The Life of Kit Carson

Carson's Resources

of Horses and Mules-

Peltries-Return to Sa

dition-Hunting with an

row In

ar 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 t

ofessions 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

who spoke Spanish and to h

o without a minute's delay, we shall attack you and

spect 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

hey 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 m

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 ma

zen warriors hurrying along a drove of more than a hundred horses. They had been on a rai

ch threw them into such a panic that they dashed off at full speed without giving the least thought to their valuable property. The

they needed. It was beyond their power to return them to their owners, but the best were select

eir 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 eac

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 master

trapping expedition. The first had won him such a reputation for sagacity, daring and skill, that his servi

principal streams of the Rocky Mountains. He was well acquainted with the region and was confident that the

adily 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 perilo

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

ere 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 departe