The Life of Kit Carson: Hunter, Trapper, Guide, Indian Agent and Colonel U.S.A.
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CHAPTER IV.
An Alarming Visit--Carson's Resources--On the Colorado and Gila--Capturing a Herd of Horses and Mules--The Raiders--Turning the Tables--Caching their Peltries--Return to Santa Fe--Carson Goes upon a Second Trapping Expedition--Hunting with an Old Mountaineer--A Visit from Crow Indians.
A week or more later, the trappers again reached the Colorado River.They had traveled at a leisurely pace and once more they went into camp,where they were familiar with the country. Men leading such lives asthey, were accustomed to all kinds of surprises, but it may be doubtedwhether the trappers were more amazed in all their existence than whenfive hundred Indian warriors made their appearance and with signs offriendship overran the camp before they could be prevented or checked.
The hunters did not know what to make of the proceeding, and looked toCarson for advice. He had already discovered that the situation was oneof the gravest danger. Despite the professions of friendship, Kit sawthat each warrior had his weapons under his dress, where he hoped theywere not noticed by the whites. Still worse, most of the hunters wereabsent visiting their traps, only Kit and a few of his companions beingin camp. The occasion was where it was necessary to decide at once whatto do and then to do it without flinching.
Among the red men was one who spoke Spanish and to him Carson addressedhimself:
"You must leave the camp at once; if you don't do so without a minute'sdelay, we shall attack you and each of us is sure to kill one warrior ifnot more."
These brave words accompanied by such determination of manner were insuch contrast to the usual course of the cowardly Mexicans that theIndians were taken all aback. They could not suspect the earnestness ofthe short, sturdy framed leader, nor could they doubt that though theIndians would be sure to overwhelm the little band, yet they wouldhave to pay dearly for the privilege. It took them but a few minutesto conclude the price was altogether too high and they drew off withoutmaking a hostile demonstration against the brave Carson and his men.
The trappers worked their way down the Colorado until they arrived attidewater, when they moved to the Gila, along which they trapped untilthey reached the mouth of the San Pedro. They were in sore need ofhorses with which to transport their furs and peltries, that had becomenumerous and bulky. While in this neighborhood, they discovered a largeherd of horses and mules in the possession of a few Indians. Accordingto the morality of the border this property was legitimate prey, but inpoint of fact when the trappers determined to take the animals from theaborigines, they became thieves and robbers. However, it is not to behoped that a single member of the company felt the slightest twinge ofconscience when he rode at full speed, yelling to the highest bent, andhelped scatter the terrified red men to the winds. The entire herd fellinto the hands of the whites, and, congratulating themselves on theirgood fortune, they kindled a huge fire and encamped for the night.
Most of the men had lain down with the intention of sleeping untilmorning, and Kit sat looking in the fire, when his trained ear caughta peculiar sound. At first, it seemed to be the faint roll of distantthunder, but he knew it was not. He listened carefully and was ableto tell the direction whence came the singular noise, but remaineduncertain as to its cause. Then, as he had done many a time, he leanedover and pressed his ear to the solid earth. Immediately the rumblingbecame more distinct and he recognized what it meant: it was the trampof numerous hoofs galloping forward.
Carson and several of his men stole noiselessly out to reconnaissanceand found a half dozen warriors hurrying along a drove of more than ahundred horses. They had been on a raid among the Mexican settlements inSonora and were now returning home with their plunder.
The temptation was one which Carson and his companions could not resist.They sent a volley from their rifles among the thieves, which threw theminto such a panic that they dashed off at full speed without givingthe least thought to their valuable property. The latter as a matterof course was taken charge of by the trappers, who were glad of theopportunity to chastise the cowardly marauders.
Under the circumstances, however, the animals were of little valueto the hunters, who had all they needed. It was beyond their power toreturn them to their owners, but the best were selected, several of theplumpest killed and cured, and the rest turned loose to go whither theychose.
The trappers continued up the Gila until near the copper mines of NewMexico, where they found a party of white men trading with the Indians.The peltries were cached and placed in charge of their friends, whileCarson and his companions continued on until they reached Santa Fe.There their employer bought a license to trade with the Indians wholived near the copper mines. Then they went back and procuring theirfurs, returned once more to Santa Fe, where they were sold for more thantwenty thousand dollars. This being equitably divided among the hunters,furnished each a goodly sum. Like so many sailors just ashore from along voyage, most of the trappers went on a prolonged carousal, whichcaused their money to melt like snow in the sun. When their pockets wereempty, they had aching heads, weak frames and only the memory of theirfeverish pleasures.
Kit Carson did not go through this trial unscathed. He drank and spreedwith the rest, but he awoke to the folly and madness of his coursesooner than they and the sad lesson learned at the time lasted himthrough life. The baneful habit was not fastened upon him, and he notonly acquired the mastery over self, but was able more than once tosave others from falling into the whirlpool which has swept unnumberedmultitudes to wretchedness and death.
Carson found little in the way of congenial employment until the fall ofthe year, when he joined a second trapping expedition. The first had wonhim such a reputation for sagacity, daring and skill, that his serviceswere always in demand, and those who were forming such enterprisessought him out among the very first.
The new party was in charge of an experienced mountaineer, who toldKit his intention was to trap along the principal streams of the RockyMountains. He was well acquainted with the region and was confident thatthe expedition would not only be enjoyable and thrilling in the highestdegree, but would prove profitable to all.
The party travelled northward until they reached the Platte River wherethe business began. They moved from stream to stream, as necessitydemanded, shooting such game as they needed, exchanging shots with thewatchful red men, who killed four of the trappers while hunting bison,and steadily adding to their stock of furs until the close of the seasonin the spring of 1831. Learning that an old mountaineer, named CaptainGaunt, had spent the winter at Laramie River and was then at New Park,Kit Carson and four of his friends set out to join him. It was a longand perilous journey, but they made it in safety and the Captain gavethem glad welcome. They hunted together for many months following untilthe Captain went to Taos to sell his peltries. On his return, operationswere resumed until the weather became so cold they were forced intowinter quarters.
The winter proved very severe. The snow was so deep that only by cuttingdown numerous cottonwoods and using the bark and twigs for fodder werethe animals saved from starvation. Fortunately, they had laid in agood stock of bison meat so that the trappers themselves underwent nosuffering for food. In fact, they found little to do except to pass thetime in idleness. With abundant food, plenty of tobacco and the meansof engaging in certain games, they whiled away the long winter days andevenings until the signs of spring appeared.
But while the winds were moaning around their hut, in which they madetheir home, and the snow rattled like fine sand against the logs, theywere taught again that no weather is severe enough to keep the wily redman within his wigwam. A party of Crow Indians discovered the camp ofthe trappers and one tempestuous night made them a stealthy visit. Theydeparted during the darkness, and, when they went away, took with themnine of the very best horses of the hunters--a loss too serious to beborne without using every recourse to prevent it.