there was +no other way of surmounting the difficulty than by passing around +one side of it, which was the face of a vertical precipice of +several hundred feet." + +Parfleche is the name given to buffalo hide. The Indian women prepare +it by scraping and drying. It is exceedingly tough and hard, and +receives its name from the circumstance that it cannot be pierced +by arrows or spears. + +The entire dress of Fremont and his party, on their ascent to the +"top of America," consisted of a blue flannel shirt, free and open +at the neck, the collar turning down over a black silk handkerchief +tied loosely, blue cloth pantaloons, a slouched broad brimmed hat, +and moccasins as above described. It was well adapted to climbing, +quite light, and at the same time warm, and every way comfortable. + +"Putting hands and feet in the crevices between the blocks, I +succeeded in getting over it, and when I reached the top, found my +companions in a small valley below. Descending to them, we continued +climbing, and in a short time reached the crest. I sprang upon the +summit and another step would have precipitated me into an immense +snow field five hundred feet below. To the edge of this field was +a sheer icy precipice; and then, with a gradual fall, the field +sloped off for about a mile, until it struck the foot of another +lower ridge. I stood on a narrow crest about three feet in width, +with an inclination of about 20 degrees N. 51 degrees E. As soon +as I had gratified the first feelings of curiosity I descended, and +each man ascended in turn, for I would only allow one at a time to +mount the unstable and precarious slab, which it seemed a breath +would hurl into the abyss below. We mounted the barometer in the +snow of the summit, and, fixing a ramrod in a crevice, unfurled +the national flag, to wave in the breeze, where never flag waved +before. During our morning's ascent, we met no sign of animal life, +except a small bird having the appearance of a sparrow. A stillness +the most profound, and a terrible solitude forced themselves +constantly on the mind as the great features of the place. Here, +on the summit, where the stillness was absolute, unbroken by any +sound, and the solitude complete, we thought ourselves beyond the +region of animated life; but while we were sitting on the rock, a +solitary bee (bombus terrestris, the humble bee) came winging his +flight from the eastern valley, and lit on the knee of one of the +men. + +"Around us the whole scene had one main striking feature, which +was that of terrible convulsion. Parallel to its length, the ridge +was split into chasms and fissures, between which rose the thin, +lofty walls, terminated with slender minarets and columns, which +are correctly represented in the view from the camp on Island Lake. +According to the barometer, the little crest of the wall on which +we stood was three thousand five hundred and seventy feet above +that place, and two thousand seven hundred and eighty feet above +the little lakes at the bottom, immediately at our feet. + +"Our camp at the Two Hills (an astronomical station) bore south +30 east, which, with a bearing afterward obtained from a fixed +position, enabled us to locate the peak. The bearing of the Trois +Tetons was north 50 degrees west, and the direction of the central +ridge of the Wind River Mountains south 39 degrees east. The summit +rock was gneiss. Sienite and feldspar succeeded in our descent to +the snow line, where we found a felspathic granite. I had remarked +that the noise produced by the explosion of our pistols had the usual +degree of loudness, but was not in the least prolonged, expiring +almost instantaneously. Having now made what observations our means +afforded, we proceeded to descend. We had accomplished an object of +laudable ambition, and beyond the strict order of our instructions. +We had climbed the loftiest peak of the Rocky Mountains and looked +down upon the snow a thousand feet below, and, standing where human +foot had never stood before, felt the exultation of first explorers. +It was about two o'clock when we left the summit; and when we reached +the bottom the sun had already sunk behind the wall, and the day +was drawing to a close. It would have been pleasant to linger here +and on the summit longer; but we hurried away as rapidly as the +ground would permit, for it was an object to regain our party as +soon as possible, not knowing what accident the next hour might +bring forth." + +This mountain which bears the name of Fremont's Peak, in honor of +the great Pathfinder, was found to be 13,570 feet above the Gulf +of Mexico. + +The object of the expedition was accomplished and preparations were +made for the return to the states. No accident worth the mention +had befallen the explorers, and the Blackfeet, from whom so much +was feared, did not molest them. It may have been that when their +scouts reconnoitred the camp, they found the barricades so strong +and the garrison so watchful that they decided it would be too +costly to make an attack upon them. It is not impossible that some +one or more of them recognized the daring mountaineer who more +than once years before had given their warriors such severe defeat +and punishment. If such was the truth, we cannot but respect the +discretion they showed. + +Fort Laramie was reached in the month of September 1842. There as +Kit Carson's labors were ended, he bade his commander and friends +goodbye and started for New Mexico. Fremont and his men reached +the states in safety and thus ended his first exploring expedition. + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + +Carson Starts for the States -- The Encampment of Captain Cook and +his Dragoons -- Carson Undertakes a Delicate and Dangerous Mission +-- The Perilous Journey -- Return of Carson and the Mexican Boy -- +Encounter with Four Utah Indians -- Arrival at Bent's Fort. + +Early in the year 1843, Kit Carson married his second wife +and shortly after agreed to accompany an expedition of Bent & St. +Vrain's wagons to the States. When part way across the plains, +they struck the old Santa Fe trail and came upon an encampment of +Captain Cook with four companies of United States Dragoons. + +They were engaged in escorting a train of Mexican wagons to the +boundary line between New Mexico and the United States. The train +was a very valuable one and an escort of a hundred men were hired +to accompany it through the Indian country. + +The situation of this train was an alarming one. It was the duty +of Captain Cook and his soldiers to guard it as far as the fording +of the Arkansas, at that time the boundary line between the two +countries. There was good reason for believing that a strong band +of Texan rangers were waiting beyond, with the intention of attacking +and plundering the train. Indeed the Mexican who had it in charge +had received information that left no possible doubt of the fact. + +His face lighted up when he recognized Kit Carson. Hardly waiting +until they had greeted each other, he offered him a liberal reward +if he would ride post haste to Santa Fe and deliver a letter to +the Governor, containing an urgent request to send a strong force +to escort the train thither. + +Carson unhesitatingly accepted the offer and with his usual promptness +started almost immediately on his delicate and dangerous business. +The journey was one of several hundred miles through a country +swarming with Indians, and all the skill, cunning and vigilance of +the great scout would be required to succeed. But he never faltered +in the face of peril. + +A veteran mountaineer agreed to keep him company, but, when Bent's +Fort was reached he refused to go further, and Carson, as he had +often done before in critical situations, went on alone. + +The news which he heard at the fort was of a startling nature. The +Utah Indians were hostile and his long journey led him directly +through their country. He could not censure his friend for declining +to go further, nor could he blame others whom he asked to accompany +him, when they shook their heads. Mr. Bent understood the peculiar +danger in which Kit would be placed, and though he was splendidly +mounted, he loaned him a magnificent steed which he led, ready to +mount whenever the necessity should arise for doing so. + +That journey was one of the most remarkable of the many made by Kit +Carson. It would have been less so, had he possessed a companion +of experience, for they could have counselled together, and one +would have kept watch while the other slept. As it was, Carson was +compelled to scan every portion of the plain before him, on the +constant lookout for Indians, who would have spared no effort to +circumvent and slay him, had they known of his presence in their +country. He was so placed, indeed, that only by the most consummate +skill could he hope to run the continuous gauntlet, hundreds of +miles in length. + +He had gone but a short distance when he detected the trails of his +enemies, showing they were numerous and liable to be encountered +at any moment. When night came, he picketed his horses and lay down +on the prairie or in some grove, ready to leap to his feet, bound +upon one of his steeds and gallop away on a dead run. Where the +hunter has no friend to mount guard, he is often compelled to depend +upon his horses, who frequently prove the best kind of sentinels. +They are quick to detect the approach of strangers, and a slight +neigh or stamp of the foot is enough to give the saving warning. + +A large portion of the country over which he rode, was a treeless +plain and the keen blue eyes of the matchless mountaineer were kept +on a continual strain. A moving speck in the distant horizon, the +faint column of thin smoke rising from the far off grove, or a +faint yellow dust against the blue sky, could only mean one thing +-- the presence of enemies, for he was in a region which contained +not a single friend. + +One afternoon Carson discovered an Indian village directly ahead of +him and on the trail which he was following. He instantly withdrew +beyond sight of any who might be on guard, and, hunting a sparse +grove of timber, kept within it until dark; then he made a long +circuit, and came back to the trail far beyond it. He travelled +a long distance that night and by daylight was in no danger of +detection. + +By using such extreme caution and watchfulness, he succeeded in +passing the entire distance without exchanging a hostile shot with +anyone. He reached Taos, where he waited as agreed upon, until his +message could be sent to the Governor at Santa Fe. While in Taos he +learned that one hundred men had been sent out to meet the caravan +and the Governor himself was about ready to follow with six hundred +more. It may be stated in this place that the smaller company, +while looking for the train was attacked by the Texan rangers and +with a single exception every man was killed; but venturing into +American territory, the rangers were disarmed by Captain Cook and +his dragoons, and the wealthy wagon train, with its valuable cargo +reached its destination in safety. + +Having accomplished his mission, Carson set out on his return to +Bent's Fort. This time he took a Mexican boy with him. The mountaineer +had become strongly attached to the youth, who was a noble, high +minded lad, the fit companion of the prince among plainsmen. + +Two days out from Taos, both were surprised to find themselves +confronted by four Utah Indians on the war path. They appeared +so suddenly, that the two friends were given little time to make +preparation; but, as some distance separated the parties, Kit and +the lad hastily consulted over what was best to do. + +"It is you whom they are seeking," said the youth, "and your life +is worth a great deal more than mine; you have a swift horse; mount +him and dash off; perhaps they will spare me, but you cannot help +me by staying." + +"Your offer is a kind one," said Carson much touched by the words +of his young friend; "but nothing in the world would induce me to +leave you. We will stick together and if we must die, why let's +each take a warrior with us." + +The leading warrior sauntered toward the couple, while they were +hastily consulting together, after the manner of one who felt he was +master of the situation. A broad grin stretched across his painted +face, as he extended one hand to salute Carson, while he reached for +his rifle with the other. Just as his fingers were closing around +the weapon of the mountaineer, the latter struck him a violent blow +in the face, which sent him staggering several paces backward. The +other Utahs instantly ran forward to the help of their comrade. + +When they were within a few rods, Carson brought his gun to his +shoulder and peremptorily ordered them to halt. They hesitated, as +if uncertain what to do, when he told them that if they advanced +another step or made any hostile demonstration, both he and his +companion would fire. They would be sure of hitting two of the +warriors, when it would become something like an even fight, with +two on each side, and with the prospect that the red men might +suffer still further. + +But the Indians were not to be bluffed in such an easy fashion. +They brandished their guns, shook powder in the pans and talked +boastingly of what they meant to do. They were double the number +of their enemies and they would teach them how brave Utah warriors +were. + +Neither Carson nor the lad was disturbed by these demonstrations, +which meant to intimidate them. The mountaineer whispered to his +brave young companion to keep on his guard against any sudden rush +or demonstration. But the lad scarcely needed the warning. He was +as alert and vigilant as his friend. Had the red men attempted +anything hostile, the two would have fired instantly and then drawn +their pistols and been ready for the others. + +The Utahs finally saw it was useless to attempt to bluff the man +and boy, and they rode away without offering them the least harm. +Carson and his young companion instantly resumed their journey, +still watchful and alert; but they reached Bent's Fort without +molestation, and the dangerous venture was over. + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + + +Kit Carson Hears Surprising News -- He Visits Fremont -- Is Re-engaged +as Guide -- Fremont's Account of his Visit to Salt Lake. + +Kit Carson was astonished on reaching Bent's Fort to learn that +Lieutenant Fremont had gone by on his second exploring expedition +but a few days before. Carson felt a strong attachment for his old +leader and galloped nearly a hundred miles to overtake him. Fremont +gave the mountaineer most cordial greeting and insisted so strongly +on his accompanying him that Carson could not refuse. + +The object of Fremont's second exploration was to connect the +survey of the previous year with those of Commander Wilkes on the +Pacific coast. The first objective point was the Great Salt Lake +of Utah, of which very little was known at that time. + +Carson was sent back to the fort to procure a number of mules. +He did as directed and rejoined Fremont at St. Vrain's Fort. The +region traversed by these explorers is so well known today that it +is hard to realize what a terra incognita it was but a short time +since. Perhaps it will be most instructive at this point to quote +the words of the great Pathfinder himself. The party arrived on the +21st of August on the Bear River, one of the principal tributaries +of Great Salt Lake. The narrative of Fremont proceeds: + +"We were now entering a region, which for us possessed a strange +and extraordinary interest. We were upon the waters of the famous +lake which forms a salient point among the remarkable geographical +features of the country, and around which the vague and superstitious +accounts of the trappers had thrown a delightful obscurity, which +we anticipated pleasure in dispelling, but which, in the meantime, +left a crowded field for the exercise of our imagination. + +"In our occasional conversations with the few old hunters who had +visited the region, it had been a subject of frequent speculation; +and the wonders which they related were not the less agreeable +because they were highly exaggerated and impossible. + +"Hitherto this lake had been seen only by trappers, who were wandering +through the country in search of new beaver streams, caring very +little for geography; its islands had never been visited; and none +were to be found who had entirely made the circuit of its shores, +and no instrumental observations, or geographical survey of any +description, had ever been made anywhere in the neighboring region. +It was generally supposed that it had no visible outlet; but, +among the trappers, including those in my own camp, were many who +believed that somewhere on its surface was a terrible whirlpool, +through which its waters found their way to the ocean by some +subterranean communication. All these things had been made a frequent +subject of discussion in our desultory conversations around the +fires at night; and my own mind had become tolerably well filled +with their indefinite pictures, and insensibly colored with their +romantic descriptions, which, in the pleasure of excitement, I was +well disposed to believe, and half expected to realize. + +"In about six miles' travel from our encampment we reached one of +the points in our journey to which we had always looked forward +with great interest -- the famous Beer Springs, which, on account +of the effervescing gas and acid taste, had received their name +from the voyageurs and trappers of the country, who, in the midst +of their rude and hard lives, are fond of finding some fancied +resemblance to the luxuries they rarely have the good fortune to +enjoy. + +"Although somewhat disappointed in the expectations which various +descriptions had led me to form of unusual beauty of situation +and scenery, I found it altogether a place of very great interest; +and a traveller for the first time in a volcanic region remains in +a constant excitement, and at every step is arrested by something +remarkable and new. There is a confusion of interesting objects +gathered together in a small space. Around the place of encampment +the Beer Springs were numerous but, as far as we could ascertain, +were entirely confined to that locality in the bottom. In the bed +of the river in front, for a space of several hundred yards, they +were very abundant; the effervescing gas rising up and agitating +the water in countless bubbling columns. In the vicinity round about +were numerous springs of an entirely different and equally marked +mineral character. In a rather picturesque spot, about 1,300 yards +below our encampment and immediately on the river bank, is the +most remarkable spring of the place. In an opening on the rock, a +white column of scattered water is thrown up, in form, like a jet +d'eau, to a variable height of about three feet, and, though it is +maintained in a constant supply, its greatest height is attained +only at regular intervals, according to the action of the force +below. It is accompanied by a subterranean noise, which, together +with the motion of the water, makes very much the impression of a +steamboat in motion; and, without knowing that it had been already +previously so called, we gave to it the name of the Steamboat +Spring. The rock through which it is forced is slightly raised in +a convex manner, and gathered at the opening into an urn mouthed +form, and is evidently formed by continued deposition from the +water, and colored bright red by oxide of iron. + +"It is a hot spring, and the water has a pungent, disagreeable +metallic taste, leaving a burning effect on the tongue. Within +perhaps two yards of the jet d'eau, is a small hole of about an inch +in diameter, through which, at regular intervals, escapes a blast +of hot air with a light wreath of smoke, accompanied by a regular +noise. + +"As they approached the lake, they passed over a country of bold +and striking scenery, and through several 'gates,' as they called +certain narrow valleys. The 'standing rock' is a huge column, +occupying the centre of one of these passes. It fell from a height +of perhaps 3,000 feet, and happened to remain in its present upright +position. + +"At last, on the 6th of September, the object for which their eyes +had long been straining was brought to view. + +"September 6. -- This time we reached the butte without any +difficulty; and ascending to the summit, immediately at our feet +beheld the object of our anxious search, the waters of the Inland +Sea, stretching in still and solitary grandeur, far beyond the limit +of our vision. It was one of the great points of the exploration; +and as we looked eagerly over the lake in the first emotions of +excited pleasure, I am doubtful if the followers of Balboa felt +more enthusiasm when, from the heights of the Andes, they saw for +the first time the great Western Ocean. It was certainly a magnificent +object, and a noble terminus to this part of our expedition; +and to travellers so long shut up among mountain ranges, a sudden +view over the expanse of silent waters had in it something sublime. +Several large islands raised their high rocky heads out of the +waves; but whether or not they were timbered was still left to +our imagination, as the distance was too great to determine if the +dark hues upon them were woodland or naked rock. During the day the +clouds had been gathering black over the mountains to the westward, +and while we were looking, a storm burst down with sudden fury upon +the lake, and entirely hid the islands from our view. + +"On the edge of the stream a favorable spot was selected in a grove, +and felling the timber, we made a strong corral, or horse pen, for +the animals, and a little fort for the people who were to remain. +We were now probably in the country of the Utah Indians, though +none reside upon the lake. The India rubber boat was repaired with +prepared cloth and gum, and filled with air, in readiness for the +next day. + +"The provisions which Carson had brought with him being now exhausted, +and our stock reduced to a small quantity of roots, I determined +to retain with me only a sufficient number of men for the execution +of our design; and accordingly seven were sent back to Fort Hall, +under the guidance of Francois Lajeunesse, who, having been for +many years a trapper in the country, was an experienced mountaineer. + +"We formed now but a small family. With Mr. Preuss and myself, +Carson, Bernier, and Basil Lajeunesse had been selected for the +boat expedition -- the first ever attempted on this interior sea; +and Badau, with Derosier, and Jacob (the colored man), were to be +left in charge of the camp. We were favored with most delightful +weather. Tonight there was a brilliant sunset of golden orange and +green, which left the western sky clear and beautifully pure; but +clouds in the east made me lose an occulation. The summer frogs +were singing around us, and the evening was very pleasant, with +a temperature of 60 degrees -- a night of a more southern autumn. +For our supper, we had yampak, the most agreeably flavored of the +roots, seasoned by a small fat duck, which had come in the way +of Jacob's rifle. Around our fire tonight were many speculations +on what tomorrow would bring forth; and in our busy conjectures +we fancied that we should find every one of the large islands +a tangled wilderness of trees and shrubbery, teeming with game of +every description that the neighboring region afforded, and which +the foot of a white man or Indian had never violated. Frequently, +during the day, clouds had rested on the summits of their lofty +mountains, and we believed that we should find clear streams and +springs of fresh water; and we indulged in anticipations of the +luxurious repasts with which we were to indemnify ourselves for +past privations. Neither, in our discussions, were the whirlpool +and other mysterious dangers forgotten, which Indian and hunter's +stories attributed to this unexplored lake. The men had discovered +that, instead of being strongly sewed, (like that of the preceding +year, which had so triumphantly rode the canons of the Upper +Great Platte), our present boat was only pasted together in a very +insecure manner, the maker having been allowed so little time in the +construction that he was obliged to crowd the labor of two months +into several days. The insecurity of the boat was sensibly felt +by us; and mingled with the enthusiasm and excitement that we all +felt at the prospect of an undertaking which had never before been +accomplished was a certain impression of danger, sufficient to give +a serious character to our conversation. The momentary view which +had been had of the lake the day before, its great extent and rugged +islands, dimly seen amidst the dark waters in the obscurity of the +sudden storm, were well calculated to heighten the idea of undefined +danger with which the lake was generally associated." + +"September 8. -- A calm, clear day, with a sunrise temperature +of 41 degrees. In view of our present enterprise, a part of the +equipment of the boat had been made to consist of three airtight +bags, about three feet long, and capable each of containing five +gallons. These had been filled with water the night before, and +were now placed in the boat, with our blankets and instruments, +consisting of a sextant, telescope, spyglass, thermometer, and +barometer. + +"In the course of the morning we discovered that two of the cylinders +leaked so much as to require one man constantly at the bellows, to +keep them sufficiently full of air to support the boat. Although +we had made a very early start, we loitered so much on the way -- +stopping every now and then, and floating silently along, to get +a shot at a goose or a duck -- that it was late in the day when he +reached the outlet. The river here divided into several branches, +filled with fluvials, and so very shallow that it was with difficulty +we could get the boat along, being obliged to get out and wade. +We encamped on a low point among rushes and young willows, where +there was a quantity of driftwood, which served for our fires. The +evening was mild and clear; we made a pleasant bed of the young +willows; and geese and ducks enough had been killed for an abundant +supper at night, and for breakfast next morning. The stillness of +the night was enlivened by millions of waterfowl. + +"September. 