receive any other than the unexpressed opinion of the people.  There were some men (there always are such persons in every community) who sought his company expecting to hear him boast of his deeds and proclaim himself a hero such as had never before existed; but, what must have been their surprise on seeing his unassuming bearing, his disregard of notoriety, and his anxiety to escape that popularity which they themselves would have highly prized.  Tired, by the anxiety and hard work of bringing his property over a long and dangerous journey to a good market, he had looked for rest and retirement; but instead, he was everywhere sought out and made conspicuous.

And here we pause to speak of the noble qualities of moral character and good judgment evinced by Kit Carson on this occasion of his eventful life.  He found himself surrounded with the choice spirits of the new El Dorado; his name a prestige of strength and position, and his society courted by everybody.  The siren voice of pleasure failed not to speak in his ear her most flattering invitations.  Good-fellowship took him incessantly by the hand, desiring to lead him into the paths of dissipation.  But the gay vortex, with all its brilliancy, had no attractions for him; the wine cup, with its sparkling arguments, failed to convince his calm earnestness of character, that his simple habits of life needed remodeling.  To the storm, however, he was exposed; but, like a good ship during the gale, he weathered the fierce blast, and finally took his departure from the new city of a day, with his character untarnished, but nevertheless leaving behind him many golden opinions.  With a hurried farewell and many kind remembrances of the good people of California, he left their great city to return to a home where he was certain to find a life better suited to his tastes.  Money-getting had no charms for him.  Had he chosen to accept some of the offers made him while then in San Francisco, he could easily have amassed an immense fortune.  But his home had now the greater allurements, and a legitimate business gave him the certainty of comfort.  The power merely which wealth assumes, Kit Carson never has desired to grasp.

The time had nearly arrived for the appearance of Maxwell.  He finally joined Kit Carson, when the two immediately engaged in the very profitable work of disposing of their sheep.  The market proved to be quite active—­so much so that they disposed of their entire flock at high cash values without the least difficulty.  The speculation thus proved to be highly satisfactory to all concerned.  In a monetary point of view, the adventure proved to be the most fortunate in which Kit Carson had been engaged.  Heretofore, money had been a second consideration with Kit Carson.  He had directed his energies and attention to almost everything, or at least to many things besides its accumulation.