They then followed the trail back to the spot where the savages had attacked the Mexicans.  The captives had all been killed and their bodies had been shockingly mangled.  Carson and his heroic companion, with fifteen horses, rejoined the camp.  The property was at once restored to the Mexicans without any remuneration whatever being received by either of these men for their exploit.  They had been absent from the camp thirty hours, and had ridden over a hundred miles.

The march was now resumed and, after a tedious journey of many leagues, they reached Fort Bent on the second of July, where the exploring party was disbanded.  Colonel Fremont proceeded to Washington.  Kit Carson returned to Taos.  Thinking that he had had enough of wandering, he decided to become a farmer, that he might reside at home with his family.  He purchased quite a large tract of land a little out from the straggling village of Taos, and commenced farming upon a pretty large scale.

As he was very busy erecting his buildings and breaking up the soil, an express arrived from Colonel Fremont, stating that he was about to set out on a third exploring tour and that he should depend upon Mr. Carson’s accompanying him.  He also reminded him of a promise once given that he would be ever ready to heed such a call.

Mr. Carson had made large investments in buildings, stock, farming utensils, etc.  With Mr. Owens, who had been his companion on a former trip, Mr. Carson set out for Fort Bent, where he met with a very cordial welcome from Colonel Fremont.  We cannot follow the party, in its long and adventurous wanderings, along the ravines, across the prairies, and over the mountains, until they reached the lower extremity of the Great Salt Lake.  Before them towards the west spread out a vast desert, of unknown extent.  No white man had ever crossed it.  Colonel Fremont decided that it was his duty to explore it.  His men were always ready to follow their bold chieftain.

Kit Carson and three others were sent forward to mark out the road by their trail.  Should they find grass and water, they were to build a fire, the smoke of which would convey the joyful intelligence to Colonel Fremont, who was watching, spy-glass in hand, from a neighboring eminence.  For sixty miles they travelled without finding a drop of water, or a blade of grass.  Then suddenly they came upon both in abundance; an oasis in the desert.

Carson built a rousing fire, piling on the green wood to make as much smoke as possible.  Notwithstanding the great distance, the glass of Fremont discerned the billowy signal, ascending through the serene skies.  His party was at once put in motion, and after a weary march reached their companions.  They thence pressed on to Sutter’s Fort, where they could only obtain moderate supplies.  On the trip they had divided into two parties and one of them had wandered and got lost.  Mr. Carson was sent to hunt them up.