Meanwhile the little band continued steadily on its way. Reuben now
thought of the missing Jean less frequently. He was confident that the
French trapper was abundantly able to protect himself, and, besides,
there was less peril for a man alone than there was for a large force
of the trappers. The Indians were intensely jealous, fearful for the
safety of their possessions, and angry at the intruders for daring to
come in numbers to trap along the streams which the redmen had been
taught to believe belonged to them by inheritance.
There were occasions when the presence of the prowling Indians was
evident, for horses several times vanished from the camp and were not
found again. The traps, too, which were used by the men in their
advance, frequently disappeared, and there was slight question in the
mind of the young leader that the Blackfeet, although they had not
dared to make an open attack since the ambuscade, none the less were
steadily following their enemies.
At last it was decided that the division should go on toward the
Sacramento River, while part of the force already had been sent back to
Taos to dispose of the beaver skins which had been secured and also to
get more traps. All the remaining men agreed to continue on to the
Sacramento, and in this company was young Reuben Benton. To the lad the
days were all filled with interest the chief of which was in the
expeditions for hunting the savage grizzly, whose reputation for blind
and savage courage increased as the men journeyed farther among the
towering mountains.
The Indians, however, whom they met as they proceeded on their way,
proved more and more friendly. The stories, too, which the redmen told
of the marvels of the valley of the Sacramento increased the desire of
Reuben and his companions to see the land which was declared to be not
only marvellously beautiful and fertile, but also to abound in beaver.
To reach this land of promise, however, it was necessary for the little
company to make its way across a country upon which neither grass nor
trees grew, and where water was seldom found. Even the wild animals
avoided these desert plains. Not a deer was likely to be found in the
course of the journey, and the buffaloes were far behind the mountains,
which now were in the rear of the advancing trappers.
Before entering upon the final stage of the journey it was decided that
there should be a rest of several days. Accordingly the entire party
went into camp. The horses were fed far better than had been the daily
custom and were not compelled to carry any burdens. The trappers
employed the time thus afforded in hunting. There was need of food in
the party, and to supply this need Kit Carson and a half-dozen others,
among whom was Reuben, devoted much of their time to hunting for
animals that would provide meat.
On the second day, while Reuben, Kit Carson, and a man who was called
Jack were about six miles from the place where the camp had been
pitched, they discovered a herd of deer. The curious animals plainly
were not familiar with the sight of men. They were discovered near a
spring on the border of a grove that grew far down into the plains. At
least a dozen of the creatures were seen by the keen-eyed leader.
“We mustn’t lose any of them,” said Kit Carson in a whisper, as he
turned to his followers. “The best thing we can do is to spread out and
come up to them in a semicircle.”
“They have seen us already,” suggested Jack.
“That’s true,” replied Kit Carson, “but the very fact that they have
not run away will make it easier for us to get more of them, and we
must have them. Our very lives may depend upon our aim. I hope every
one will hit his target.”
In accordance with the directions of the hunter, the party spread out
and prepared to creep nearer the spring, advancing in a semicircle.
Even when they had come within fifty yards of the water the inquisitive
animals were still standing, gazing almost stupidly at the approaching
hunters. Indeed to Reuben it almost seemed as if the timid creatures
were unable to flee. Even the fawns, with ears erect, stood gazing
open-eyed at the men.
In this manner the trappers approached, as has been said, within fifty
yards, and then at a given signal all arose and fired upon the timid
animals. Two of the deer were seen to fall. Then with a loud summons to
his followers, Kit Carson, after he had hastily reloaded his rifle,
darted toward the spring from which even yet the startled deer had
withdrawn only a few yards.
In a brief time the guns were reloaded and almost together the trappers
once more fired at the graceful creatures that were still gazing at
them. A third deer fell to the ground, but all its companions instantly
fled from the spot.
“We didn’t get as many as we ought to,” said Kit Carson quietly when
the men approached the place where the fallen deer were lying. “I shall
be surprised if we do not find that some of these deer are pretty well
filled with lead. We ought to have arranged for no two men to fire at
the same animal.” The trapper’s suggestion was found to be correct, for
six bullets were found in one of the bodies.