9. -- The day was clear and calm; the thermometer at +sunrise at 49 degrees. As is usual with the trappers on the eve of +any enterprise, our people had made dreams, and theirs happened to +be a bad one -- one which always preceded evil -- and consequently +they looked very gloomy this morning; but we hurried through our +breakfast, in order to make an early start, and have all the day +before us for our adventure. The channel in a short distance became +so shallow that our navigation was at an end, being merely a sheet +of soft mud, with a few inches of water, and sometimes none at +all, forming the low water shore of the lake. All this place was +absolutely covered with flocks of screaming plover. We took off +our clothes, and, getting overboard, commenced dragging the boat +-- making, by this operation, a very curious trail, and a very +disagreeable smell in stirring up the mud, as we sank above the +knee at every step. The water here was still fresh, with only an +insipid and disagreeable taste, probably derived from the bed of +fetid mud. After proceeding in this way about a mile, we came to +a small black ridge on the bottom, beyond which the water became +suddenly salt, beginning gradually to deepen, and the bottom was +sandy and firm. It was a remarkable division, separating the fresh +water of the rivers from the briny water of the lake, which was +entirely saturated with common salt. Pushing our little vessel +across the narrow boundary, we sprang on board, and at length were +afloat on the waters of the unknown sea. + +"We did not steer for the mountainous islands, but directed our +course towards a lower one, which it had been decided we should +first visit, the summit of which was formed like the crater at +the upper end of Bear River Valley. So long as we could touch the +bottom with our paddles, we were very gay; but gradually, as the +water deepened, we became more still in our frail bateau of gum +cloth distended with air, and with pasted seams. Although the day +was very calm, there was a considerable swell on the lake; and +there were white patches of foam on the surface, which were slowly +moving to the southward, indicating the set of a current in that +direction, and recalling the recollection of the whirlpool stories. +The water continued to deepen as we advanced; the lake becoming +almost transparently clear, of an extremely beautiful bright green +color; and the spray which was thrown into the boat and over our +clothes, was directly converted into a crust of common salt, which +covered also our hands and arms. 'Captain,' said Carson, who for +sometime had been looking suspiciously at some whitening appearances +outside the nearest islands, 'what are those yonder? -- won't you +just take a look with the glass?' We ceased paddling for a moment, +and found them to be the caps of the waves that were beginning to +break under the force of a strong breeze that was coming up the +lake. The form of the boat seemed to be an admirable one, and it +rode on the waves like a water bird; but, at the same time, it was +extremely slow in its progress. When we were a little more than half +way across the reach, two of the divisions between the cylinders +gave way, and it required the constant use of the bellows to keep +in a sufficient quantity of air. For a long time we scarcely seemed +to approach our island, but gradually we worked across the rougher +sea of the open channel, into the smoother water under the lee of +the island, and began to discover that what we took for a long row +of pelicans, ranged on the beach, were only low cliffs whitened +with salt by the spray of the waves; and about noon we reached the +shore, the transparency of the water enabling us to see the bottom +at a considerable depth. + +"The cliffs and masses of rock along the shore were whitened by an +incrustation of salt where the waves dashed up against them; and +the evaporating water, which had been left in holes and hollows on +the surface of the rocks, was covered with a crust of salt about +one eighth of an inch in thickness. + +"Carrying with us the barometer and other instruments, in the +afternoon we ascended to the highest point of the island -- a bare, +rocky peak, 800 feet above the lake. Standing on the summit, we +enjoyed an extended view of the lake, inclosed in a basin of rugged +mountains, which sometimes left marshy flats and extensive bottoms +between them and the shore, and in other places came directly down +into the water with bold and precipitous bluffs. + +"As we looked over the vast expanse of water spread out beneath +us, and strained our eyes along the silent shores over which hung +so much doubt and uncertainty, and which were so full of interest +to us, I could hardly repress the almost irresistible desire to +continue our exploration; but the lengthening snow on the mountains +was a plain indication of the advancing season, and our frail linen +boat appeared so insecure that I was unwilling to trust our lives +to the uncertainties of the lake. I therefore unwillingly resolved +to terminate our survey here, and remain satisfied for the present +with what we had been able to add to the unknown geography of +the region. We felt pleasure also in remembering that we were the +first who, in the traditionary annals of the country, had visited +the islands, and broken, with the cheerful sound of human voices, +the long solitude of the place. + +"I accidentally left on the summit the brass cover to the object +end of my spyglass and as it will probably remain there undisturbed +by Indians, it will furnish matter of speculation to some future +traveller. In our excursions about the island, we did not meet with +any kind of animal: a magpie, and another larger bird, probably +attracted by the smoke of our fire, paid us a visit from the shore, +and were the only living things seen during our stay. The rock +constituting the cliffs along the shore where we were encamped, is +a talcous rock, or steatite, with brown spar. + +"At sunset, the temperature was 70 degrees. We had arrived just in +time to obtain a meridian altitude of the sun, and other observations +were obtained this evening, which placed our camp in latitude 41 +degrees 10' 42" and longitude 112 degrees 21' 05" from Greenwich. +From a discussion of the barometrical observations made during our +stay on the shores of the lake, we have adopted 4,200 feet for its +elevation above the Gulf of Mexico. In the first disappointment +we felt from the dissipation of our dream of the fertile islands, +I called this Disappointment Island. + +"Out of the driftwood, we made ourselves pleasant little lodges, +open to the water, and, after having kindled large fires to excite +the wonder of any straggling savage on the lake shores, lay down, +for the first time in a long journey, in perfect security; no +one thinking about his arms. The evening was extremely bright and +pleasant; but the wind rose during the night, and the waves began +to break heavily on the shore, making our island tremble. I had not +expected in our inland journey to hear the roar of an ocean surf; +and the strangeness of our situation, and the excitement we felt +in the associated interests of the place, made this one of the most +interesting nights I remember during our long expedition. + +"In the morning, the surf was breaking heavily on the shore, and +we were up early. The lake was dark and agitated, and we hurried +through our scanty breakfast, and embarked -- having first filled +one of the buckets with water from which it was intended to make +salt. The sun had risen by the time we were ready to start; and it +was blowing a strong gale of wind, almost directly off the shore, +and raising a considerable sea, in which our boat strained very +much. It roughened as we got away from the island, and it required +all the efforts of the men to make any head against the wind and +sea; the gale rising with the sun; and there was danger of being +blown into one of the open reaches beyond the island. At the distance +of half a mile from the beach, the depth of water was sixteen feet, +with a clay bottom; but, as the working of the boat was very severe +labor, and during the operation of sounding, it was necessary to +cease paddling, during which the boat lost considerable way, I was +unwilling to discourage the men, and reluctantly gave up my intention +of ascertaining the depth and character of the bed. There was a +general shout in the boat when we found ourselves in one fathom, +and we soon after landed on a low point of mud, where we unloaded +the boat, and carried the baggage to firmer ground." + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + +The Return -- Suffering for Food -- A Royal Feast -- On the Lewis +Fork -- Fort Hall -- Division of the Party -- Arrival at Dalles +-- The Sierra Nevada -- Preparations for the Passage Through the +Mountains -- Fremont's Account. + +The explorers remained in camp the next day and boiled down some +of the water from the lake, thereby obtaining considerable salt. +The following morning was clear and beautiful and they returned by +the same route, ascending the valley of Bear River toward the north. + +The expected Fitzpatrick and the provisions did not show themselves +and the party began to suffer for food. When their situation became +serious, Fremont permitted a horse to be killed and then all enjoyed +one of their old fashioned feasts. + +But this supply could not last long, and still they failed to meet +their expected friends. After a time they encountered an Indian who +had killed an antelope, which they quickly purchased and another +feast made every heart glad. By way of dessert, a messenger galloped +into camp with the news that Fitzpatrick was close at hand with an +abundant supply of provisions. + +The next morning the two parties united and continued the journey +together. After leaving the Bear River Valley they crossed over to +Lewis's Fork of the Columbia. At night the camp fires of the Indian +twinkled like so many stars along the mountain side; but they were +all friendly and the tired explorers slept peacefully. + +Pushing onward they reached the upper waters of Lewis's Fork, +where snow began to fall. However, they were quite near Fort Hall +and they therefore went into camp, while Fremont rode to the fort +and procured several horses and oxen. + +The weather continued severe, but Fremont determined to push on, +despite the hardships which he knew awaited them all. As a matter +of prudence, however, he sent back eleven of his men, leaving about +twenty with which he pursued his journey down the river valley in +the direction of the Columbia. The Dalles was reached in safety +where Kit Carson was left in command of the party, while Fremont with +a few companions pushed on to Vancouver Island, where he procured +some provisions. On his return, the whole party united and made +their way to Klamath Lake, in what was then Oregon Territory. When +their observations were completed, they took up their march in the +direction of California. + +After a long and wearisome journey, attended by much suffering for +the lack of food, they came in sight of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, +which were seen to be covered with snow. The men were in a sorry +plight. The provisions were nearly gone; they could not turn back, +and there seemed but two alternatives before them: to push on through +the mountains or remain where they were and starve to death. Such +men were not the ones to fold their hands and lie down in helpless +despair. Accordingly, they made their preparations for the terrible +venture. + +The snow was so deep that it was impossible to get forward without +the aid of snowshoes. Devoting themselves to the manufacture of these +indispensable articles, a few were sent ahead to learn how far it +was necessary to break a path for the animals. After a laborious +passage, it was found that nine miles would have to be prepared in +that fashion. Carson was with this advance and when they halted, +he saw in the distance the green Sacramento Valley. Although nearly +twenty years had passed since he visited that section, he recognized +it at once. Away beyond towered the white peaks of the Coast Range. +Carson was the only man in the party who really knew where they +were. + +This passage of Fremont and his men through the Sierra Nevada +Mountains is one of the most extraordinary achievements in American +history. Carson himself took such a prominent part in it, that it +seems only just that Fremont's thrilling account should be quoted. + +"The people were unusually silent; for every man knew that our +enterprise was hazardous, and the issue doubtful. + +"The snow deepened rapidly, and it soon became necessary to break +a road. For this service, a party of ten was formed, mounted on +the strongest horses; each man in succession opening the road on +foot, or on horseback, until himself and his horse became fatigued, +when he stepped aside; and, the remaining number passing ahead, he +took his station in the rear. + +"The camp had been all the day occupied in endeavoring to ascend +the hill, but only the best horses had succeeded; the animals, +generally, not having sufficient strength to bring themselves +up without the packs; and all the line of road between this and +the springs was strewed with camp stores and equipage, and horses +floundering in snow. I therefore immediately encamped on the ground +with my own mess, which was in advance, and directed Mr. Fitzpatrick +to encamp at the springs, and send all the animals, in charge of +Tabeau, with a strong guard, back to the place where they had been +pastured the night before. Here was a small spot of level ground, +protected on one side by the mountain, and on the other sheltered +by a little ridge of rock. It was an open grove of pines, which +assimilated in size to the grandeur of the mountain, being frequently +six feet in diameter. + +"Tonight we had no shelter, but we made a large fire around the +trunk of one of the huge pines; and covering the snow with small +boughs, on which we spread our blankets, soon made ourselves +comfortable. The night was very bright and clear, though the +thermometer was only at 10 degrees. A strong wind which sprang up +at sundown, made it intensely cold; and this was one of the bitterest +nights during the journey. + +"Two Indians joined our party here; and one of them, an old man, +immediately began to harangue us, saying that ourselves and animals +would perish in the snow; and that, if we would go back, he would +show us another and a better way across the mountain. He spoke in +a very loud voice, and there was a singular repetition of phrases +and arrangement of words, which rendered his speech striking, and +not unmusical. + +"We had now begun to understand some words, and, with the aid of +signs, easily comprehended the old man's simple ideas. 'Rock upon +rock -- rock upon rock -- snow upon snow -- snow upon snow,' said +he; 'even if you get over the snow, you will not be able to get +down from the mountains.' He made us the sign of precipices, and +showed us how the feet of the horses would slip, and throw them +off from the narrow trails led along their sides. Our Chinook, who +comprehended even more readily than ourselves, and believed our +situation hopeless, covered his head with his blanket, and began +to weep and lament. 'I wanted to see the whites,' said he; 'I came +away from my own people to see the whites, and I wouldn't care to +die among them; but here' -- and he looked around into the cold +night and gloomy forest, and, drawing his blanket over his head, +began again to lament. + +"Seated around the tree, the fire illuminating the rocks and the +tall boils of the pines round about, and the old Indian haranguing, +we presented a group of very serious faces. + +"February 5. -- The night had been too cold to sleep, and we were +up very early. Our guide was standing by the fire with all his finery +on; and seeing him shiver in the cold, I threw on his shoulders one +of my blankets. We missed him a few minutes afterwards, and never +saw him again. He had deserted. His bad faith and treachery were +in perfect keeping with the estimate of Indian character, which +a long intercourse with this people had gradually forced upon my +mind. + +"While a portion of the camp were occupied in bringing up the +baggage to this point, the remainder were busied in making sledges +and snowshoes. I had determined to explore the mountain ahead, and +the sledges were to be used in transporting the baggage. + +"Crossing the open basin, in a march of about ten miles we reached +the top of one of the peaks, to the left of the pass indicated +by our guide. Far below us, dimmed by the distance, was a large, +snowless valley, bounded on the western side, at the distance of +about a hundred miles, by a low range of mountains, which Carson +recognized with delight as the mountains bordering the coast. +'There,' said he, 'is the little mountain -- it is fifteen years +ago since I saw it; but I am just as sure as if I had seen it +yesterday.' Between us, then, and this low coast range, was the +valley of the Sacramento; and no one who had not accompanied us +through the incidents of our life for the last few months, could +realize the delight with which at last we looked down upon it. At +the distance of apparently thirty miles beyond us were distinguished +spots of prairie; and a dark line, which could be traced with the +glass, was imagined to be the course of the river; but we were +evidently at a great height above the valley, and between us and +the plains extended miles of snowy fields and broken ridges of pine +covered mountains. + +"It was late in the day when we turned towards the camp; and it +grew rapidly cold as it drew towards night. One of the men became +fatigued and his feet began to freeze, and building a fire in the +trunk of a dry old cedar, Mr. Fitzpatrick remained with him until +his clothes could be dried, and he was in a condition to come on. +After a day's march of twenty miles, we straggled into camp, one +after another, at nightfall; the greater number excessively fatigued, +only two of the party having ever travelled on snowshoes before. + +"All our energies were now directed to getting our animals across +the snow; and it was supposed that, after all the baggage had been +drawn with the sleighs over the trail we had made, it would be +sufficiently hard to bear our animals. + +"At several places, between this point and the ridge, we had +discovered some grassy spots, where the wind and sun had dispersed +the snow from the sides of the hills, and these were to form resting +place to support the animals for a night in their passage across. +On our way across, we had set on fire several broken stumps and +dried trees, to melt holes in the snow for the camp. Its general +depth was five feet; but we passed over places where it was twenty +feet deep, as shown by the trees. + +"With one party drawing sleighs loaded with baggage, I advanced +today about four miles along the trail, and encamped at the first +grassy spot, where we expected to bring our horses. Mr. Fitzpatrick, +with another party, remained behind, to form an intermediate station +between us and the animals. + +"Putting on our snowshoes, we spent the afternoon in exploring +a road ahead. The glare of the snow, combined with great fatigue, +had rendered many of the people nearly blind; but we were fortunate +in having some black silk handkerchiefs, which, worn as veils, very +much relieved the eye. + +"In the evening I received a message from Mr. Fitzpatrick, acquainting me +with the utter failure of his attempt to get our mules and horses +over the snow -- the half hidden trail had proved entirely too slight +to support them, and they had broken through, and were plunging +about or lying half buried in snow. He was occupied in endeavoring +to get them back to his camp; and in the mean time sent to me for +further instructions. I wrote to him to send the animals immediately +back to their old pastures; and, after having made mauls and +shovels, turn in all the strength of his party to open and beat a +road through the snow, strengthening it with branches and boughs +of the pines. + +"February 12. -- We made mauls, and worked hard at our end of the +road all the day. The wind was high, but the sun bright, and the +snow thawing. We worked down the face of the hill, to meet the +people at the other end. Towards sundown it began to grow cold, +and we shouldered our mauls, and trudged back to camp. + +"February 13. -- We continued to labor on the road; and in the +course of the day had the satisfaction to see the people working +down the face of the opposite hill, about three miles distant. During +the morning we had the pleasure of a visit from Mr. Fitzpatrick, +with the information that all was going on well. A party of Indians +had passed on snowshoes, who said they were going to the western +side of the