were stolen by the Indians. As soon as the robbery was discovered Kit Carson was ordered to pursue the thieves with the twelve remaining horses and as many men. He at once started for the Sierra Nevada mountains, to which the trail of the Indians led him. When he overtook the guilty party he found them feasting upon horse flesh, several of the stolen animals having been killed for that purpose. Not being observed he approached as near as possible without being discovered, and arranging his men in order, the party of twelve charged upon the Indians. Eight of the warriors were killed in their tracks, the rest escaping in many directions. But the best part of Carson's success was, he succeeded in recovering all the horses except those which had been killed for the feast.

The party continued their hunting with good success until September, when they commenced their homeward march. After a long and tedious journey they reached the banks of the Colorado, where they encamped for a little rest preparatory to completing the journey. Here they were visited by five hundred Indians, who, although professing friendship, were discovered to be armed with weapons which they had concealed under their robes. The whites were now, indeed, in a serious situation; but at length Carson found a man who could speak the Spanish language, and through him he ordered the Indians "to leave the camp. In the event of their not doing so immediately, he and his friends would, without further parley, commence hostilities, and would be sure each in killing his man, although they might all, in the end, lose their own lives." The Indians being now certain that in case they attacked the party some of their own number would lose their lives, departed at once, leaving the little band once more at peace. It is hardly necessary to say that for this bold expedient Carson received the thanks of his comrades.

After encountering several bands of hostile Indians and taking from them many horses which they had stolen, Mr. Young's party arrived at the copper mines, on the Gila, where they concealed the large quantity of furs they had taken. From this place the party went to Santa Fe, where they purchased licenses to trade with the Indians who lived about the

copper mines. By the use of these papers they secured their furs, carried them to Santa Fe, and, under pretence of having purchased them from the Indians, sold them without creating the slightest suspicion.

CHAPTER L.

SKETCH OF KIT CARSON CONTINUED

ans.

DESCRIPTION OF THE MOUNTAIN PARKS PURSUING HORSE THIEVES - NINE HUNTERS DEFEAT FIFTY INDIAN WARRIORS - KIT CARSON WOUNDED-THE DUEL.

IN THE fall of 1830 we find Kit Carson connected with a trapping party, which began its operations on the Salmon river. They remained at this place throughout the winter, losing four of their men, who were killed by the Blackfeet IndiIn the spring they went to Snake River, where they continued trapping. This is one of the most delightful places in the wilds of the Great West. Among the many attractions are the Shoshonee Falls, which are said to excel the great cataract of Niagara in many respects. From this place the party journeyed to the South Park.

There are many of these parks in the Rocky Mountains, being more particularly found in the great mountain centre of Colorado. They are in many respects not unlike the great parks of civilization; but in other particulars nature has excelled art. They are beautiful beyond description. Many of them are small, suitable for small excursion parties, but three or four of them are very large-equal in territory and extent to the State of Massachusetts. These are the North Park, Middle Park, South Park, and San Luis Park. Here, upon the green, well-watered bosom of these delightful gardens, the traveler will find a great abundance of deer, antelope, and elk, and along the grassy borders of the running brooks one may see plenty of otter and beaver. It was in these delightful spots where Kit Carson spent a short season as a hunter.

But Kit was a roving mortal, and as we have many import(385)

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ant scenes in border warfare yet to record, it will be impossible to follow him in detail.

Not many months after his visit to the beauties of the parks we hear the report of his unerring rifle on the banks of the Arkansas river. At this place he spent a comfortable winter with his companion hunters. In the month of January, however, there was trouble in the camp. A party of fifty Crow Indians "made an unfriendly visit to their camp on one very dark night," and succeeded in stealing nine of their horses. The sun had not fully risen on the following morning when the adventurous Kit was flying through the forest, mounted on his favorite steed, followed by twelve of his companions. They rode on hour after hour, and night set in with no signs of the enemy. At length they held a council, and resolved to encamp for the night, intending to pursue the trail on the following morning. Selecting a tempting grove not far in advance, they rode forward to rest for the night; but they had not proceeded a hundred paces when wreaths of curling smoke broke upon their view. They were upon the enemy! Halting, and scanning the distance, they observed that the numbers of the Indians greatly exceeded their own. Being still unobserved, they concluded to settle quietly down until the darkness closed in. "Then," says Kit, "we will surprise them." All agreed. But it was also decided to change their situation. They desired to rush upon the enemy from the direction in which the savages were traveling, and for this purpose they took a circuitous route around the enemy's camp. Approaching from the opposite direction, the bold frontiersmen gained a little eminence, from which they had a full view of the Indian camp. And now let us look in upon the savages

with them. The stolen horses were secured to some trees at a little distance to one side, while in the camp, the savages, decorated in the gaudy finery of their peculiar dress, were dancing merrily in honor of their successful robbery. Every one who is acquainted with the history of the Crow Indians knows that they loved to steal horses second only to taking the scalp of an enemy. The night was cold, and the mountaineers stood a little way off, shivering from the weather, and half

trembling with rage; but in the Indian camp large fires were burning brightly, and around them the fifty horse thieves were celebrating their crime. See them as they assume a hundred different shapes, any one of which baffles all description; and now listen to the peals of merriment as they break forth on the howling winds, mingling their strange sounds with the voice of the tempest. The picture is one of wild extravagance, but it is the glory of the true Indian.

Kit Carson probably looked first at the horses, and then at the enemy. The former he must secure; the latter he must punish. But he was as cautious as he was brave, but he was brave! Although at the head of only twelve men, he was aching to attack fifty Indian warriors, who had already erected two temporary forts for their defense. The angry mountaineers drew back a little and counselled together. Each had something to propose, to all of which our hero listened calmly. When they had finished, he said, "Let them have their fun out. We must surprise them after they have fallen asleep." This was readily agreed to, and, after hours of patient waiting, the festivities ended, and the Indians rolled up in their blankets, laid down, and were soon fast asleep. The first movement was to secure the horses, which they effected without disturbing the sleeping Indians. These were sent back in charge of three men to where the other horses had been secured. The other nine remained to punish fifty warriors, and they performed their task well.

Before advancing toward the enemy a consultation was held, in which all but three of the nine advocated a peaceful retreat. They pleaded inequality of numbers, and other apparent obstacles, but Kit was not to be persuaded, and the brave men at last agreed to punish the thieves. As they advanced cautiously to where the Indians were sleeping, ten or twelve of them were aroused, and springing to their feet, they were singled out, and in quick succession nine of them fell back upon their blankets, each mountaineer having killed his man. The Indians at once retreated within the strongest fort, and opened a hot fire upon the invaders, but as the latter were securely crouched behind trees, the savages accomplished noth