In response to the directions of the scout, the men at once took their
knives and skinned the creatures, and then, while part of them sewed
the skins into water-bags, the others prepared to smoke the meat which
had been secured.
Haunches of venison were dried on the branches of trees above the reach
of prowling wolves, and fires were kindled beneath them which it was
believed would last throughout the coming night. The smoke from the
flames soon hid the suspended bodies, and, satisfied that their work
for the day had been completed, the hunters turned and departed for the
camp in the defiles of the mountains.
To Reuben Benton these experiences were all so novel that he had ceased
to think often of the missing Jean, and he was thoroughly enjoying his
adventures. Such a life was wholly new to the eager-hearted boy. In the
vicinity of his home he often had trapped and hunted, but nothing had
occurred like the exciting incidents of his hunting with the great
scout. Perhaps the honour of being associated with Kit Carson, whose
name was already familiar in all the West, provided the greatest
enjoyment of all. More and more Reuben was impressed by the quiet
self-control of Carson and the respect which was paid him by all the
men in the company.
Reuben, who was a strong and rugged boy, had found no difficulty thus
far in keeping up with the men. Indeed, his spirit of eagerness several
times had led him far in advance of his companions. Kit Carson,
however, occasionally had rebuked him for his foolhardiness and told
him that his safety depended almost entirely upon his remaining in the
company of his fellow trappers. There was slight question in his mind
that the Indians had followed them all through the defiles of the
mountains. Whether or not the pursuit would be maintained was a
question which could be solved only by the events which might occur
when once the party had entered on its way across the pathless desert.
On the day after the shooting of the three deer Reuben and Jack,
together with two other trappers, were sent to obtain the carcasses,
which had been left hanging from the boughs of the tree under which the
fires had been kindled. For the meat to be thoroughly cured a longer
time would be required, but as the horses were now rested, the men were
eager to push forward.
Just before the departure from the camp was made three Indians were
seen approaching, leading a poor old horse that was soon found to be
blind as well as lame. By the use of signs the Indians finally agreed
to sell the poor old creature and then departed with the money which
they received. After they were gone the horse itself was killed and
roasted, and the trappers that night enjoyed a feast of tough
horse-meat and water from the mountain springs.
The following morning the entire band set forth on their long and
difficult journey across the plains. When three days had elapsed, the
riders, wearied by their journey and nearly parched with thirst, were
well-nigh exhausted. The supply of water which they had brought with
them had proved to be inadequate.
All the efforts of Kit Carson were required to keep up the courage of
his followers. The heat had been intense, and the brief rest which had
been given the horses and mules had not been sufficient to restore
their full strength. Even the animals were dejected as they lifted
their feet from the heated sands and slowly moved forward.
Not a word of complaint, however, had escaped the lips of Reuben.
Fearful that the objection which had been made at St. Louis against his
joining a party of trappers would be repeated here, the boy had done
his utmost to bear the hardships that he was compelled to endure. His
lips were swollen and cracked, and the intense feeling of hunger which
he had the preceding day had given place to a dull ache. His manner was
thoroughly dispirited as he slowly followed his companions. The mule
which he was riding had lagged behind the other animals, until Reuben
was several yards in the rear of the little company.
It was at this time that Carson, noting the plight of his young friend,
dropped behind and waited for Reuben to approach.
“Well, lad,” he said, striving to speak cheerfully, “how is it?”
Reuben, almost unable to speak, shook his head as he tried to smile in
response to the query of his friend.
“It’s a pity, lad,” continued the guide, “but there’s no going back. We
have got into a hard piece of work, but the only thing to do is to go
ahead. That is the only way out, so keep up your heart and don’t give
in.”
Reuben nodded decidedly to show that his determination was still
unbroken, and as he did so the mule he was riding suddenly lifted his
head and, after he had sniffed the air, lowered it almost to the sand,
and emitted several prolonged, heart-breaking, agonizing brays.
The stentorian blasts were quickly answered by similar sounds from the
other mules in the train. Despite the efforts of the weary men to
control the beasts, they all immediately began to run, followed
speedily by the horses.