mountain after fish. This was an indication that the +salmon were coming up the streams; and we could hardly restrain our +impatience as we thought of them, and worked with increased vigor. + +"I was now perfectly satisfied that we had struck the stream on +which Mr. Sutter lived, and turning about, made a hard push, and +reached the camp at dark. Here we had the pleasure to find all +the remaining animals, fifty-seven in number, safely arrived at +the grassy hill near the camp; and here, also, we were agreeably +surprised with the sight of an abundance of salt. Some of the horse +guard had gone to a neighboring hut for pine nuts, and discovered +unexpectedly a large cake of very white fine grained salt, which +the Indians told them they had brought from the other side of the +mountain; they used it to eat with their pine nuts, and readily +sold it for goods. + +"On the 19th, the people were occupied in making a road and bringing +up the baggage; and, on the afternoon of the next day, February 20, +1844, we encamped with all the materiel of the camp, on the summit +of the pass in the dividing ridge, 1,000 miles by our travelled +road from the Dalles of the Columbia. + +"February 21. -- We now considered ourselves victorious over the +mountain; having only the descent before us, and the valley under +our eyes, we felt strong hope that we should force our way down. +But this was a case in which the descent was not facile. Still, +deep fields of snow lay between, and there was a large intervening +space of rough looking mountains, through which we had yet to wind +our way. Carson roused me this morning with an early fire, and +we were all up long before day, in order to pass the snow fields +before the sun should render the crust soft. We enjoyed this morning +a scene at sunrise, which, even here, was unusually glorious and +beautiful. Immediately above the eastern mountains was repeated +a cloud formed mass of purple ranges, bordered with bright yellow +gold; the peaks shot up into a narrow line of crimson cloud, above +which the air was filled with a greenish orange; and over all was +the singular beauty of the blue sky. Passing along a ridge which +commanded the lake on our right, of which we began to discover an +outlet through a chasm on the west, we passed over alternating open +ground and hard crusted snow fields which supported the animals, +and encamped on the ridge after a journey of six miles. The grass +was better than we had yet seen, and we were encamped in a clump +of trees, twenty or thirty feet high, resembling white pine." + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + + +Continuation of Fremont's Account of the Passage Through the +Mountains. + +"We had hard and doubtful labor yet before us, as the snow appeared +to be heavier where the timber began further down, with few open +spots. Ascending a height, we traced out the best line we could +discover for the next day's march, and had at least the consolation +to see that the mountain descended rapidly. The day had been one +of April; gusty, with a few occasional flakes of snow; which, in +the afternoon enveloped the upper mountains in clouds. We watched +them anxiously, as now we dreaded a snow storm. Shortly afterwards +we heard the roll of thunder, and looking toward the valley, found +it all enveloped in a thunderstorm. For us, as connected with the +idea of summer, it had a singular charm; and we watched its progress +with excited feelings until nearly sunset, when the sky cleared off +brightly, and we saw a shining line of water directing its course +towards another, a broader and larger sheet. We knew that these +could be no other than the Sacramento and the bay of San Francisco; +but, after our long wandering in rugged mountains, where so frequently +we had met with disappointments, and where the crossing of every +ridge displayed some unknown lake or river, we were yet almost +afraid to believe that we were at last to escape into the genial +country of which we have heard so many glowing descriptions, and +dreaded again to find some vast interior lake, whose bitter waters +would bring us disappointment. On the southern shore of what +appeared to be the bay, could be traced the gleaming line where +entered another large stream; and again the Buenaventura rose up +in our mind. + +"Carson had entered the valley along the southern side of the bay, +but the country then was so entirely covered with water from snow +and rain, that he had been able to form no correct impression of +watercourses. + +"We had the satisfaction to know that at least there were people +below. Fires were lit up in the valley just at night, appearing +to be in answer to ours; and these signs of life renewed, in +some measure, the gayety of the camp. They appeared so near, that +we judged them to be among the timber of some of the neighboring +ridges; but, having them constantly in view day after day, and +night after night, we afterwards found them to be fires that had +been kindled by the Indians among the tulares, on the shore of the +bay, eighty miles distant. + +"Axes and mauls were necessary today to make a road through the +snow. Going ahead with Carson to reconnoitre the road, we reached +in the afternoon the river which made the outlet of the lake. Carson +sprang over, clear across a place where the stream was compressed +among rocks, but the parfleche sole of my moccasin glanced from +the icy rock, and precipitated me into the river. It was some few +seconds before I could recover myself in the current, and Carson, +thinking me hurt, jumped in after me, and we both had an icy bath. +We tried to search a while for my gun, which had been lost in the +fall, but the cold drove us out; and making a large fire on the +bank, after we had partially dried ourselves we went back to meet +the camp. We afterwards found that the gun had been slung under +the ice which lined the banks of the creek. + +"The sky was clear and pure, with a sharp wind from the northeast, +and the thermometer 20 below the freezing point. + +"We continued down the south face of the mountain; our road leading +over dry ground, we were able to avoid the snow almost entirely. +In the course of the morning we struck a foot path, which we were +generally able to keep; and the ground was soft to our animals +feet, being sandy or covered with mould. Green grass began to make +its appearance, and occasionally we passed a hill scatteringly +covered with it. The character of the forest continued the same; +and, among the trees, the pine with sharp leaves and very large +cones was abundant, some of them being noble trees. We measured +one that had ten feet diameter, though the height was not more than +one hundred and thirty feet. All along, the river was a roaring +torrent, its fall very great; and, descending with a rapidity to +which we had long been strangers, to our great pleasure oak trees +appeared on the ridge, and soon became very frequent; on these I +remarked unusually great quantities of mistletoe. + +"The opposite mountain side was very steep and continuous -- unbroken +by ravines, and covered with pines and snow; while on the side we +were travelling, innumerable rivulets poured down from the ridge. +Continuing on, we halted a moment at one of these rivulets, to +admire some beautiful evergreen trees, resembling live oak, which +shaded the little stream. They were forty to fifty feet high, and +two in diameter, with a uniform tufted top; and the summer green +of their beautiful foliage, with the singing birds, and the sweet +summer wind which was whirling about the dry oak leaves, nearly +intoxicated us with delight; and we hurried on, filled with excitement, +to escape entirely from the horrid region of inhospitable snow, to +the perpetual spring of the Sacramento. + +"February 25. -- Believing that the difficulties of the road +were passed, and leaving Mr. Fitzpatrick to follow slowly, as the +condition of the animals required, I started ahead this morning with +a party of eight, consisting (with myself) of Mr. Preuss, and Mr. +Talbot, Carson, Derosier, Towns, Proue, and Jacob. We took with +us some of the best animals, and my intention was to proceed as +rapidly as possible to the house of Mr. Sutter, and return to meet +the party with a supply of provisions and fresh animals. + +"Near night fall we descended into the steep ravine of a handsome +creek thirty feet wide, and I was engaged in getting the horses up +the opposite hill, when I heard a shout from Carson, who had gone +ahead a few hundred yards. 'Life yet,' said he, as he came up, +'life yet; I have found a hillside sprinkled with grass enough for +the night.' We drove along our horses, and encamped at the place +about dark, and there was just room enough to make a place for +shelter on the edge of the stream. Three horses were lost today -- +Proveau; a fine young horse from the Columbia, belonging to Charles +Towns; and another Indian horse which carried our cooking utensils; +the two former gave out, and the latter strayed off into the woods +as we reached the camp: and Derosier knowing my attachment to +Proveau, volunteered to go and bring him in. + +"Carson and I climbed one of the nearest mountains; the forest land +still extended ahead, and the valley appeared as far as ever. The +pack horse was found near the camp, but Derosier did not get in. + +"We began to be uneasy at Derosier's absence, fearing he might +have been bewildered in the woods. Charles Towns, who had not yet +recovered his mind, went to swim in the river, as if it was summer, +and the stream placid, when it was a cold mountain torrent foaming +among the rocks. We were happy to see Derosier appear in the evening. +He came in, and sitting down by the fire, began to tell us where +he had been. He imagined he had been gone several days, and thought +we were still at the camp where he had left us; and we were pained +to see that his mind was deranged. It appeared that he had been +lost in the mountain, and hunger and fatigue, joined to weakness +of body, and fear of perishing in the mountains had crazed him. The +times were severe when stout men lost their minds from extremity of +suffering -- when horses died -- and when mules and horses, ready +to die of starvation, were killed for food. Yet there was no +murmuring or hesitation. In the meantime Mr. Preuss continued on +down the river, and unaware that we had encamped so early in the +day, was lost. When night arrived and he did not come in, we began +to understand what had happened to him; but it was too late to make +any search. + +"March 3. -- We followed Mr. Preuss's trail for a considerable +distance along the river, until we reached a place where he had +descended to the stream below and encamped. Here we shouted and +fired guns, but received no answer; and we concluded that he had +pushed on down the stream. I determined to keep out from the river, +along which it was nearly impracticable to travel with animals, +until it should form a valley. At every step the country improved +in beauty; the pines were rapidly disappearing, and oaks became +the principal trees of the forest. Among these, the prevailing tree +was the evergreen oak (which, by way of distinction, we shall call +the live oak); and with these, occurred frequently a new species +of oak, bearing a long, slender acorn, from an inch to an inch and +a half in length, which we now began to see formed the principal +vegetable food of the inhabitants of this region. In a short +distance we crossed a little rivulet, where were two old huts and +near by were heaps of acorn hulls. The ground round about was very +rich, covered with an exuberant sward of grass; and we sat down +for a while in the shade of the oaks to let the animals feed. We +repeated our shouts for Mr. Preuss; and this time we were gratified +with an answer. The voice grew rapidly nearer, ascending from the +river, but when we expected to see him emerge, it ceased entirely. +We had called up some straggling Indian -- the first we had met, +although for two days back we had seen tracks -- who, mistaking +us for his fellows, had been only undeceived by getting close up. +It would have been pleasant to witness his astonishment; he would +not have been more frightened had some of the old mountain spirits +they are so much afraid of suddenly appeared in his path. Ignorant +of the character of these people, we had now additional cause of +uneasiness in regard to Mr. Preuss; he had no arms with him, and +we began to think his chance doubtful. Occasionally we met deer, +but had not the necessary time for hunting. At one of these orchard +grounds, we encamped about noon to make an effort for Mr. Preuss. +One man took his way along a spur leading into the river, in +hope to cross his trail, and another took our own back. Both were +volunteers; and to the successful man was promised a pair of pistols +-- not as a reward, but as a token of gratitude for a service which +would free us all from much anxiety." + +At the end of four days, Mr. Preuss surprised and delighted his +friends by walking into camp. He had lived on roots and acorns and +was in the last stages of exhaustion. + +Shortly the advance party reached Sutter's Fort where they received +the most hospitable treatment. All their wants were abundantly +supplied, and provisions were sent back to Fitzpatrick and his +party. + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + + +The Start Homeward -- The Visitors in Camp and Their Story -- Carson +and Godey Start to the Rescue -- Trailing the Enemy by Night -- In +Camp -- The Attack -- An Amazing Success -- The Return. + +Fremont and his command remained at Sutter's Fort about a month, +when their preparations were completed for their return to the +States. They journeyed leisurely up the valley of the San Joaquin, +crossing over the Sierra Nevada and Coast Range by means of an +easily travelled pass. The latter chain was followed until they +came upon the Spanish trail, along which they passed to the Mohave +River. Where the Trail diverges from that stream, Carson became +involved in a characteristic adventure. + +While in camp two Mexicans, a man and a boy, rode up and told +a sad story. They belonged to a party of Mexican traders from New +Mexico. Six of them, including two women who acted as cooks, were +left in charge of a band of horses while the rest were away, engaged +in barter. When endeavoring to find better grazing for their animals +and while the man and boy were on guard, they were attacked by +a band of thirty Indians. The warriors were after the horses and +their first demonstration was a flight of arrows. The only chance +of escape was to make off with the animals and the two started +them on a dead run straight toward the Indians. The charge was so +impetuous, that they forced their way through, and continued their +flight, while the warriors remained behind to massacre the others. + +When the couple had gone a long distance, they left the horses and +turned back to look for their friends. While they were doing so, +they came upon Fremont's camp. When it is added that among those +who were left behind by the Mexicans, were the wife of the man +and the father and mother of the boy, their pitiful situation must +touch the hearts of all. They were overcome with grief, and Carson +was so stirred that he volunteered to go back with the couple and +help rescue their friends if alive, or punish the Indians, if it +should prove that they had been massacred. + +Richard Godey, a mountaineer almost the equal with Carson, willingly +agreed to accompany him. The two were perfectly familiar with the +country, which was an immense advantage. When the Mexicans described +the spring, a long ways distant, where they had abandoned the horses +to hunt for their friends, Carson recalled its exact location. It +was about thirty miles away and he said that that was the point +toward which they must push with all speed. + +Accordingly they turned the heads of their horses thither and struck +into a sweeping gallop, resting only when compelled to do so, and +reaching the spring at daylight the next morning. Not a horse was +visible, but an examination of the ground showed that the Indians +had followed the fleeing Mexicans and stock to the spring, where, +finding the animals, they had captured and driven them off in +another direction. + +It seems like a piece of madness for three men to pursue ten times +as many Indian warriors; but the blood of Carson was up and he +told Godey it was too soon for them to turn back. The eyes of both +flashed, when they reflected upon the shameful outrage, and they +meant that the marauders should not get off scot free. + +As the boy was only an incumbrance, he was left behind, and, taking +the trail of the warriors, the three put their horses to their +best, confident the chase would be a long one. On such occasions, +the red men are accustomed to travel a long distance before making +a halt. With so much booty in their hands, they were liable to +be set upon by others as savage as themselves, and they had every +cause, therefore, to get out of the country with the least possible +delay. + +The three were riding in this furious fashion, when most unexpectedly +the steed of the Mexican gave out. A minute's examination showed +he was as thoroughly used up and useless as the horse of the Ute +Indian, years before, who started out with Kit to pursue the thief +that was running off with the animals. There was no course but to +leave the Mexican behind, for time was too precious to ride back +to camp after another horse. He, therefore was told to go back to +Fremont's camp and await their return. + +The exploit of Carson and Godey, when calmly told, seems incredible. +There was no one in Fremont's command who would go with them, and +though they knew there were a score and a half of savage wild men +to encounter, they did not hesitate, but pressed their steeds to +the utmost, eager to join in the fierce hand to hand conflict. + +When night shut in upon them, the Indians were not in sight and +the signs indicated they were a good many miles ahead. There was +no moon or stars and they could see only a few feet in advance of +their horses' ears, but it would not do to linger. If they should +go into camp, they would lose so much ground that pursuit was likely +to be hopeless. + +Accordingly, they dismounted and leading their steeds, continued +the pursuit on foot. Where it was impossible to see the ground, +they depended on the sense of feeling. Quite certain of the general +direction taken by the red men, they occasionally stooped down and +passed their hands over the earth. The trail was so distinct that +it could be readily detected in this manner, provided they had not +gone astray. Several times they wandered to the right or left, but +found their way back without difficulty, and the chase was continued +for several hours in this singular fashion. + +After a time, the trail became so fresh that it could be readily +detected and no doubt was left in their minds that they were close +upon the marauders. Inasmuch as Carson and Godey had pushed their +horses to the utmost, and they were showing signs of weariness, they +concluded, in view of these facts, to halt and wait until daylight. + +The night was unusually cold, but they dared not start a fire, lest +it should apprise their enemies of their presence. So they suffered +in silence, miserable, wretched and as uncomfortable as it was +possible to be, while watching for the growing light in the east. + +When at last, morning appeared, they were so chilled that they could +hardly walk; but making their way to the bottom of a ravine, they +kindled a fire, and with the help of some violent exercise, managed +to start their blood in circulation. + +In a very brief time, their horses were resaddled and they were +galloping along the trail again. Within an hour, they caught sight +of the Indians and the stolen animals. The warriors were in camp +and were enjoying a breakfast of horse meat, several of the stock +having been killed to furnish the food. + +Before the Indians could detect their pursuers, the latter dismounted +and hid their steeds where they were not likely to attract notice. +They then started to crawl in among the stolen animals, which were +grazing a short distance from camp. This was an exceedingly delicate +task, for the horses were likely to give the alarm, even if the +warriors did not detect their presence; but patience and skill +succeeded, and, after a time, they were among the drove. + +But the very thing they dreaded took place. They had scarcely reached +the animals, when one of them became frightened by the appearance +of the strangers, and began rearing and snorting. This caused such +confusion among the others that the Indians became alarmed and +sprang to their feet. Carson and Godey emitted a series of yells +that must have made the red men envious, and dashed at full speed +toward the thirty Indians. The moment they were within range, both +fired. Carson killed his man, but Godey missed. The latter reloaded +with great quickness and fired again, bringing down his man. + +Meanwhile, the warriors were thrown into a sort of panic by the +amazing audacity of their assailants. They could not have suspected +the truth -- that is that no others were near. They must have +believed that a strong reserve was close at hand and that if they +tarried in camp they would be overwhelmed by a party of avengers. +Accordingly they broke and ran, leaving the daring mountaineers +masters of the field. + +In accordance with the savage spirit of the border, Godey scalped +the two Indians who had been shot, after which the horses were +gathered together and driven to where the steeds of the mountaineers +had been left. + +But when this point was reached, Carson expressed himself as not +satisfied: they had not ascertained the fate of the captives and +they now proceeded to do so. + +In the camp of the Mexicans were found the mangled bodies of the +two men. These were buried by Carson and Godey who made search for +the women. Though nothing of them was discovered, it was afterwards +learned that they, too, had been killed. Having done all that was +possible, Carson and Godey made their way back to Fremont's camp, +where the stolen property was turned over to the Mexicans, the +daring mountaineers refusing to accept the slightest payment for +their extraordinary services. + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + + +Arrival at Bent's Fort -- Carson goes to Taos and Decides to Become +a Farmer -- Arrival of a Messenger from Fremont -- Carson and Owens +Repair Again to Bent's Fort -- Carson Engages as Guide for Fremont's +Third Exploring Expedition -- On the Great Divide -- Division of +the Parties -- The Journey Across the Desert -- A Singular Meeting +-- Aboriginal Horse Thieves. + +After a tedious journey of many miles, the exploring party reached +Bent's Fort July 2, 1844. The labors were considered finished, and +bidding his old commander goodbye, Carson made his way to Taos, +where he had a most happy reunion with his family. He was cordially +welcomed by hundreds of old friends who had learned years before +the rare courage and worth of the man, and who were proud to possess +such a neighbor. + +Carson had led a wild and adventurous career, and, after talking +much with those in whom he had confidence, he decided to adopt +the life of a farmer. In this conclusion he was joined by Richard +Owens, an old mountaineer and an intimate associate for many years. + +It did not take them long to fix upon a desirable site, and, in the +spring of 1845, stock and animals were bought, building commenced +and everything was fairly under way. At the moment when the scarred +mountaineers were counting with pleasure on the complete arrangements +made, an express messenger galloped up and handed Carson a letter. + +The contents were of an important character. Captain Fremont had +written to notify Kit that he had started on his third exploring +expedition, and, inasmuch as the mountaineer had given his promise +months before, that in the event of doing so, he (Carson) would +serve again as guide, Fremont reminded him that he should hold him +to his pledge and would expect to meet him at Bent's Fort on his +arrival there. + +It was a considerable pecuniary sacrifice for Carson to keep his +promise, but he never failed to do so, when it was not absolutely +impossible. Besides, it is fair to presume that the old life could +never lose its charm for one of his disposition, and, contrasted +with the humdrum existence of a farmer, he could not have been much +grieved over the reception of the message. But it must be stated +that both Owens and Carson sold out at much loss, and, putting +their affairs in the best shape possible, bade families and friends +goodbye, mounted their horses and set out for Bent's Fort which +was safely reached some days later. + +There they were warmly welcomed by Fremont, who had entered upon +his third exploring expedition, the last under the authority of +the United States government, though two others were afterwards +undertaken on his own responsibility. As was to be supposed, +Fremont taking lessons from his previous experiences, was much +better equipped for his third than for either of the other preceding +expeditions. He had about fifty men, among them in addition to +Carson and Owens, being Maxwell, the famous mountaineer, Walker who +was a member of Captain Bonneville's expedition to the Columbia, +besides other hunters and scouts less known but not less skilful +and daring than they. + +We have already given tolerably full accounts of the two exploring +expeditions of Fremont, and it is not our purpose to narrate the +particulars of the one which followed. There is a sameness in many +of the occurrences but the third time the Pathfinder penetrated +into the recesses of the far west, he became involved in a series +of experiences totally different from the preceding and deeply +interesting of themselves. + +Several months were spent on what may be called the Great Divide +-- that is the region where the waters flow east or west to either +ocean, and in the autumn of the year they encamped on the southwestern +shore of the Great Salt Lake. + +Before them stretched a vast arid plain to which the trappers +referred with a shudder of terror. They had heard of it many a time +and the common legend was that no man white or Indian who had ever +attempted to cross it, succeeded. These stories, however, added to +the eagerness of Captain Fremont to explore its secrets, and, when +he proposed it to his men, they expressed as strong a desire as he +to do so. They felt a mutual trust and confidence impossible under +other circumstances. + +Some seventy miles away, a mountain peak held out the promise of +wood and water. Four men under the guidance of an Indian, were sent +forward to explore the place, and, in the event of finding water, +they were instructed to apprise the watchful commander by means of +the smoke from a camp fire. + +When the second day closed without sight of the signal, Fremont +became so uneasy that he moved forward with the rest of the party +and travelled all night. At daylight, one of the smaller party +approached them. He said that running water and grass existed at +the mountains, but their Indian guide was wholly ignorant of the +country. This was good news and the next day the party reached the +stream. + +Shortly after, the expedition was divided into two parties, Walker +(of whom mention has been made), taking charge of the larger while +Fremont led the smaller. It was the purpose of Walker to pass +around to the foot of the Sierra Nevada, by a route with which he +was familiar, while Fremont with Carson and less than a dozen men, +among whom were several Delaware Indians, headed straight across +the desert. + +While advancing over this arid tract, they detected a volume of +smoke rising from a ravine. Cautiously approaching, they discovered +an Indian warrior perfectly nude, standing by a fire and watching +an earthen pot in which something was simmering. He was greatly +frightened and offered them his food. They smiled, treated him +kindly and gave him several trifling presents which he received +with childish delight. + +One of the singular incidents of the journey took place while the +exploring party were making their way along the foot of the Sierras. +Passing around a point on the lake shore, they unexpectedly met a +dozen Indian warriors. They were walking directly behind each other +in what is known as Indian file, their heads bent forward and their +eyes fixed on the ground. The whites turned aside to allow them +to pass and naturally watched them with much interest. The Indians +neither halted, deviated from the path, spoke nor looked up, but +walked straight forward with their silent, measured tread until they +disappeared. The explorers did not interfere with them or speak to +them. Thus the representatives of the different races encountered. + +The division under charge of Walker joined Fremont at the appointed +rendezvous, but winter was upon them, the mountains were sure +to be choked with snow and no one was familiar with the route. As +a matter of prudence, therefore, Walker was directed to continue +southward with the principal party, while Fremont and a few picked +men pushed on directly through the Sierras to Sutter's Fort, with +a view of obtaining the necessary animals and supplies. + +The smaller division was advancing as best it could, when a number +of plainly marked trails were observed showing they were in the +vicinity of some of the most notorious horse thieves in the world. +They were daring and skilful, went long distances, plundered ranches +and hastened to the mountains with their booty. The exasperated +Californians often organized and went in pursuit, but it was rare +they overtook the dusky thieves, and when they succeeded in doing +so, were invariably defeated. + +This sort of people were undesirable neighbors, and Fremont sent +forward two Delawares and two mountaineers to make an investigation. +They had not gone far, when the company following them found the +signs so threatening that they were alarmed for the scouts. A short +distance further they came upon such an excellent camping site that +they decided to halt for the night. + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + + +Alarming Sounds -- Danger of the Scouts -- Fremont Goes to Their +Rescue -- Arrival at Sutter's Fort -- Ordered out of California by +the Mexican Governor -- Fremont's Refusal -- Withdrawal to Sacramento +River -- Arrival of Despatches from Washington -- War with Mexico +-- Meeting with Lieutenant Gillespie -- Night Attack by Klamath +Indians. + +While preparing to go into camp, the explorers were mystified +by hearing a number of peculiar sounds like the barking of dogs. +Attentive listening, however, satisfied them that it came from an +Indian village close by, whose women and children were calling out +and lamenting. This constituted positive proof that the friends in +advance were in trouble with the red men and there was not a minute +to lose in going to their rescue. + +A half mile further, the explorers galloped over a slight ridge, +when they suddenly came in sight of several hundred Indians, who +were making their way up two sides of a knoll, on the crest of +which the four scouts had entrenched themselves among the rocks +and trees and were coolly awaiting the attack of their enemies. + +The little party had run so suddenly into danger that they were +compelled to make a flying leap from their horses, in order to +secure a suitable shelter. The assailants had almost captured the +abandoned horses, when relief came. The two Delawares made a dash +to recover their animals, their companions shooting the foremost +of the thieves. The property was saved and then all fell back to +their own camp. + +As the aboriginal horse thieves were so numerous, Fremont kept up +an unremitting watch all through the night. Singular noises were +continually heard and there could be no doubt that the women and +children were retreating further into the mountains. + +One of the Delawares on guard was sure he saw an Indian leap over +a log, and firing quickly, brought him to the ground; but it proved +to be a prowling wolf. None of their enemies appeared, and when +morning came, Fremont withdrew from his perilous position. + +Sutter's Fort at last was safely reached, and the other party having +become lost, Carson was sent to find them. He succeeded with little +difficulty and the companies reunited. + +Their course was now directed toward Monterey on the sea coast, +where they were confident of securing all they needed, but before +reaching the place, a messenger arrived from General Castro, the +Mexican commander of the territory, ordering the Americans to leave +at once or they would be driven out. + +Fremont immediately intrenched himself and waited for the Mexicans +to carry out their threat. He waited three days, and then, as +no attempt was made, withdrew to the Sacramento, which stream was +followed to Lawson's Trading Post, where the commander hoped to +purchase the outfit for the journey homeward. + +Moving northward toward the Columbia, they encountered an enormous +force of marauding Indians with whom a fierce battle was fought. +The savages were defeated and lost a large number of warriors. + +While encamped near Klamath Lake, two horsemen galloped up with +despatches to Fremont from Washington, forwarded by Lieutenant +Gillespie, of the United States Marines. This officer was making +his way through the Indian country with six men as an escort, when +his animals began to succumb. Fearing he would not be able to +intercept the Captain, the Lieutenant selected two of his best men +and sent them ahead with the despatches. He begged Fremont to forward +him assistance, as he doubted his ability to reach him without such +help. + +But the most startling news brought to camp was that war had been +declared between the United States and Mexico. When Fremont had read +his despatches from his Government, he appreciated the imminent +danger in which the Lieutenant was placed, and, without any tarrying, +perfected measures for his rescue. + +He immediately selected ten of his men, Carson, as a matter of course +being among them, and pushed on with all haste, leaving directions +for the rest to follow as rapidly as they could. + +Fremont and his little company had journeyed something over fifty +miles when they met the officer and his companions. The meeting was +of the happiest nature, for the Lieutenant, in fact, was in greater +danger than he suspected, the Indians around him being among the +most treacherous of their race. + +Those who have been placed in a situation resembling in a slight +degree that of Fremont, can appreciate the interest with which he +perused the letters and papers from his distant home. After the +parties had gone into camp, the Captain sat up till after midnight +reading by the light of the camp fire. Tired out at last, he +stretched out with his blanket about him and sank soon into heavy +slumber. + +The night was cold, and Carson and Owens, with their saddle blankets +wrapped around them, lay down close to the fire. All at once Carson +heard a peculiar noise, as though some one had struck a quick blow +with an axe. Wondering what it could mean, he called to one of the +mountaineers. + +"What's the matter over there?" + +There was no answer, for the head of the poor fellow had been cleft +by an axe in the hands of one of the Klamath Indians who had crept +into camp. A Delaware had already been killed by the treacherous +redskins, that night being the second among all those spent in the +west, when the explorers had no sentinel on duty. + +Carson and Owens called out "Indians!" and springing to their feet, +hurried away from the fire whose strong light was sure to tempt +the aim of their enemies. + +One of the other Delawares who leaped to his feet snatched up the +nearest rifle which unfortunately was not his own, and was unloaded. +Unaware of the fact, he tried to fire it over again and again, +without suspecting the cause, while a Klamath launched arrow after +arrow into his body. The first penetrated his left breast and was +fatal; but he bravely kept his feet trying to discharge the useless +gun, until four other missiles were also buried within a few inches +of the first. + +Kit Carson had been quick to detect the danger of the brave Delaware, +and, in the hope of saving his life, he brought his unerring +rifle to his shoulder. Just as his finger pressed the trigger, he +recollected that that, too, was unloaded. + +By one of those singular fatalities which sometimes occur, Carson +had broken the tube the night before, and left the weapon unloaded. +Without trifling with it, he threw it down, drew his single barrelled +pistol and ran toward the Klamath, who was coolly launching his +arrows into the breast of the poor Delaware. + +The Indian leaped from side to side, so as to distract the aim +of his enemies, and, instead of hitting him, Carson only cut the +string which held a tomahawk to the warrior's arm. The mountaineer +had no other shot at command, and Maxwell tried his hand, but in +the uncertain light, inflicted only a slight wound. The Indian at +that moment wheeled to run, when one of the whites shot him dead. +By this time the alarm was general and the assailants fled. + +There was good reason to believe that the Klamath Indians had +set the snare for Lieutenant Gillespie and his escort. As it was, +the wonder was that Fremont's command did not suffer to a greater +extent; for having no sentinels on duty, the warriors might have +perfected their schemes in security and killed a large number. + +The Indian who drove five arrows into the left breast of the +Delaware, three of which pierced his heart, was the leader of the +attacking party. He had an English half axe slung to his wrist by +a cord, and forty arrows were left in his quiver. Carson pronounced +them the most beautiful and warlike missiles he had ever seen. + +As may be supposed the explorers "slept on their arms" for the rest +of the night, but the assailants had fled. + +They had killed three of the explorers, besides wounding another +of the Delawares, who took characteristic revenge by scalping the +leader that had been left where he fell. The dead were given the +best burial possible. As illustrating the ingratitude and perfidy +of these red men, it may be stated that it was only a few days before +that they had visited Fremont's camp, and, though provisions were +very scarce, they had been given considerable food, besides tobacco +and a number of presents. + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + + +Retaliatory Measures -- Fremont's Return to California -- Capture +of Sonoma -- Sutter's Fort Placed Under Military Rule -- Monterey +Taken by Commodore Sloat -- Capture of Los Angeles by Fremont and +Commodore Stockton -- Carson Sent East as a Bearer of Despatches +-- The Meeting with Apaches -- General Kearney -- Bravery of the +California Mexicans. + +The indignation over the action of the Indians was so great that +retaliatory measures were determined upon. Fremont moved around Lake +Klamath until nearly opposite where his command had been attacked. +The following morning, Carson and ten men were sent forward to +search for the Indian village that was believed to be somewhere in +the neighborhood. If the discovery could be made without detection +on the part of the Indians, Carson was instructed to signal to +Fremont who would hasten forward with reinforcements. + +The mountaineer had not gone far, when he struck a broad, clear +trail, which speedily carried him in sight of a village of some +fifty lodges. As it was evident that the Indians had detected their +danger, Carson and his companions made an impetuous attack before +which the red men fled in wildest panic. A number were shot, when, +finding pursuit useless, Carson returned to the village where all +the lodges were destroyed. + +Because of the war with Mexico, Fremont decided to return to +California. On his way thither, the Tlamath Indians continually +dogged them and a number of collisions followed, though none was +of particular moment. After suffering many hardships, Lawson's Fort +was reached and several days were spent in hunting, while Fremont +awaited instructions as to the course he was to take in the war +then going on between the United States and Mexico. + +As the days went by without bringing him any despatches, he wearied +of inactivity and decided to assume the aggressive. Accordingly +he sent a force to a Mexican military post known as Sonoma, which +with little trouble was taken. + +Fremont sent out a couple of messengers to inform the American +settlers of what had taken place, but the messengers fell into the +hands of General Castro who put both to death. + +General Castro sent one of his captains, with quite a force to +destroy the Americans, but the officer changed his mind when he +found himself in the neighborhood of the detested invaders. Fremont +pursued him for nearly a week, and captured much of his stock and +property, but the Mexican was so skilful in retreating that he +could not be brought to bay and Fremont returned to Sonoma. + +The little force under Fremont now became the rallying point for +the American settlers, and before long the Captain had several +hundred under his command. Leaving a garrison at Sonoma, he marched +to Sutter's Fort, which was placed under military rule, and then +made his way toward Monterey with the purpose of capturing that +town. On his arrival, however, he found the place had already been +taken by Commodore Sloat and the American squadron. The Commodore +leaving shortly after, Commodore Stockton succeeded him. + +While at Sonoma, Fremont and his comrades had declared the independence +of California and adopted the Bear Flag, which was proffered to +Commodore Sloat and the Star Spangled Banner hoisted over the camp. + +As the Mexican General, Castro, was known to be at Los Angeles, +Fremont asked for and obtained a ship on which his force was taken +to San Diego. Then with a much inferior force, he set out to give +battle to the Mexican leader; but the latter no sooner learned of +his coming, than he fled with all his men. Finding it impossible to +force him to give battle, Fremont encamped near the town, where he +waited until joined by Commodore Stockton and a company of marines. + +The junction effected, they marched upon Los Angeles which +immediately fell into their hands. Long before this, Fremont had +become impressed with the necessity of having some communication +with Washington. In one sense it may be said he was all at sea, for +he was without positive instructions, at a critical period, when +it was most important that his line of policy should be clearly +defined by his government. + +But the matter of communicating with headquarters, thousands of +miles away, was infinitely more difficult and serious than it is +today. A vast, wild, perilous and almost unknown tract stretched +between the Pacific and Atlantic, across which it required weeks +and sometimes months for an express rider to make his way. To +send despatches around Cape Horn took a much longer time; but the +necessity was so urgent that Fremont sent Carson with fifteen picked +men across the plains, instructing him to complete the journey if +possible in sixty days. + +Carson started in the middle of September, 1846, and by the exercise +of his consummate skill he passed rapidly through a most dangerous +section without running into any special danger until the third day. +Then, when in the neighborhood of the copper mines of New Mexico, +he suddenly came upon an encampment of Apaches, one of the most +hostile tribes and the most daring of fighters in the whole southwest. + +This was another of those critical occasions where Carson's wonderful +quickness of mind enabled him to make the right decision without a +second's delay. He understood the language, customs and peculiarities +of the people, and he knew them to be splendid riders and tiger-like +warriors. The least evidence of timidity would invite an overwhelming +attack: a bold front and what may be called indomitable "cheek" +were all that was likely to take them through. + +Telling his men to halt, Carson galloped forward until within +a few rods of the warriors, when he reined up and called out that +he wished to hold a parley with them. Thereupon, a number advanced +to hear what he had to say. The mountaineer stated that he and his +friends were simply travellers through the Apache country; while +they were prepared for war, they desired peace, and as their +animals were tired out they wished to exchange them for fresh +ones. The Apaches expressed themselves satisfied with the proposal, +and Carson carefully chose a camping site, where they could best +protect themselves against treachery. Then the exchange was made, +both parties being so well satisfied that they parted with many +expressions of good will. + +It was impossible to carry any extended stock of provisions, the +party depending upon their rifles to supply their needs in that +direction; but game proved to be very scarce and they suffered much +until they reached the first Mexican settlement. Although those +people were at war with the United States, their friendship for +Carson led them to supply abundantly all the wants of himself and +friends. + +With unremitting diligence and skill, the party pushed on day after +day until the sixth of October, when, as they were riding across a +treeless prairie, several moving specks were observed in the far +horizon. As they came closer, they resolved themselves into horsemen, +and, with a delight which may be imagined, Carson speedily observed +that they were a detachment of United States troops under the command +of General S. W. Kearney, who was highly pleased to meet Carson. + +The detachment was a strong one and was on its way to operate in +California. After that officer had obtained all the important news +Carson had to give, he decided to send the despatches to Washington +by another, while he employed the mountaineer to guide him back. + +This delicate duty was executed with such admirable skill that +General Kearney commended Carson in the highest terms. So rapidly +did they move that California was entered early in December, and +they were approaching San Diego, when the scouts brought news that +a large party of Mexicans were intrenched a short distance ahead +with the intention of disputing their advance. Fifteen men under +Carson were sent forward to drive in the outposts and capture such +loose animals as could be found. + +A fierce fight followed, the Mexicans showing far more daring and +skill than was expected. General Kearney was compelled to send +two companies of dragoons and twenty-five California volunteers to +charge the enemy. Carson was in the front column, and was riding +at high speed, when his horse stumbled, throwing him so violently +as to shatter the stock of his gun. He lay partly stunned but +speedily recovering, he caught up the rifle of a dead dragoon and +rushed into the fight. Though the Mexicans were finally driven +out, they inflicted frightful loss on the Americans. Nearly every +man who was in the front column, where Carson was riding when his +horse threw him, was killed by the