shows she is enjoying herself.  The men exhibit their pleasure in a more boisterous manner; that is, by occasionally whooping and cracking jokes.  Gambling[18] is carried on under the same roof; and in this both men and women join as long as their money lasts.  Then they make room for others who are anxious to try their fortunes.  This vice is truly of a national character, and so given to it are these people, that they will part with anything to support their appetite.  To their credit it can be said, that the New Mexican women indulge but sparingly in alcoholic liquor; but the men are prone to the intoxicating cup.  They often anticipate the evil effects of drink, and it is not unfrequent to see a New Mexican assuming the airs of a drunken man after two or three mouthfuls of “aqua-diente.”  The spirit of the ball is carried on well into the short hours of night, when all parties depart for their homes.  Intoxication, that curse to all men, is playing havoc with this innocent amusement of the people, and causing these scenes to terminate in riot, and often bloodshed, especially when the jealousy of the white blood is raised at some imagined insult; and then, as is always the case, the two races come in fierce contact.  It is hoped that by the aid of schools and education these things may be ameliorated, but they cannot be cured.  The mischief is too deeply rooted.

[Footnote 18:  The game most frequently played is monte.]

We have thus endeavored to give the reader a view of the people among whom Kit Carson had determined to become a farmer.  But he was not destined to finish and perfect his plans.

Near the conclusion of the second exploring expedition, and at the time when Kit Carson took his departure from the party, Col.  Fremont had received a promise from him to the effect that he would join, as guide, any party of discovery, for the further exploration of the Rocky Mountains, which he, Col.  Fremont, should command.

During the active duties of a farmer’s life, and just as Kit Carson had brought his new enterprise into working order, an expressman from Col.  Fremont arrived at his ranche, bearing dispatches to Carson.  The purport of these dispatches was to remind Kit Carson of his promise, to inform him of the organization of a third expedition, and to appoint a place where Kit Carson might find his old commander.

The express found Carson in the midst of so many cares and anxieties concerning his new project, that it became a very difficult matter for him to keep his word.  But the sacrifice of pecuniary interest was but a slight consideration with Kit, when weighed in the balance against his promise.  He knew that his promise had not been either lightly given or received.  Col.  Fremont, by it, had the first right to his time and energies, and had formed his expectations accordingly; and Kit lost, therefore, no time in making preparations to satisfy these expectations by reporting himself at the appointed place of meeting, ready for the march.