Kit Carson and two Companions plan a Hunt for themselves—­The Great Success met with—­Return to Taos—­Sale of the Beaver Fur—­Kit Carson joins Captain Lee and goes on a Trading Expedition—­Winter Quarters—­Kit Carson is sent in Pursuit of a Thief—­Overtakes and is obliged to shoot the Runaway—­Property recovered—­The Return to Camp—­The Sale of Goods—­Kit Carson joins Fitzpatrick and Party—­Kit Carson organizes a Hunting Party—­His Encounter with two Grizzly Bears—­The Summer Rendezvous—­Kit Carson joins fifty Trappers and goes to the Country of the Blackfeet Indians—­Annoyances received from these Indians—­Winter Quarters in 1832—­Horses Stolen—­Kit Carson and eleven Men in Pursuit—­A Parley—­A Fight—­Kit Carson severely wounded—­His great Sufferings and Fortitude—­His Convalescence—­The Retreat—­A New Expedition—­Braggadocio—­Kit Carson Fights a Duel and Wounds his man—­Duels in the Rocky Mountains in Olden Times.

The fortunes of Gaunt’s party in not finding game continued to grow darker and darker as they traveled from stream to stream.  The men began to grow disheartened at this succession of failures.  Kit Carson, finally, became so tired of going empty handed, that he resolved to try a hunt upon his own account.  On stating his intentions to the party, two of his old companions offered to join him.  These were gladly accepted by Kit; and, had they not been deterred by the consideration that their dangers would be greatly augmented if they worked with so small a party, others would most willingly have joined his company.  With the good wishes, therefore, of Gaunt and his entire band, Kit and his two brave comrades boldly and confidently commenced their march.

The plan Kit adopted was to confine his operations exclusively to the mountain streams and not to venture out upon the Prairie.  By taking this course he hoped to avoid much of the danger to be apprehended from Indians.[5]

[Footnote 5:  The mountain Indians, during the Summer season generally come down from their secure retreats and are engaged either in hunting buffalo, or marching on the war-path.  When they are at peace with the Indians of the Plains, which is rarely the case, they join them, and, together, with their united strength and skill, they make piratical excursions into the Settlements of the Mexicans.  While out on this business, they leave their families in some secluded spot for abundant caution, placing them under the guardianship of the old men, assisted by some of the younger members of the tribe.]

For several months they followed the business of trapping without being in any way annoyed by the Indians.  Their success was abundant.  At the end of the season they had gathered together a splendid stock of beaver fur and began to think of a homeward trip.  Having made everything ready, they finally started for Taos.  True, their party was small and the risks they ran of attacks from hostile and covetous Indians were imminent; but, fortune, or Providence favored them and there was finally a satisfactory end to their anxieties; for, after a quick march over the plains, they arrived safely at Taos.  Beaver fur was, at the time of their arrival, in great demand and prices ruled correspondingly high.  Kit and his comrades obtained the benefit of this state of the market and disposed of their fine stock to great advantage.