deadly bullets of the enemy. + +The Mexicans soon rallied and attacked the Americans with such +fierceness that the advance guard was driven back and forced to +act on the defensive. No soldiers could have fought with greater +gallantry than did the assailants. Before the two mountain howitzers +could be unlimbered, almost every man around them was shot down. +Then the Mexicans charged forward, lassoed the horses, captured +one of the guns and turned it on the Americans. From some cause +or other it could not be discharged. Finally, the Americans took +refuge among the rocks, where they were surrounded by three or +four times their number, seemingly with the choice of two courses +before them -- to surrender or starve to death. + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + + +Daring Exploit of Kit Carson and Lieutenant Beale -- General Kearney +Saved. + +The situation of General Kearney and his men could not have been +more desperate. The only subsistence they had were their mules, and +the water was insufficient to meet their wants. They were completely +surrounded by the brave California Mexicans. They might exist for +a time on the bodies of their animals, but they must perish without +water. + +General Kearney called his friends together during the afternoon +to consult as to whether any possible means of escape was before +them. He could see none. He had sent three scouts to Commodore +Stockton at San Diego, asking for immediate help, but the three were +captured by the Mexicans on their return. Kearney had succeeded in +exchanging a Mexican lieutenant, whom he held prisoner, for one of +the scouts, but nothing was gained thereby. The messenger reported +that they had been unable to reach San Diego, and Commodore Stockton, +therefore, was in ignorance of the peril of his countrymen not far +distant. + +When every one expressed himself as unable to see the first ray of +hope, Carson in his deliberate, modest way said that it was clear +only a single possibility remained -- that was by procuring relief +from Commodore Stockton at San Diego. Though the other scouts had +failed to reach him, Carson expressed his belief that he could +succeed. At any rate, he desired to make the attempt to pass the +Mexican lines. + +Lieutenant Beale, since Minister to Austria, and favorably known +throughout the country, immediately seconded the proposition, +volunteering to accompany Carson. General Kearney gladly and +gratefully accepted the offer, and the arrangements were instantly +made. These arrangements were of the simplest nature. The beleaguered +Americans were surrounded by three cordons of sentinels, and it +was necessary for Carson and Beale to make their way past them in +order to reach San Diego. + +When night was fully descended, the two left the rocks and +approaching the first line, sank upon their hands and knees, and +crawled forward with the silence and stealth of Indian scouts. +Despite the utmost care, their shoes made a slight noise now and +then, and to avoid it, they took them off and shoved them in their +belts. + +The exploit of Lieutenant Beale and Kit Carson was a most remarkable +one in every respect. Frequently through the gloom they would catch +the faint outlines of a sentinel, pacing back and forth. Instantly +the two would lie flat on their faces until the man moved away, +when the painful progress would be resumed. + +The slightest forgetfulness was certain to prove fatal, for the +Mexicans, knowing the desperate straits of the Americans, must +have been expecting some such attempt and were therefore more than +usually watchful. + +Once a mounted Mexican rode close to the prostrate figures, sprang +off his horse and lit his cigarette. He was so close that the tiny +flame showed his nose and features, as it was held in front of his +face, while lighting the twist of tobacco. During that most trying +moment, as Kit Carson afterwards declared, he distinctly heard the +beating of Lieutenant Beale's heart. + +There seemed no escape but finally the horseman drove away and the +painful progress was continued for fully two miles, during which +both men were constantly peering through the darkness for signs +of danger. Again and again they were compelled to halt, and lying +flat on their faces, wait till their fate was determined. + +"We are through," whispered Carson at last, when considerable +distance beyond the last row of sentinels. + +"Thank heaven!" exclaimed Lieutenant Beale in the same guarded +voice. + +"Now we'll put on our shoes and travel as fast as we know how to +San Diego --" + +The mountaineer paused in dismay, for, while creeping over the +plain, he had lost both his shoes that were thrust in his belt. The +Lieutenant had been equally unfortunate, and, as it was utterly out +of their power to recover them, they could only push on barefooted, +over a soil that abounded with thorns and prickly pears. As these +could not be seen in the darkness, their feet were soon wounded +to a distressing degree. It was necessary to avoid the well beaten +trails, so that the route was not only made longer, but much more +difficult on account of the obstacles named. + +Yet they were working for a great stake. The lives of General Kearney +and his brave men were in the balance. If Carson and Beale failed +to bring help right speedily, they were doomed. + +All night long, through the succeeding day and far into the following +night, the couple, worn, wearied and with bleeding feet, pushed +ahead. When exhausted, they would halt for a brief while, but the +thought of their imperilled comrades, and the fear that some of +the Mexicans were pursuing them, speedily started them off again +and they kept to their work with a grim resolution which heeded +not fatigue, suffering and wounds. + +The only compass Carson had was his eye, but he was so familiar +with the country that he never lost himself. The weary men were +still trudging forward, when through the darkness ahead suddenly +flashed out a star-like point of light. Several others appeared and +a minute after they dotted the background of gloom like a constellation. + +"That's San Diego!" exclaimed Carson, who could not be mistaken. +The couple could scarcely restrain their joy. New life and activity +thrilled their bodies, and they hurried on with the same elastic +eagerness they felt at the beginning. + +In a short while they were challenged by sentinels, and making known +their mission, were taken before Commodore Stockton. That officer, +with his usual promptness, sent a force of nearly two hundred men +to the relief of General Kearney. They took with them a piece of +ordnance which for want of horses the men themselves were forced +to draw. + +They advanced by forced marches to the endangered Americans, +scarcely pausing night or day, until in sight of the Mexicans, who +considering discretion the better part of valor, withdrew without +exchanging a shot with the naval brigade. + +As may be supposed, the feet of Carson and Beale were in a frightful +condition, when they reached San Diego. The mountaineer, on that +account, did not return with the reinforcements, but he described +the course and location so minutely that no difficulty was experienced +by the relieving force. + +Lieutenant Beale was a man of sturdy frame, accustomed to roughing +it on the frontier, but the sufferings he underwent on that eventful +night were such that he felt the effects for years afterward. + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + + +Capture of Los Angeles -- Court Martial of Fremont -- Carson +Appointed a Bearer of Dispatches to Washington -- His Journey to +St. Louis -- Visits Washington -- Appointed Lieutenant by President +Polk -- Ordered Back Across the Continent -- His Journey -- +Assigned to Duty at Tajon Pass -- Again Ordered to Washington -- +His Appointment not Confirmed by the United States Senate -- Visit +to Washington -- Return to New Mexico. + +The chief force of the Mexicans was at Los Angeles over a hundred +miles to the north of San Diego. They numbered six or seven hundred +and were strongly intrenched. General Kearney and Commodore Stockton +joined their commands and marched to attack them. Arriving in front +of the town, they scattered the Mexicans intrenched on the outside, +and then marched into the place. But the enemy had fled and gone +northward to meet Fremont who was on his way from Monterey with +four hundred men to attack Los Angeles. + +The Mexicans had not long to search when they found Fremont, but, +instead of giving him battle, their commander surrendered, possibly +preferring to give him the honor, instead of selecting the other +commanders. Fremont continued his march to Los Angeles, where they +went into winter quarters, and Carson, who had been devoting his +valuable services to General Kearney, now rejoined his old friend, +Fremont. + +It may be stated in this place that the jealousy between Commodore +Stockton and General Kearney assumed such a shape at that time +that Fremont was compelled to acknowledge either one or the other +as his superior officer. He selected Commodore Stockton as the +one to whom he owed superior allegiance. The result of the petty +quarrel was the trial of Fremont by court martial, the particulars +of which are too well known to require further reference at our +hands. + +In the following March, Kit Carson was selected to carry despatches +to Washington. Lieutenant Beale, who was still suffering from the +exposure and hardships he had undergone, accompanied him, together +with a guard of a dozen veteran mountaineers. Lieutenant Beale was +so weak that Carson for many days was obliged to lift him on and +off his horse; but the clear air, the healthful exercise and the +cheery companionship of the hardy scout were the best tonics in +the world, and probably did the invalid more good than any other +treatment that could have been devised. + +Carson took an extremely southern route, and his superior skill and +knowledge of the country and its inhabitants enabled him to avoid +all danger until he reached a tributary of the lower Colorado. While +in camp at midnight, they were assailed with a shower of arrows +from a party of Indians; but, as Carson expected the attack, he +had made such preparations that not one of his men were injured. + +Without any other incident worth the mention, Carson and his escort +reached St. Louis. There the renowned mountaineer became the hero +of the hour. He was taken at once to the home of Hon. Thomas H. +Benton, the distinguished statesman and the father in law of Colonel +Fremont, who introduced him to the leading Citizens. + +The first person to greet Carson when he stepped from the cars in +Washington was Mrs. Fremont, who recognized him from the description +given by her husband in his letters. She compelled him to accompany +her to the house of her father, where he remained an honored guest +during his stay in Washington, which was for a considerable time. + +Among the compliments paid Carson while in the capital was that +of his appointment by President Polk, as lieutenant in the rifle +corps of the United States army, and he was ordered to return +across the continent with despatches. At Fort Leavenworth, Carson +was furnished with an escort of fifty men who were volunteers in +the war against Mexico. + +The journey westward was marked by no stirring incident until he +reached the eastern declivity of the Rocky Mountains, where a company +of United States Volunteers were overtaken. They had in charge an +enormous train of wagons on the way to New Mexico. On the morning +after the encampment of Carson near them, the Indians made an +attack upon the volunteers, capturing all their cattle and more than +twenty horses. The mountaineer and his men dashed to the rescue, +recaptured all the cattle, but were unable to retake the horses. + +Shortly after, Carson and his company reached Santa Fe. There he +parted from the volunteers and hired sixteen others with which he +continued the journey, thereby obeying the instructions received +at Fort Leavenworth. + +Pursuing the even tenor of his way, he arrived at a tributary of the +Virgin River, when he abruptly came upon an encampment of several +hundred Comanches, who, as Carson happened to know, had massacred +a number of settlers only a short time before. Understanding +as thoroughly as he did the treacherous nature of these people, +he made a bold front, and, when they attempted to visit his camp, +peremptorily ordered them to keep away. + +He added that he knew all about them, and the first one who moved +closer would be shot. Furthermore, if they did not depart, within +a specified time, he notified them that they would be fired upon. +These were such audacious words that the Comanches doubted their +sincerity. To test it, some of them overstayed their time. Not +wishing to break his pledge, Carson ordered his men to fire, One +of the warriors fell, while several others, who were badly wounded, +came to the conclusion that when the great mountaineer made a +statement there was likely to be considerable truth in it. + +Food soon became so scarce that mule meat formed the only diet +until they reached Los Angeles. Carson pushed on to Monterey where +he delivered the despatches to the proper officer, and then returning +to Los Angeles he was assigned to duty in Captain Smith's Company +of United States dragoons. He was given command of twenty-five +dragoons and directed to proceed to Tajon Pass, through which +marauding Indians were accustomed to pass when returning from their +raids in California. It was an important point, and the winter of +1847-48 was spent in the performance of the duties thus placed upon +him. In the spring, he was once more ordered to carry despatches +to Washington, an escort being furnished him as in the previous +instance. + +In crossing Grand River, one of the rafts became unmanageable, +upset, losing considerable valuable property and endangering the +lives of a number of the company. A large force of Utah and Apache +Indians were encountered, but Carson managed them with the same +skill he had shown them so many times before. + +On arriving at Taos, he spent several days with his family and +friends, after which he proceeded to Santa Fe. There he learned that +the United States Senate had refused to confirm his nomination as +lieutenant in the army. Many of his friends were so angered over +this slight that they urged him to refuse to carry the despatches +further; but his reply, as given by Dr. Peters, is so admirable +that we quote it: + +"I was entrusted with these despatches, having been chosen in +California, from whence I come, as the most competent person to +take them through safely. I would try to fulfill this duty even if +I knew it would cost me my life. It matters not to me, while I am +performing this service for my country, whether I hold the rank +of lieutenant in the United States Army or am known merely as an +experienced mountaineer. I have gained some little honor and credit +for the manner in which I have always conducted myself when detailed +on any special and important business, and I would on no account +now wish to forfeit the good opinion formed of me by a majority +of my countrymen because the United States Senate did not deem +it proper to confer on me an appointment which I never solicited, +and one which, had it been confirmed, I would have resigned at the +termination of the war." + +Having determined to perform his duty, he made careful inquiries +as to the state of feeling among the Indians through whose country +the trail led. The reports were of the most alarming character: the +Comanches were on the war path with a vengeance. They were swarming +all along the old Santa Fe Trail, on the watch for parties whom +they could overwhelm and destroy. + +Such being the case, Carson resorted to the bold artifice of +making a trail of his own. He reduced his escort to ten experienced +mountaineers and then struck out upon his new route. He rode northward +from Taos until within a region rarely visited by hostiles, when +he changed his course by the compass several times. By this means, +he reached Fort Kearney on the Platte and finally arrived at Fort +Leavenworth. Not only had he avoided all trouble with Indians, but +by following the new route, had found abundance of game so that +the entire trip was but little more than a pleasure excursion. + +All danger was over at Fort Leavenworth, where he parted from his +escort and went alone to Washington. Previous to this, the war with +Mexico had ended, the treaty of peace having been signed February +2, 1848, and proclaimed on the 4th of July following. + +Carson tarried in Washington only long enough to deliver his +despatches to the proper authorities, when he turned about and made +his way to Taos, New Mexico, where he joined once more his family +and friends. + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + + +Hostility of the Apaches -- Colonel Beale Sends an Expedition Against +Them -- Nothing Accomplished -- Colonel Beale Leads an Expedition +with Carson as Guide -- Capture and Release of Two Chiefs -- March +to the Arkansas -- Another Failure -- Carson and Maxwell Build a +Ranche -- Fremont's Fourth Expedition -- The Murderous Apaches -- +A Fruitless Pursuit. + +Kit Carson was one of those whose destiny seems to be that of +stirring incident and adventure. No man possessed such an intimate +knowledge of the manners, customs and peculiarities of the tribes +in the southwest, and with his exceptional woodcraft, skill and +high courage his services were always indispensable. + +While he was at Taos, the Indians around him were restless until +the whole country was seething and on the verge of a general revolt. +Colonel Beale, commanding officer of the district, had established +his headquarters at Taos. The Apaches committed so many outrages +that he believed the only course open was to administer a thorough +chastisement; but it was tenfold easier to reach such a conclusion +than it was to carry it out. A strong force having been despatched +to bring them to account, pursued them to the mountains from which +they were compelled to return without accomplishing anything at +all. The subsequent history of these Apaches and of General Crook's +campaign against them are familiar enough to all to justify the +declaration that they have proven themselves the bravest and most +formidable tribe that has defied the United States government during +the past half century. + +Disappointed that the officer whom he sent failed to do anything, +Colonel Beale took command himself and employed Kit Carson as guide. +Instead of stopping in the mountains because they were blocked with +snow, as the former expedition had done, Colonel Beale forced his +way with great difficulty through them. The search for the Indians +was long but fruitless. The cunning red skins were at home in their +fastnesses and not a solitary warrior was bagged. + +As the supply of provisions was running low, Colonel Beale was +forced to return and retrace his steps. On their return, they came +upon a village of Apaches into which the soldiers charged; but the +nimble warriors easily got away, with the exception of a couple of +chiefs who fell into the hands of the Americans. Hoping to rouse +the chivalry and gratitude of their nature, Colonel Beale lectured +them kindly and after their promise to behave themselves, allowed +them to depart. As soon as they were beyond rifle shot, they must +have grinned with exultation, for it was not their nature to repay +kindness with anything but cruelty. + +As Colonel Beale could not accomplish anything during the winter +months, he returned to Taos, where he remained until February, +when, learning that a large force of Indians were congregated on +the Arkansas, with a number of Mexican captives, he went thither +intending to retake them by force, if they could not be secured by +peaceable means. He had two companies of dragoons, and as before, +engaged Carson as guide. + +When he reached the Arkansas, he found himself confronted by two +thousand Indians who had gathered to meet their agent and probably +to consult as to their future movements. The agent was present and +was a man of practical sense and experience. He told Colonel Beale +that it would never do to demand the prisoners, for the Indians were +in ugly temper and if aroused, would massacre the whole command. +Colonel Beale himself was resentful, and very much disposed to give +the red men battle, but he suffered himself to be dissuaded from +carrying out his original purpose. + +When Carson returned once more to Taos, he reflected that he +was approaching middle life, and as he now had quite a family, he +was anxious to provide something for them. Though he had rendered +services beyond value to the United States government, and to +different individuals, he had not received enough compensation to +place them above want should he become disabled. About this time, +his old friend, Maxwell, proposed that they should build a ranch +in a beautiful valley some distance north of Taos. The site was a +most charming one, though it was so much exposed to the attack of +Indians that until then no one had dared to settle there. + +Handsome, roomy and substantial structures were erected, and many +of the most enjoyable days of their lives were spent on this famous +ranche. It would be a pleasant farewell to leave them there to end +their days in comfort and peace, but it was to be far otherwise +with both and especially with Carson. + +In 1848-49, Colonel Fremont made a fourth exploring expedition +across the continent, he bearing all the expense, as he did in the +case of his fifth expedition made in 1853. The fourth was an appalling +failure, marked by an extremity of suffering that is incredible. +The guide employed was wholly ignorant and the command became +entangled among the snows of the mountains, where some of them +lived not only on mules but on each other. The strongest lay down +and died, and the horrible features of Fremont's fourth expedition +were only approached by that of Lieutenant Strain on the Isthmus +of Darien. When the few ghastly survivors staggered out of the +mountains they tottered to Carson's ranche, where they received the +kindest treatment from him who had served Fremont so faithfully on +his former expeditions. + +Carson had been on his ranche but a short time, when news reached +him of a most atrocious murder by the Apaches. A wealthy merchant +was returning in his private carriage with his wife and child from +the United States to Santa Fe. He was accompanied by a small escort +and the wagon train carrying his goods. When he believed all danger +past, he hurried forward with his family, who were becoming tired +of the journey. + +At a point where there was no suspicion of danger, the Apaches fired +upon the carriage, killing every one who accompanied it, including +the merchant himself. The wife and child were made prisoners and +carried away. Shortly after the little one was tomahawked and thrown +into the river. + +When news of the outrage reached New Mexico, a party was hastily +organized and started out in the hope of saving the woman and +punishing the wretches who had committed the murders. When Carson +learned of what was contemplated, he offered his services. They +were accepted, but much to the surprise of his friends, he was +given an inferior position. It was characteristic of the splendid +scout that he did not show by word or look that he felt the slightest +resentment on account of the slight. + +With a less skilful leader than himself, Carson galloped with +the company to the scene of the murder. The sight was frightfully +suggestive: pieces of harness, band boxes, trunks, strips