The Life of Kit Carson

rican Trapper-Hunti

suit-Arrival of Friend

Upon the Camp-Pursuit

ood, but the interior was like the central portion of Australia or Africa. Clarke and Lewis made their famous expedition to Oregon during the early

. 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 cl

h, 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

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 intens

al 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

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 su

therefore Carson made all haste thither. It need not be said that he lost no time on the road, but when he reached their

search, but failed utterly to find them. They were never seen or heard of again, and Carson was

hat 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 wra

e game, but that was so plentiful that he was never compelled to go far,

egun. 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 p

uses might have caused this but Carson believed the incitement in that instance was the one most dreade

ad been taken by the whites against surprise and they withdrew without molesting them. The party were in a beaver country,

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

rt, his wound was not mortal. It may be said that he suffered much but fully recovered in time. Men with such iron co

rses and awaited the return of Carson and his companions. They were much d