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.