of blood +stained clothing, and fragments of the carriage attested the untamable +ferocity of the Apaches who had swooped down on the doomed party +like a cyclone. + +From that point the trail was taken and the infuriated mountaineers +urged their steeds to the utmost, knowing the value of every hour +and that in the case of a fight with the Indians a surprise is half +the battle. + +Day after day the pursuit was maintained until nearly two weeks +had gone by, before the first glimpse of a warrior was obtained. +The trail was one of the worst imaginable, and, had the pursuers +been less skilful, they would have been baffled almost from the +first. At certain points, the Apaches would break up into parties +of two or three that would take different routes, reuniting at some +place many miles beyond where water was known to be. This was done +repeatedly, with a view of disconcerting any avengers who might take +their trail, and it is a tribute to the ability of the mountaineers +that the cunning artifice failed, so far as they were concerned, +of its purpose. + +At last the Apaches were descried in the distance. Carson was the +first to discover them, he being some distance in advance. Knowing +how necessary it was to surprise them he shouted to his companions +to charge at once. Not doubting he would be followed, he dashed +ahead with his horse on a dead run, but looking over his shoulder +when he had gone part way, he saw to his consternation he was alone. + +Angered and impatient, he rode back to learn what it meant. The +chief guide had directed the men to wait as there was no doubt the +Apaches desired to hold a parley. It meant the next moment in the +shape of a bullet from the Indians which struck the leader in the +breast and rendered him senseless. As soon as he recovered, he +ordered his men to make the attack and leave him to himself. + +He was obeyed, but the delay was fatal. On charging into the camp +they were able to kill only one warrior. The body of the woman +was found still warm, showing that she had been slain only a brief +while before. + +All those acquainted with the particulars of this sad affair agreed +that had the advice of Carson been followed the poor lady might +have been saved. + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + + +The Wounded Herder -- A Successful Pursuit -- An Atrocious Plot +-- How it was Frustrated -- Gratitude of the Gentlemen Whom Carson +was the Means of Saving From Death. + +Carson returned to his ranche where he spent the winter. One day +in spring a wounded herder managed to reach the place with the news +that he and his companion, stationed a few miles away, had been +attacked by Apaches, who wounded both, and ran off all the horses +and mules. + +A squad of ten dragoons and a sergeant were on guard near Carson's +ranche. They and three settlers, including Carson, started at once +in pursuit. It was so late in the day that when they came to the +place where the outrage had been committed, it was dark and they +went into camp; but they were astir at the earliest dawn, and soon +striking the trail of the thieves, put their animals to a keen +gallop. Some twenty miles further, the Apaches were described a +long distance away. As it was upon the open prairie the contest at +once resolved itself into an open chase. + +It was no time to spare the animals, whose rapid gait was increased +until it became a killing pace. The pursuers were steadily gaining, +when four of their horses succumbed and their riders, much to +their chagrin, were shut out from the impending fray. The others +had no time to stop: they could simply shout goodbye to them and +spur their steeds to greater exertions. Fortunately the pursuers +were better mounted than the fugitives who numbered a full score. +With a bravery characteristic of their tribe, they clung to their +stolen property, preferring to be overtaken and forced into a fight +rather than abandon it. + +As soon as the parties were within rifle range, the battle began +and became of the most exciting character. The Apaches were splendid +horsemen and displayed great skill. They threw themselves on the +far side of their steeds, firing from under the neck, and keeping +their bodies so well concealed that it was a difficult task to +bring them down. + +But the white men were accustomed to that sort of work, and the +Apaches learned a lesson they never forgot. Five of their best +warriors were killed, several badly wounded and nearly all the +animals recaptured. Kit Carson directed every movement of his men +and to that fact their great success was due. + +The mountaineer was favored with prosperous times on his ranche. +He and a companion drove fifty head of mules and horses to Fort +Laramie, where they were disposed of at a liberal profit. The round +journey of a thousand miles was attended with much danger, but it +was accomplished without mishap. + +He reached home just in time to learn that the Apaches had visited +the little settlement and run off all the animals. But as enough +soldiers were within call, a pursuit was soon organized and very +nearly all the stock was recovered. + +Some months later an officer of the United States Army in Taos learned +of a most atrocious plot that was on foot. Two wealthy gentlemen, +travelling leisurely through that section of the country, had engaged +an American named Fox to hire enough men to escort them across the +plains. This Fox was one of the most conscienceless wretches and +desperadoes that ever lived. He formed a scheme to murder the two +gentlemen at a certain point on the plains and to divide their money +among him and his companions. Those whom he secured were taken into +his confidence and agreed to the crime before hand. + +Among those to whom he applied was a miscreant in Taos, who, for +some reason, refused to go with him. However, he kept the secret +until sure the entire party were so far out on the plains that +nothing could prevent the perpetration of the crime. He then told +it to several associates, one of whom made it known to the officer +of whom we have spoken. + +This gentleman was horrified, and uncertain what could be done, +if indeed he could do anything, hastened to Kit Carson, to whom he +made known the story. The mountaineer listened eagerly, and, as +soon as he grasped the whole plot, declared there was reason to +believe it was not too late to frustrate it. With that wonderful +intuition which was such a marked characteristic of his nature, he +fixed upon the very place where it had been decided the crime was +to be committed. Knowing the entire route, it was easy to determine +the spot most likely to be selected, which was more than two +hundred miles distant. Instead, therefore, of following the trail, +he struck directly across the open prairie by the most direct course +to his destination. + +Ten finely mounted dragoons accompanied, all ready for any deed +of daring. The route led through a country where the Indians were +very hostile, but they were avoided with little difficulty. The +second night out, they came upon the encampment of a detachment of +United States troops, whose captain volunteered to take twenty of +his soldiers and help bring the desperadoes to justice. + +The expedition was a complete success. They overtook the party at +the very spot fixed upon, and Fox was arrested before he suspected +the business of the strangers in camp. When the overthrow of the +wretches was complete, the gentlemen were told the story. They were +speechless for a moment and could not believe it; but the proof +was complete, and they turned pale at the thought of the fate they +had escaped. + +Their gratitude was unbounded. Taking the hand of Carson they begged +him to name some reward he would accept, but the mountaineer shook +his head. + +"I am more than repaid in being able to help frustrate such a crime +as was contemplated; I cannot think of accepting anything of the +kind you name." + +The gentlemen, however, could not forget that under heaven, they +owed their lives to Kit Carson. The following spring a couple of +splendid revolvers arrived at the mountaineer's ranche addressed to +him. Beautifully engraved on them were a few sentences expressive +of the feelings of the donors and the special occasion which called +forth the gift. + +It is easy to understand how much more acceptable such an acknowledgement +was to Kit Carson than any sum of money could have been. + +Fox was lodged in jail, but though there was no doubt of his guilt +in the minds of every one, yet the meditated crime was so difficult +to establish that ultimately he was set free. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + + +Carson Visits St. Louis on Business -- Encounter with Cheyenne on +his Return -- His Sagacity Does not Fail Him -- Carson's Last Beaver +Expedition -- His California Speculation. + +Maxwell, the mountaineer and intimate friend of Carson, was quite +wealthy and was of great assistance in several schemes which they +undertook in partnership. One of their enterprises was that of sending +a train of wagons belonging to the two to the States. Carson took +charge, and, jogging along at a comfortable rate, they reached in +due time the Missouri, where he went by steamboat to St. Louis. +There he purchased a large amount of merchandise which was taken up +stream on the boat, transferred to his wagon train, and the faces +of all were then turned toward New Mexico. + +Everything went well until they approached the fording of the +Arkansas, when they came upon a large village of Cheyenne Indians. +Unfortunately some days before, a company of recruits had shown such +cruelty toward several warriors belonging to that tribe, that they +were roused to the highest point of fury, and were only waiting an +opportunity to visit punishment on the first whites that came in +their way. + +Carson knew nothing of the occurrence nor did he know of the bitter +hostility of the Cheyennes, but when they went into council, and +he overheard some expressions, he saw that something was wrong. +He warned his men to be ready for instant attack, never permitting +the Indians to catch them off their guard for a single moment. + +The warriors fell behind, but after awhile, a number rode up +on horseback. They were in their war paint and there could be no +doubt of their hostility. Carson spoke in a conciliating manner and +invited them into his camp to have a smoke and talk. The invitation +was accepted. The hypocritical ceremony continued some time, when +the warriors began talking among themselves. + +They spoke in Sioux at first, their purpose being to lay the +impending massacre against those people, but in their excitement, +they dropped back to their own tongue and the whole appalling truth +became speedily known to Carson and through him to his companions. + +He sat on the ground with the furious warriors, and heard them +agree that at the moment the leader (as they recognized Carson to +be), laid down his arms to take the pipe in his mouth, they would +leap upon and kill him. They would then massacre all the rest. +Inasmuch as they were powerful enough to carry out this diabolical +plan, it will be admitted that Carson's nerves were pretty thoroughly +tested, when the pipe passing from one to the other was within a +few minutes of reaching him. + +Most of the men with the mountaineer were Mexicans, very deficient +in courage and in a hand to hand encounter, the Cheyennes could +overcome the party in the space of a few minutes. + +It was in such crises as these that the remarkable fertility of +resources possessed by Kit Carson displayed themselves. He seemed +to perceive by intuition the wisest course to adopt and that +perception came to him the instant the demand for it appeared. + +Rising to his feet and grasping his weapons, he strode to the middle +of the group and astounded them by beginning his address in their +native tongue. He reminded them that that was proof he comprehended +every word uttered by them. He spoke as if grieved by their course, +for he insisted he had never wronged any one of their tribe, but +on the contrary had been their friend. He then commanded them to +leave the camp without delay or they would be riddled with bullets. + +Carson's blue eyes flashed and his face was like a thunder cloud. +It was the Cheyennes who were surprised and they could but obey +orders, though from their manner, it was clear the trouble was not +yet ended. They withdrew and went into council, while Carson and +his friends pushed rapidly forward. + +The peril in which this little command was placed could not be +overestimated. There were not twenty men all told and except two or +three, were Mexicans who in no respect were the superiors if indeed +they were the equals of the Cheyennes. Had Carson been absent +a score of warriors could have charged into camp and slain every +one. Instead of a score there were several hundred of them: if they +chose to make the attack he knew there was no escape. + +The horses, therefore, were lashed to do their utmost. The train +pushed forward with all speed, while the apprehensive leader +continually glanced back over the prairie, almost certain of seeing +the Cheyennes galloping toward them. When night came, there was +little sleep in camp. Nearly every one stood on guard, but the +night and the following day passed without molestation. + +Convinced beyond question that the attack would be made unless some +extraordinary means was taken to avert it, Carson took one of the +fleetest footed Mexican boys outside the camp, and, pointing in +the direction of the ranche of himself and Maxwell, nearly three +hundred miles away, told him he must make all speed thither, and +tell the soldiers that unless they hurried to his help he and all +his companions were doomed to certain death at the hands of an +overwhelming war party of Cheyennes. Everything depended on the +quickness with which the Mexican youth brought assistance. The latter +being promised a liberal reward, bounded away with the fleetness of +a deer, and quickly vanished in the gloom. He went on foot because +he could travel faster and last longer than could any animal in +camp that he might ride. + +Carson went back to his friends and kept watch until morning. As +soon as it came to light, the animals were hitched to the wagons +and urged forward again to the fullest extent of their ability. + +Some hours later, several Cheyenne horsemen were seen riding rapidly +toward them. When a hundred yards distant, Carson compelled them +to halt. Then he allowed them to come closer and told them he had +lost patience with their annoyances, and the night before had sent +an express to Rayado (where his ranche was built), asking the troops +to see that the persecution was stopped. Should it so happen that +the soldiers came and found the party massacred, they would take +the trail of the Cheyennes and punish them for what they had done. + +The cunning Indians, before accepting the statement of the leader, +said they would examine the prairie for the trail of the messenger. +Carson assisted them in the search, and it did not take long to find +the moccasin tracks. A brief scrutiny also satisfied the warriors +he had started so many hours before, that it was useless to try to +overtake him. + +The result was the attack and massacre were not made, and, though +the assistance which was asked was sent, yet it was not needed. One +of the two experienced mountaineers with Carson on that eventful +journey, declared afterward, that had any other living man than +he been at the head of the party not one would have escaped. The +achievement certainly ranks among the most extraordinary of the +many performed by a most extraordinary man. + +It would be thought that after such an experience, Carson would be +content to settle down and give his entire attention to his ranche. +While it cannot be said that he neglected his duties as a farmer, +yet he loved the mountains and prairies too well ever to abandon +them altogether. + +He and Maxwell, his old friend, determined on having one more old +fashioned beaver hunt, such as they were accustomed to a score of +years before. They did not mean it should be child's play and they +admitted no amateur hunters and trappers: all were veterans of +years' standing, and, when the party was fully made up, they numbered +about a score. + +The expedition was a memorable one. They fixed upon one of the +longest and most dangerous routes, which included many Rocky Mountain +streams and involved every possible kind of danger. + +In one respect, the party were pleasantly disappointed. Years before +the beavers had been so effectively cleaned out that they expected +to find very few if any; but because the business had been so little +followed for so long a time, the animals had increased very fast +and therefore the trappers met with great success. + +They began operation on the South Fork of the Platte and finally +ended on the Arkansas. They were gone many weeks and when they +returned to their homes, nearly if not all felt that they had +engaged on their last trapping expedition. + +Carson had not wrought very long on his ranche, when he learned +of the scarcity and high prices of sheep in California. He at once +set about collecting several thousand, hired a number of men and +drove the herd to Fort Laramie: thence he made his way by the old +emigrant trail to California where he disposed of the sheep at +prices which brought him a profit of several thousand dollars. + +While in San Francisco, he visited a prominent restaurant where +he ordered a good substantial dinner for six persons. When it was +ready he surveyed it for a moment with satisfaction, and, seating +himself at the table, disposed of it all. His journey across the +plains had given him a somewhat vigorous appetite. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + + +In San Francisco -- The Return Homeward -- The Mormon Delegate +Gives Carson Some Interesting Information -- Carson's First Stirring +Duties as Indian Agent -- The Affection of the Red Men for Father +Kit. + +Kit Carson's old friend, Maxwell, who had been his companion in +so many stirring adventures, joined him in San Francisco, whose +marvellous growth even at that remote day was a continual surprise +and delight. As the two veteran mountaineers made their way through +the streets, where but a few years before all was a wild, untrodden +wilderness, they paused and indulged in many wondering exclamations +as though they were a couple of countrymen visiting the metropolis +for the first time in their lives. + +The couple concluded to make their way home by the southern route, +passing in the neighborhood of the Gila; but the distance could be +shortened so much by taking the steamer to Los Angeles that Maxwell +decided to adopt that course. When he asked Carson to join him the +mountaineer shook his head. + +"I got enough of that in 1846," he said, alluding to his brief +voyage, when serving under Fremont in California, at the beginning +of the Mexican war; "I never was so sick in all my life." + +"You ain't likely to be sick again," plead Maxwell; "and, if you +are, it don't last long. You'll save two or three weeks in time +and enjoy yourself much more." + +But it was no use: Carson said he never would venture upon salt +water again, and he would rather ride a thousand miles on the back +of a mule than to sail a hundred in a ship. Accordingly, the party +separated for the time and Maxwell took steamer to Los Angeles, +where he arrived fully two weeks in advance of Carson, who rode +into the quaint old town on the back of a somewhat antiquated mule. + +They were soon ready for their long ride, when they struck a leisurely +pace and all went well until they reached the Gila. There they +entered a region which had been visited by one of those droughts +which continue sometimes for many months. The grass was so dry and +parched that it contained scarcely any nourishment, and the friendly +Pimos told them if they pushed on their animals were sure to die of +starvation. It was impossible to doubt these statements and Carson +therefore proposed a new route, which though very rough and difficult +in some places, would furnish all the forage that was required. + +The course led them along the Gila to the mouth of the San Pedro, +and finally with little difficulty they reached the copper mines +of New Mexico. Shortly after Carson encountered the Mormon delegate +to Congress. During the exchange of courtesies, the gentleman +conveyed the interesting information that he -- Carson -- had been +made Indian Agent for New Mexico. + +The news was a surprise and a great pleasure to the mountaineer. +He had no thought of any such honor and with all his modesty could +not but feel that he was eminently fitted for the performance of +its duties. No one had travelled so extensively through the west, +and no one could understand the nature of native Americans better +than he. A hundred tribes knew of "Father Kit," as he soon came to +be called, and they referred to him as a man who never spoke with +a "double tongue," and who was just toward them at all times. He +had ventured among the hostiles more than once where the bravest +white man dared not follow him, and had spent days and nights in +their lodges without being offered the slightest indignity. Kit +Carson was brave, truthful, kind and honest. + +Aside from the gratification which one naturally feels, when +receiving an appointment that is pleasant in every respect, and +which he holds thoroughly "in hand," as may be said, the honest +mountaineer was especially delighted over the thought that his +government conferred it without any solicitation on his part. + +But the man who accepts the position of Indian Agent and conscientiously +attends to its duties has no sinecure on his hands. Many of them +use it as such while others do still worse, thereby sowing the seeds +which speedily develop into Indian outrages, massacres and wars. + +When Carson reached Taos, he had his official bond made out, and +sent it with his thanks and acceptance of his appointment to the +proper authorities in Washington. + +The Indian Agent for New Mexico had scarcely entered upon his new +duties, when trouble came. A branch of the Apaches became restless +and committed a number of outrages on citizens. Stern measures only +would answer and a force of dragoons were sent against them. They +dealt them a severe blow, killing one of their most famous chiefs, +besides a considerable number of warriors. + +Instead of quieting the tribe, it rather intensified their anger, +though they remained quiescent for a time through fear. Not long +after, Carson was notified that a large party of the tribe were +encamped in the mountains, less than twenty miles from Taos. He +decided at once to supplement the work of the sword with the gentle +arguments of peace. + +This proceeding on the part of the Indian Agent is one deserving +of special notice, for it shows no less the bravery of Carson than +it does the philanthropic spirit which actuated him at all times in +his dealings with the red men. Alas, that so few of our officials +today deem his example worth their imitation. + +The venture was so dangerous that Carson went alone, unwilling +that any one else should run the risk. When he arrived at their +encampment, he made his way without delay to the presence of the +leaders, whom he saluted in the usual elaborate fashion, and then +proceeded to state the important business that took him thither. + +Nearly every warrior in camp recognized the short, thickset figure +and the broad, pleasant face when they presented themselves. They +knew he was one of the most terrible warriors that ever charged +through a