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.