thought only of escape; therefore, seizing the mane of the horse, he gave him the spurs.  He was soon going at a flying gait; still, the rattling noise pursued him as the increased speed sent the little grains of rice out of the sack in greater quantities.  At last the sound died away, as the cause of the trouble was expended.  The frightened rider now considered himself safe, and began to rein in his horse.  After a while, he brought him to a stand-still, and turned to look for his retreating enemy, but instead, found the origin and cause of the mischief.  His loss was irrecoverable, and he could only laugh at the ridiculous figure he must have cut.  This adventure gave his friends much merriment, and served to open his eyes in reference to the much vaunted capabilities of this snake.  He has since often told this story of himself, and considers it a capital joke.

The labor of settling up their business at Fort Laramie was soon over, when Kit Carson and Goodel took their departure.  Goodel started for California, while Kit Carson commenced his tramp homeward.  As a traveling companion, he took with him a Mexican.  They pursued their journey quite pleasantly and safely enough, but, on their arrival at the Greenhorn River, the scene of the German’s adventure with a rattle-snake, they were obliged to be very wary in their progress, for Kit had learned that the Apache Indians were out on the warpath, and were waylaying the road which, he intended to pursue with the avowed purpose of attacking, plundering and murdering whoever chanced to fall in their savage clutches.  Kit Carson, therefore, halted for six days on the banks of the Greenhorn, and spent the time recruiting his animals.  While here and thus engaged, a party of white men, whom he found encamped on the same river, formed the subject of his earnest attention.  They had come thus far on their route to New Mexico, but, on learning the news of the hostile attitude of the Apache nation, their courage had entirely deserted them.  They did not dare venture into New Mexico, and counselled the retracing of their steps.  Kit Carson set himself to work, but found he had a difficult task to talk courage into these men.  By dint of much argument, he succeeded in persuading one of them to accompany him.  On the seventh day, with this one companion—­for the Mexican had left him—­he broke up his little camp on the Greenhorn, and set out upon his dangerous journey.

By taking a zigzag course, avoiding, in the mountains, all the usually traveled trails, he advanced on his route forty miles without seeing any very fresh Indian signs.  As often as the moon was unclouded, the two men embraced the assistance of its pale light to make progress through the dangers that beset them; and, on the days which succeeded this night-work, they would conceal themselves and animals in some out of the way place, where they were not to be easily discovered.  Kit Carson had not sufficient confidence in the quickness of perception of his companion to