camp of red men. He had met them many a time in fierce +warfare, but he always fought warriors and not papooses and squaws. +He was the bravest of the brave and therefore they respected him. + +But he was a truthful and just man. He had never lied to them, +as most of the white men did, and he had shown his confidence in +them by walking alone and unattended into the very heart of their +encampment. They were eager to rend to shreds every pale face upon +whom they could lay hands, but "Father Kit" was safe within their +lodges and wigwams. + +Carson made an admirable speech. He at first caused every serpent-like +eye to sparkle, by his delicate flattery. Then he tried hard to +convince them that their hostility to the whites could result only +in injury to themselves, since the Great Father at Washington had +hundreds and thousands of warriors whom he would send to replace +such as might lose their lives. Then, when he made known that the +same Great Father had appointed him to see that justice was done +them, they grinned with delight and gathering around, overwhelmed +him with congratulations. + +The Agent insisted that they should prove their sincerity by +pledging to follow the line of conduct he had lain down, and they +did so with such readiness that a superficial observer would have +declared the mission a complete success. + +But Kit Carson thought otherwise. He knew the inherent treachery +of the aboriginal nature, and his estimate of Apache loyalty was +the true one. The most that he was warranted in feeling was the hope +that those furious warriors would be less aggressive than had been +their custom. Though they had expressed a willingness to make any +agreement which he might propose, yet it was their very willingness +to do so which caused his distrust. Had they been more argumentative +and more tenacious of their rights, their sincerity might have been +credited. + +The Agent could have secured their consent almost to any agreement, +but the sagacious official asked as little as he could. + +"And I don't believe they mean to keep even that agreement," he +muttered, as he bade the effusive sachems and warriors goodbye and +made his way back to Taos. + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + + +Trouble With the Apaches -- Defeat of the Soldiers -- Colonel Cook's +Expedition Against Them -- It Meets With Only Partial Success -- +Major Brooks' Attempt to Punish the Apaches -- A Third Expedition. + +Just as Carson suspected, the Apaches were insincere in their +professions of good will toward the settlers. He had scarcely reached +home, when they renewed their outrages. The sinewy horsemen, as +daring as the Crusaders who invaded the Holy Land, seemed to be +everywhere. We have already referred to those extraordinary warriors, +who, for many years have caused our Government more trouble in +the southwest than all the other tribes combined, and it is not +necessary, therefore, to say that when any branch of the Apaches +went on the war path the most frightful scenes were sure to follow. + +Carson knew when to be gentle and when to be stern. If the former +measures failed, he did not hesitate to use the latter. Coercive +means were taken, but, in the first encounter between the red men +and the United States troops, the latter were decisively defeated. + +As a consequence, the Apaches became more troublesome than ever. +Colonel Cook of the Second Regiment of United States Dragoons, +was sent against them. He selected Kit Carson for his guide. The +Agent's wish, it may be said, was to learn whether any other tribe +was concerned in the outrages, and in no way could he do it as +well as by accompanying the expedition, which was fully organized +by the selection of a number of Pueblo Indians to act as scouts and +spies. These were placed under the immediate command of the well +known James H. Quinn, who died some time later. + +The force proceeded northward from Taos to the stream known as the +Arroya Hondo. This was followed to the Rio del Norte, which being +very high, was crossed with much difficulty. As an illustration of +the rugged work which such expeditions were called upon to undergo, +Dr. Peters says that when they struggled to the other shore, they +found themselves confronted by a mass of solid and almost perpendicular +rocks, fully six hundred feet high. This was ascended, after the +most exhausting labor, by means of a zigzag trail, and the journey +was pushed over a rough and diversified country. Grass and water +could not be found until they reached a small Mexican town where +they were enabled to buy what was so sadly needed. Men and animals +were so worn out that they rested for an entire day. + +The next morning the line of march was taken up, and they had not +gone far when Carson discovered a trail. This was followed with +renewed vigor and a couple of days later the Indians were overtaken. +They did not attempt any stand against such a strong force, but took +to flight at once. The Apaches used their utmost endeavors to get +away and they were helped by the roughness of the country. They +were pressed so hard, however, that they lost most of their horses +and plunder besides a number of warriors. + +Two Americans were wounded, one of whom shortly died; but the +soldiers having "located" the Indians, as may be said, did not give +over their efforts to punish them. Pursuit was resumed at earliest +daylight and men and animals did everything possible. Over mountains, +through ravines, around rocks, up and down declivities, the chase +continued, until the cunning Apaches resorted to their old tricks: +they dissolved, as may be said, into their "original elements" +-- that is, they began separating until there were almost as many +different trails as there were warriors. Then in their flight, +they selected the worst possible ground. Being familiar with the +country and possessing far more endurance than the ordinary Indian, +it soon became clear that the marauders were beyond reach. + +Accordingly Colonel Cook ordered the pursuit discontinued and they +headed toward the nearest Mexican village, where forage and rest +could be secured for the animals. When the place was reached, +Colonel Cook learned of a serious mistake made by the party who +were transporting the soldier wounded several days before. They +discovered an Indian whom, after some difficulty, they captured. +His horse and arms were taken from him under the supposition that +he was one of the hostile Apaches. He was not treated very gently +and watching his opportunity, he made his escape. It was afterwards +learned that the warrior was a Utah, with whom the white men were +at peace. + +The Utahs were of a war-like nature and Colonel Cook was apprehensive +they would use the occurrence as a pretext for joining the Apaches +in their attack upon the settlers. He therefore sent Carson to +the headquarters of his agency to do what he could to explain the +matter and make all the reparation in his power. + +As soon as he arrived at Taos, Carson sent a messenger with a +request that the Utah chiefs would come and have a talk with him. +They were always glad to meet Father Kit face to face. The agent +told how the mistake was made, expressed the regret of himself and +Colonel Cook and ended by restoring the property and by distributing +a few presents among the chiefs. The business was managed with such +tact that the sachems expressed themselves perfectly satisfied and +their affection and admiration for Father Kit became greater than +before. + +Colonel Cook was unwilling to return without striking a more effective +blow against the Apaches. Pausing only long enough, therefore, to +rest and recruit his men and horses, he resumed the hunt. He had +not gone far, when he struck another trail which was followed with +great vigor; but before anything of the Indians could be discovered, +it began snowing. In a few minutes the flakes were eddying all around +them, the wind blowing so furiously that the men could hardly see +each other, as they bent their heads and rode slowly against it. +This rendered pursuit out of the question, because the trail was +entirely hidden. Much against his will Colonel Cook was forced to +give up the pursuit. + +He made his way to a small town lying on his route, where he met +Major Brooks, who was marching to his help with reinforcements. The +latter officer instead of returning with Colonel Cook, decided to +take up the hunt himself for the hostiles. + +With little delay, a fresh trail was found and an energetic pursuit +began. It was plain the Indians were making for the Utah country, +and they were pursued without difficulty; but, when that section +was reached, the soldiers came upon so many trails, which crossed +and recrossed so many times that all individuality was lost. The +most skilful scouts in the company were unable to identify or follow +any one with certainty. + +The situation was exasperating, but there was no help for it and +the command was compelled to turn about and make their way home, +having been in the field more than two weeks without accomplishing +anything at all. + +But it was known that the Apaches would speedily reorganize and the +soldiers had but to wait a short while, when an opportunity would +be presented for striking an effective blow. When a sufficient period +had elapsed, another expedition was sent out under the command of +Major Carleton, of the First Regiment of United States Dragoons. +He engaged Kit Carson to act as his guide. + +The force marched northward about a hundred miles to Fort Massachusetts, +where all the arrangements were completed. The party was divided, +the spies under Captain Quinn being sent to examine the country on +the west side of the White Mountains, while the Major decided to +inspect the territory to the eastward of the range. + +Captain Quinn with his skilful trailers moved up the San Luis Valley +until he reached the famous Mosco Pass, which was often used by +the Apaches when hard pressed. They were perfectly familiar with +all its diverse and peculiar windings, and, when they once dashed +in among the rocks, they felt safe against any and all pursuers. + +Making their way through this pass, Captain Quinn and his scouts +reached Wet Mountain Valley, where he had promised to meet and +report to his superior officer. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + + +Discovery of the Trail -- Prairie Detectives. + +Meanwhile, Kit Carson, who was with Major Carleton, had discovered +a trail made by three of the enemy. Carefully following it up, it +was found to join the principal path, a short distance away. When +Quinn arrived he had also some discoveries to report, and the scouts +held a consultation over the question. It was agreed by all that +they were on the track of the enemy they were seeking. + +The general reader is not apt to appreciate the skill, patience and +intelligence shown by the scouts and hunters in tracing the flight +of an enemy through a wild and desolate country. As an evidence of +the wonderful attainments of border men in woodcraft, the following +letter may be given, written by the surgeon at Fort Randall in +Dacotah in 1869: + +"The most extraordinary skill that is exhibited in this part of the +country, either by the white man, or red native, is in the practice +of trailing. Here it may be accounted an art as much as music, +painting or sculpture is in the East. The Indian or trapper that is +a shrewd trailer, is a man of close observation, quick perception, +and prompt action. As he goes along, nothing escapes his observation, +and what he sees and hears he accounts for immediately. Often not +another step is taken until a mystery that may present itself in +this line is fairly solved. The Indian trailer will stand still +for hours in succession, to account for certain traces or effects +in tracks, and sometimes gives to the matter unremitting attention +for days and weeks. + +"The trailer is not a graceful man. He carries his head much +inclined, his eye is quick and restless, always on the watch, and +he is practising his art unconsciously, hardly ever crossing the +track of man or animal without seeing it. When he enters a house, +he brings the habits he contracted in the practice of his art with +him. I know a trailer as soon he enters my room. He comes in through +the door softly, and with an air of exceeding caution. Before he +is fairly in, or at least has sat down, he has taken note of every +article and person. Though there may be a dozen vacant chairs in +the room, he is not used to chairs, and, like the Indian, prefers +a more humble seat. When I was employed by General Harney last summer +to take charge temporarily of the Indians that were gathered here +to form a new reservation, one day a guide and trailer came into +the General's headquarters. I told him to be seated. He sat down +on the floor, bracing his back against the wall. The General saw +this, and in vexation cried out, 'My God, why don't you take a +chair when there are plenty here not occupied?' The man arose and +seated himself in a chair, but in so awkward and uncomfortable a +manner that he looked as if he might slip from it at any moment. +But when this uncouth person came to transact his business with +the General, he turned out to be a man of no ordinary abilities. +His description of a route he took as guide and trailer for the +Ogallalas in bringing them from the Platte to this place was minute, +and to me exceedingly interesting. Every war party that for the +season had crossed his trail, he described with minuteness as to +their number, the kinds of arms they had, and stated the tribes +they belonged to. In these strange revelations that he made there +was neither imposition nor supposition, for he gave satisfactory +reasons for every assertion he made. + +"I have rode several hundred miles with an experienced guide and +trailer, Hack, whom I interrogated upon many points in the practice +of this art. Nearly all tracks I saw, either old or new, as a novice +in the art, I questioned him about. In going to the Niobrara River +crossed the track of an Indian pony. My guide followed the track +a few miles and then said, 'It is a stray, black horse, with a +long, bushy tail, nearly starved to death, has a split hoof of the +left fore foot, and goes very lame, and he passed here early this +morning.' Astonished and incredulous, I asked him the reasons for +knowing these particulars by the tracks of the animal, when he +replied: + +"'It was a stray horse, because it did not go in a direct line; +his tail was long, for he dragged it over the snow; in brushing +against a bush he left some of his hair which shows its color. He +was very hungry, for, in going along, he has nipped at those high, +dry weeds, which horses seldom eat. The fissure of the left fore +foot left also its track, and the depth of the indentation shows +the degree of his lameness; and his tracks show he was here this +morning, when the snow was hard with frost.' + +"At another place we came across an Indian track, and he said, 'It +is an old Yankton who came across the Missouri last evening to look +at his traps. In coming over he carried in his right hand a trap, +and in his left a lasso to catch a pony which he had lost. He returned +without finding the horse, but had caught in the trap he had out +a prairie wolf, which he carried home on his back and a bundle of +kinikinic wood in his right hand.' Then, he gave his reasons: 'I +know he is old, by the impression his gait has made and a Yankton +by that of his moccasin. He is from the other side of the river, +as there are no Yanktons on this side. The trap he carried struck +the snow now and then, and in same manner as when he came, shows +that he did not find his pony. A drop of blood in the centre of his +tracks shows that he carried the wolf on his back, and the bundle +of kinikinic wood he used for a staff for support, and catching a +wolf, shows that he had traps out.' But I asked, 'how do you know +it is wolf; why not a fox, or a coyote, or even a deer?' Said he: +'If it had been a fox, or coyote or any other small game he would +have slipped the head of the animal in his waist belt, and so carried +it by his side, and not on his shoulders. Deer are not caught by +traps but if it had been a deer, he would not have crossed this +high hill, but would have gone back by way of the ravine, and the +load would have made his steps still more tottering.' + +"Another Indian track which we saw twenty miles west of this he +put this serious construction upon: 'He is an upper Indian -- a +prowling horse thief -- carried a double shot gun, and is a rascal +that killed some white man lately, and passed here one week ago; +for,' said he, 'a lone Indian in these parts is on mischief, and +generally on the lookout for horses. He had on the shoes of a white +man whom he had in all probability killed, but his steps are those +of an Indian. Going through the ravine, the end of his gun hit into +the deep snow. A week ago we had a very warm day, and the snow being +soft, he made these deep tracks; ever since it has been intensely +cold weather, which makes very shallow tracks.' I suggested that +perhaps he bought those shoes. 'Indians don't buy shoes, and if +they did they would not buy them as large as these were, for Indians +have very small feet.' + +"The most noted trailer of this country was Paul Daloria, a half +breed, who died under my hands of Indian consumption last summer. +I have spoken of him in a former letter. At one time I rode with +him, and trailing was naturally the subject of our conversation. +I begged to trail with him an old track over the prairie, in order +to learn its history. I had hardly made the proposition, when he +drew up his horse, which was at a ravine, and said, 'Well, here +is an old elk track. Let us get off our horses and follow it.' We +followed it but a few rods, when he said, it was exactly a month +old, and made at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. This he knew, as then +we had our last rain, and at the hour named the ground was softer +than at any other time. The track before us was then made. He +broke up here and there clusters of grass that lay in the path of +the track, and showed me the dry ends of some, the stumps of others, +and by numerous other similar items accounted for many circumstances +that astonished me. We followed the trail over a mile. Now and then +we saw that a wolf, a fox, and other animals had practised their +trailing instincts on the elk's tracks. Here and there, he would +show me where a snake, a rat, and a prairie dog had crossed the +track. Nothing had followed or crossed the track that the quick +eye of Daloria did not detect. He gave an account of the habits of +all the animals that had left their footprints on the track, also +of the state of the weather since the elk passed, and the effect +of sunshine, winds, aridity, sand storms, and other influences that +had a bearing on these tracks." + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + + +The Pursuit and Attack -- Two O'clock. + +When Kit Carson and the other scouts found the main trail, they +eagerly took up the pursuit. They had not gone far when all doubt +was removed: they were upon the track of a large hostile body of +warriors and were gaining steadily; but so rapid was the flight of +the marauders that it was not until the sixth day that the first +glimpse of the Indians was obtained. They were encamped on a +mountain peak, devoid of trees, and seemingly beyond the reach of +danger; but such was the energy of the attack that they reached +camp before the Indians could collect their animals and make off. +The fight was a hot one for a few minutes during which quite a +number of warriors were killed and wounded. + +When night came a squad of men hid themselves near the camp, from +which the Indians had fled, in the expectation that some of them +would steal back during the darkness to learn what had been done. +The dismal hours passed until near midnight, when one of the soldiers +made the call which the Apaches use to hail each other. The sound +had hardly died out, when two squaws and two warriors appeared +and began groping silently around in the gloom. The soldiers were +cruel enough to fire upon the party, but in the darkness only one +was killed. + +Dr. Peters states that on the morning of the day when the Apache +encampment was discovered Kit Carson, after diligently studying the +trail, rode up to Major Carleton and told him that if no accident +intervened, the Indians would be overtaken at two o'clock in the +afternoon. The officer smiled and said if the Agent proved a genuine +prophet, he would present him with the finest hat that could be +bought in the United States. + +The pursuit continued for hours, and, when the watches in the company +showed that it was two o'clock, Carson triumphantly pointed to the +mountain peak, far in advance where the Indian encampment was in +plain sight. He had hit the truth with mathematical exactness. + +Major Carleton kept his promise. To procure such a hat as he felt +he had earned, required several months; but one day the Indian Agent +at Taos received a superb piece of head gear within which was the +following inscription: + +AT 2 O'CLOCK. + +KIT CARSON, FROM + +MAJOR CARLETON. + +Dr. Peters adds that a gentleman who was a member of the expedition +subjected Carson some years later to a similar test, and he came +within five minutes of naming the precise time when a band of +fugitives was overtaken. + +Having done all that was possible, Major Carleton returned with +his command to Taos and Carson resumed his duties as Indian Agent. +Some months later, another expedition was organized against the +Apaches but it accomplished nothing. In the latter part of the +summer Carson started on a visit to the Utahs. They were under his +especial charge and he held interviews with them several times a +year, they generally visiting him at his ranche, which they were +glad to do, as they were sure of being very hospitably treated. + +This journey required a horseback ride of two or three hundred +miles, a great portion of which was through the Apache country. +These Indians were in such a resentful mood towards the whites that +they would have been only too glad to wrench the scalp of Father +Kit from his crown; but he knew better than to run into any of +their traps. He was continually on the lookout, and more than once +detected their wandering bands in time to give them the slip. He was +equally vigilant and consequently equally fortunate on his return. + +Carson found when he met the Indians in council that they had +good cause for discontent. One of their leading warriors had been +waylaid and murdered by a small party of Mexicans. The officials +who were with Carson promised that the murderers should be given +up. It was the intention of all that justice should be done, but, +as was too often the case, it miscarried altogether. Only one of +the murderers was caught and he managed to escape and was never +apprehended again. + +To make matters worse, some of the blankets which the Superintendent had +presented the Indians a short while before, proved to be infected +with small pox and the dreadful disease carried off many of the +leading warriors of the tribe. More than one Apache was resolute +in declaring the proceeding premeditated on the part of the whites. +The result was the breaking out of a most formidable Indian war. +The Muache band of Utahs, under their most distinguished chieftain, +joined the Apaches in waylaying and murdering travellers, attacking +settlements and making off with the prisoners, besides capturing +hundreds and thousands of cattle, sheep, mules and horses. For a +time they overran a large portion of the territory of New Mexico. +Matters at last reached such a pass, that unless the savages were +checked, they would annihilate all the whites. + +The Governor issued a call for volunteers. The response was prompt, +and five hundred men were speedily equipped and put into the field. +They were placed under charge of Colonel T. T. Fauntleroy, of the +First Regiment of United States Dragoons. He engaged Kit Carson as +his chief guide. + +The campaign was pushed with all possible vigor, but for a time +nothing important was done. The weather became intensely cold. On +the second campaign, Colonel Fauntleroy surprised the main camp +of the enemy and inflicted great slaughter. A severe blow was +administered, but the reader knows that the peace which followed +proved only temporary. The Apaches have been a thorn in our side +for many years. General Crook has shown great tact, bravery and +rare skill in his dealings with them and probably has brought about +the most genuine peace that has been known for a generation. + +It would not be worth while to follow Kit Carson on his round +of duties as Indian Agent. He had to deal with the most turbulent +tribes on the continent, and enough has been told to prove his +peerless sagacity in solving the most difficult questions brought +before him. He rode thousands of miles, visiting remote points, +conferred with the leading hostiles, risked his life times without +number, and was often absent from home for weeks and months. While +it was beyond the attainment of human endeavor for him to make an +end of wars on the frontiers, yet he averted many and did a degree +of good which is beyond all calculation. + +"I was in the insignificant settlement of Denver, in the autumn +of 1860," said A. L. Worthington, "when a party of Arapahoes, +Cheyennes and Comanches returned from an expedition against the +tribe of mountain Indians know as the Utes. The allied forces were +most beautifully whipped and were compelled to leave the mountains +in the greatest hurry for their lives. They brought into Denver +one squaw and her half dozen children as prisoners. The little +barbarians, when the other youngsters came too near or molested +them, would fight like young wild cats. The intention of the captors, +as I learned, was to torture the squaw and her children to death. +Before the arrangements were completed, Kit Carson rode to the spot +and dismounted. He had a brief, earnest talk with the warriors. He +did not mean to permit the cruel death that was contemplated, but +instead of demanding the surrender of the captives, he ransomed +them all, paying ten dollars a piece. After they were given up, he +made sure that they were returned to their tribe in the mountains." + +This anecdote may serve as an illustration of scores of similar +duties in which the agent was engaged. It was during the same year +that Carson received an injury which was the cause of his death. +He was descending a mountain, so steep that he led his horse by a +lariat, intending, if the animal fell, to let go of it in time to +prevent being injured. The steed did fall and though Carson threw +the lariat from him, he was caught by it, dragged some distance +and severely injured. + +When the late Civil War broke out and most of our troops were withdrawn +from the mountains and plains, Carson applied to President Lincoln +for permission to raise a regiment of volunteers in New Mexico, +for the purpose of protecting our settlements there. Permission +was given, the regiment raised and the famous mountaineer did good +service with his soldiers. On one occasion he took 9,000 Navajo +prisoners with less than 600 men. + +At the close of the war, he was ordered to Fort Garland, where he +assumed command of a large region. He was Brevet Brigadier General +and retained command of a battalion of New Mexico volunteers. + +Carson did not suffer immediately from his injury, but he found +in time that a grave internal disturbance had been caused by his +fall. In the spring of 1868, he accompanied a party of Ute Indians +to Washington. He was then failing fast and consulted a number +of leading physicians and surgeons. His disease was aneurism of +the aorta which progressed fast. When his end was nigh, his wife +suddenly died, leaving seven children, the youngest only a few +weeks old. His affliction had a very depressing effect on Carson, +who expired May 23, 1868. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + + +Letter from General W. T. Sherman, and from General J. F. Rusling. + +In closing the life of Kit Carson, it will be appropriate to add +two letters, which were furnished at our request: + +912 GARRISON AVENUE, +ST. LOUIS, MO., JUNE 25, 1884. + + +"Kit Carson first came into public notice by Fremont's Reports +of the Exploration of the Great West about 1842-3. You will find +mention of Kit Carson in my memoirs, vol. I, p. 46, 47, as bringing +to us the first overland mail to California in his saddle bags. +I saw but little of him afterwards till after the Civil War, when, +in 1866, I was the Lieutenant General commanding the Military +Division of the Missouri, with headquarters in St. Louis, and made +a tour of my command, including what are now Wyoming, Colorado and +New Mexico. Reaching Fort Garland, New Mexico, in September of +October, 1866, I found it garrisoned by some companies of New Mexico +Volunteers, of which Carson was Colonel or commanding officer. I +stayed with him some days, during which we had a sort of council +with the Ute Indians, of which the chief Ouray was the principal +feature, and over whom Carson exercised a powerful influence. + +"Carson then had his family with him -- wife and half a dozen +children, boys and girls as wild and untrained as a brood of Mexican +mustangs. One day these children ran through the room in which we +were seated, half clad and boisterous, and I inquired, 'Kit, what +are you doing about your children?' + +"He replied: 'That is a source of great anxiety; I myself had no +education,' (he could not even write, his wife always signing his +name to his official reports). 'I value education as much as any +man, but I have never had the advantage of schools, and now that +I am getting old and infirm, I fear I have not done right by my +children.' + +"I explained to him that the Catholic College, at South Bend, +Indiana, had, for some reason, given me a scholarship for twenty +years, and that I would divide with him -- that is let him send two +of his boys for five years each. He seemed very grateful and said +he would think of it. + +"My recollection is that his regiment was mustered out of service +that winter, 1866-7, and that the following summer, 1867, he (Carson) +went to Washington on some business for the Utes, and on his return +toward New Mexico, he stopped at Fort Lyon, on the upper Arkansas, +where he died. His wife died soon after at Taos, New Mexico, and +the children fell to the care of a brother in law, Mr. Boggs, who +had a large ranche on the Purgation near Fort Lyon. It was reported +of Carson, when notified that death was impending, that he said, +'Send William, (his eldest son) to General Sherman who has promised +to educate him.' Accordingly, some time about the spring of 1868, +there came to my house, in St. Louis, a stout boy with a revolver, +Life of Kit Carson by Dr. Peters, United States Army, about $40 +in money, and a letter from Boggs, saying that in compliance with +the request of Kit Carson, on his death bed, he had sent William +Carson to me. Allowing him a few days of vacation with my own +children, I sent him to the college at South Bend, Ind., with a +letter of explanation, and making myself responsible for his expenses. +He was regularly entered in one of the classes, and reported to me +regularly. I found the 'Scholarship' amounted to what is known as +'tuition,' but for three years I paid all his expenses of board, +clothing, books, &c., amounting to about $300 a year. At the end +of that time, the Priest reported to me that Carson was a good +natured boy, willing enough, but that he had no taste or appetite +for learning. His letters to me confirmed this conclusion, as he +could not possibly spell. After reflection, I concluded to send +him to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to the care of General Langdon C. +Easton, United States Quartermaster, with instructions to employ +him in some capacity in which he could earn his board and clothing, +and to get some officer of the garrison to teach him just what was +necessary for a Lieutenant of Cavalry. Lieutenant Beard, adjutant +of the Fifth Infantry did this. He (William Carson) was employed, +as a 'Messenger,' and, as he approached his twenty-first year, under +the tuition of Lieutenant Beard, he made good progress. Meantime +I was promoted to General in Chief at Washington, and about 1870, +when Carson had become twenty-one years of age, I applied in person +to the President, General Grant, to give the son of Kit Carson, +the appointment of Second Lieutenant Ninth United States Cavalry, +telling him somewhat of the foregoing details. General Grant promptly +ordered the appointment to issue, subject to the examination as to +educational qualifications, required by the law. The usual board of +officers was appointed at Fort Leavenworth and Carson was ordered +before it. After careful examination, the board found him deficient +in reading, writing and arithmetic. Of course he could not be +commissioned. I had given him four years of my guardianship, about +$1,000 of my own money, and the benefit of my influence, all in +vain. By nature, he was not adapted to 'modern uses.' I accordingly +wrote him that I had exhausted my ability to provide for him, and +advised him to return to his uncle Boggs on the Purgation to assist +him in his cattle and sheep ranche. + +"I heard from him by letter once or twice afterward, in one of +which he asked me to procure for him the agency for the Utes. On +inquiry at the proper office in Washington, I found that another +person had secured the place of which I notified him, and though +of late years I have often been on the Purgation, and in the Ute +country, I could learn nothing of the other children of Kit Carson, +or of William, who for four years was a sort of ward to me. + +"Since the building of railroads in that region, the whole character +of its population is changed, and were Kit Carson to arise from his +grave, he could not find a buffalo, elk or deer, where he used to +see millions. He could not even recognize the country with which +he used to be so familiar, or find his own children, whom he loved, +and for whose welfare he felt so solicitous in his later days. + +"Kit Carson was a good type of a class of men most useful in their +day, but now as antiquated as Jason of the Golden Fleece, Ulysses +of Troy, the Chevalier La Salle of the Lakes, Daniel Boone of Kentucky, +Irvin Bridger and Jim Beckwith of the Rockies, all belonging to +the dead past. + +"Yours Truly, + +"W. T. SHERMAN." + +"TRENTON, N. J., June 23, 1884. + +"In accordance with your request to give my recollections of Kit +Carson, I would say that I met and spent several days with him +in September, 1866, at and near Fort Garland, Colorado, on the +headwaters of the Rio Grande. I was then Brevet Brigadier General +and Inspector United States Volunteers, on a tour of inspection +of the military depots and posts in that region and across to the +Pacific. General Sherman happened there at the same time, on like +duty as to his Military Division, and our joint talks, as a rule, +extended far into the night and over many subjects. 'Kit' was then +Brevet Brigadier General United States Volunteers, and in command +of Fort Garland, and a wide region thereabouts -- mostly Indian +-- which he knew thoroughly. Fort Garland was a typical frontier +post, composed of log huts chinked with mud, rough but comfortable, +and in one of these Kit then lived with his Mexican wife and several +half breed children. + +"He was then a man apparently about fifty years of age. From what +I had read about him, I had expected to see a small, wiry man, +weather-beaten and reticent; but found him to be a medium sized, +rather stoutish, and quite talkative person instead. His hair was +already well-silvered, but his face full and florid. You would +scarcely regard him, at first sight, as a very noticeable man, +except as having a well knit frame and full, deep chest. But on +observing him more closely, you were struck with the breadth and +openness of his brow, bespeaking more than ordinary intelligence +and courage; with his quick, blue eye, that caught everything at a +glance apparently -- an eye beaming with kindliness and benevolence, +but that could blaze with anger when aroused; and with his full, +square jaw and chin, that evidently could shut as tight as Sherman's +or Grant's when necessary. With nothing of the swashbuckler or +Buffalo Bill -- of the border ruffian or the cowboy -- about him, +his manners were as gentle, and his voice as soft and sympathetic, +as a woman's. What impressed one most about his face was its rare +kindliness and charity -- that here, at last, was a natural gentleman, +simple as a child but brave as a lion. He soon took our hearts by +storm, and the more we saw of him the more we became impressed with +his true manliness and worth. Like everybody else on the border, +he smoked freely, and at one time drank considerably; but he had +quit drinking years before, and said he owed his excellent health +and preeminence, if he had any, to his habits of almost total +abstinence. In conversation he was slow and hesitating at first, +approaching almost to bashfulness, often seemingly at a loss for +words; but, as he warmed up, this disappeared, and you soon found +him talking glibly, and with his hands and fingers as well -- rapidly +gesticulating -- Indian fashion. He was very conscientious, and in +all our talks would frequently say: 'Now, stop gentlemen! Is this +right?' 'Ought we to do this?' 'Can we do that?' 'Is this like +human nature?' or words to this effect, as if it was the habit of +his mind to test everything by the moral law. I think that was the +predominating feature of his character -- his perfect honesty and +truthfulness -- quite as much as his matchless coolness and courage. +Said Sherman to me one day while there: 'His integrity is simply +perfect. The red skins know it, and would trust Kit any day before +they would us, or the President, either!' And Kit well returned +their confidence, by being their steadfast, unswerving friend and +ready champion. + +"He talked freely of his past life, unconscious of its extraordinary +character. Born in Kentucky, he said, he early took to the plains +and mountains, and joined the hunters and trappers, when he was +so young he could not set a trap. When he became older, he turned +trapper himself, and trapped all over our territories for beaver, +otter, etc., from the Missouri to the Pacific, and from British +America to Mexico. Next he passed into Government employ, as an +Indian scout and guide, and as such piloted Fremont and others all +over the Plains and through the Rocky and Sierra Nevada Mountains. +Fremont, in his reports, surrounded Kit's name with a romantic valor, +but he seems to have deserved it all, and more. His good sense, +his large experience, and unfaltering courage, were invaluable to +Fremont, and it is said about the only time the Pathfinder went +seriously astray among the Mountains was when he disregarded his +(Kit's) advice, and endeavored to force a passage through the Rockies +northwest of Fort Garland. Kit told him the mountains could not be +crossed at that time of the year; and, when Fremont nevertheless +insisted on proceeding, he resigned as guide. The Pathfinder, however, +went stubbornly forward, but got caught in terrible snowstorms, and +presently returned -- half of his men and animals having perished +outright from cold and hunger. Next Kit became United States +Indian Agent, and made one of the best we ever had. Familiar with +the language and customs of the Indians, he frequently spent months +together among them without seeing a white man, and indeed became +a sort of half Indian himself. In talking with us, I noticed he +frequently hesitated for the right English word; but when speaking +bastard Spanish (Mexican) or Indian, with the Ute Indians there, +he was as fluent as a native. Both Mexican and Indian, however, +are largely pantomime, abounding in perpetual grimace and gesture, +which may have helped him along somewhat. Next, when the rebellion +broke out, he became a Union soldier, though the border was largely +Confederate. He tendered his services to Mr. Lincoln, who at once +commissioned him Colonel, and told him to take care of the frontier, +as the regulars there had to come East to fight Jeff Davis. Kit +straightway proceeded to raise the First Regiment of New Mexico +Volunteers, in which he had little difficulty, as the New Mexicans +knew him well, and had the utmost confidence in him. With these, +during the war, he was busy fighting hostile Indians, and keeping +others friendly, and in his famous campaign against the Navajos, +in New Mexico, with only six hundred frontier volunteers captured +some nine thousand prisoners. The Indians withdrew into a wild +canyon, where no white man, it was said, had ever penetrated, and +believed to be impregnable. But Kit pursued them from either end, +and attacked them with pure Indian strategy and tactics; and the +Navajos finding themselves thus surrounded, and their supplies cut +off, outwitted by a keener fighter than themselves, surrendered at +discretion. Then he did not slaughter them, but marched them to a +goodly reservation, and put them to work herding and planting, and +they had continued peaceable ever since. + +"Kit seemed thoroughly familiar with Indian life and character, +and it must be conceded, that no American of his time knew our +aborigines better -- if any so well. It must be set down to their +credit, that he was their stout friend -- no Boston philanthropist +more so. He did not hesitate to say, that all our Indian troubles +were caused originally by bad white men, if the truth were known, +and was terribly severe on the brutalities and barbarities of the +border. He said the Indians were very different from what they used +to be, and were yearly becoming more so from contact with border +ruffians and cowboys. He said he had lived for years among them +with only occasional visits to the settlements, and he had never +known an Indian to injure a Pale Face, where he did not deserve it; +on the other hand, he had seen an Indian kill his brother even for +insulting a white man in the old times. He insisted that Indians +never commit outrages unless they are first provoked to them by +the borderers, and that many of the peculiar and special atrocities +with which they are charged are only their imitation of the bad acts +of wicked white men. He pleaded for the Indians, as 'pore ignorant +critters, who had no learnin', and didn't know no better,' whom we +were daily robbing of their hunting grounds and homes, and solemnly +asked: 'What der yer 'spose our Heavenly Father, who made both them +and us, thinks of these things?' He was particularly severe upon +Col. Chivington and the Sand Creek massacre of 1864, which was +still fresh in the public mind, said he; 'jist to think of that dog +Chivington, and his dirty hounds, up thar at Sand Creek! Whoever +heerd of sich doings 'mong Christians!' + +"'The pore Indians had the Stars and Stripes flying over them, our +old flag thar, and they'd bin told down to Denver, that so long as +they kept that flying they'd be safe enough. Well, then, one day +along comes that durned Chivington and his cusses. They'd bin out +several day's huntin' Hostiles, and couldn't find none nowhar, +and if they had, they'd have skedaddled from 'em, you bet! So they +jist lit upon these Friendlies, and massacreed 'em -- yes, sir, +literally massacreed 'em -- in cold blood, in spite of our flag +thar -- yes, women and little children, even! Why, Senator Foster +told me with his own lips (and him and his Committee come out yer +from Washington, you know, and investigated this muss), that that +thar durned miscreant and his men shot down squaws, and blew the +brains out of little innocent children -- pistoled little papooses +in the arms of their dead mothers, and even worse than this! -- +them durned devils! and you call sich soldiers Christians, do ye? +and pore Indians savages!' + +"'I tell you what, friends; I don't like a hostile Red Skin any more +than you do. And when they are hostile, I've fit 'em -- fout 'em +-- and expect to fight 'em -- hard as any man. That's my business. +But I never yit drew a bead on a squaw or papoose, and I despise the +man who would. 'Taint nateral for men to kill women and pore little +children, and none but a coward or a dog would do it. Of course +when we white men do sich awful things, why these pore ignorant +critters don't know no better than to foller suit. Pore things! +Pore things! I've seen as much of 'em as any man livin', and I +can't help but pity 'em, right or wrong! They once owned all this +country, yes, Plains and Mountains, buffalo and everything, but +now they own next door to nuthin, and will soon be gone.' + +"Alas, poor Kit! He has already 'gone to the Happy Hunting Grounds.' +But the Indians had no truer friend, and Kit Carson would wish +no prouder epitaph than this. In talking thus he would frequently +get his grammar wrong, and his language was only the patois of +the Border; but there was an eloquence in his eye, and a pathos in +his voice, that would have touched a heart of stone, and a genuine +manliness about him at all times, that would have won him hosts +of friends anywhere. And so, Kit Carson, good friend, brave heart, +generous soul, hail and farewell! + +"Hoping these rough recollections may serve your purpose, I remain + +"Very respectfully, + +"Your obedient servant, + +"JAMES F. RUSLING." + +The following tribute to the matchless scout, hunter and guide is +from the Salt Lake Tribune: + +He wrote his own biography and left it where the edition will never +grow dim. The alphabet he used was made of the rivers, the plains, +the forests, and the eternal heights. He started in his youth +with his face to the West; started toward where no trails had been +blazed, where there was naught to meet him but the wilderness, +the wild beast, and the still more savage man. He made his lonely +camps by the rivers, and now it is a fiction with those who sleep +on the same grounds that the waters in their flow murmur the great +pathfinder's name. He followed the water courses to their sources, +and guided by them, learned where the mountains bent their crests +to make possible highways for the feet of men. He climbed the +mountains and "disputed with the eagles of the crags" for points +of observation; he met the wild beast and subdued him; he met the +savage of the plains and of the hills, and, in his own person, +gave him notice of his sovereignty in skill, in cunning and in +courage. To the red man he was the voice of fate. In him they saw +a materialized foreboding of their destiny. To them he was a voice +crying the coming of a race against which they could not +prevail; before which they were to be swept away. + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE LIFE OF KIT CARSON *** + +This file should be named lfktc10.txt or lfktc10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, lfktc11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, lfktc10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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