an attack.  Nothing, however, would tempt them to face the danger, for they withdrew to a spot about one mile from the little fort and sat down in council.  The speeches appeared to be generally opposed to risking an assault; for, after the council was dissolved, the Indians divided into two nearly equal parties and immediately marched off.  One band took the direction of the Crow country and the other shaped their course in the direction from whence they came.

The trappers remained at their little fort during the winter and were not again disturbed by the Indians.  Early in the following spring, they set their traps on one of the tributaries of the Missouri River and finished the hunt on the head of Lewis’ Fork.  They then departed for the rendezvous which was held on Green River near the mouth of Horse Creek, remaining there until the month of August and until the meeting was dissolved.

Kit Carson, on the breaking up of the camp at the rendezvous, accompanied by five other trappers, went to Fort Hall and joined a party attached to the “Northwest Fur Company.”  With this band he trapped to the head of Salmon River.  Thence they went to Malade River, trapping down it to where it empties into the Big Snake River.  They continued on up this latter river, and then, after trapping on Goose Creek and Raft River, returned to Fort Hall.  Their stock of fur was quite extensive on their arrival here and, an opportunity offering to dispose of it, they sold out at a fair valuation.  After recruiting their strength at the Fort for one month, Kit Carson, accompanied by most of the trappers, set out to join Bridger, who was still in the country of the Blackfeet Indians.  Upon striking the Missouri River, signs of trappers were discovered, indicating that, whoever the party, or parties might be, they were now above the place where Kit and his party then were.  With fourteen companions Kit started in advance of the main party to overtake, and report who these men were.  Towards evening of the same day, the advance party came up with the trappers and found that they were under the charge of Joseph Gale and in the employ of Captain Wyatt.

Gale informed Carson that his command had recently been engaged in a closely contested fight with the Blackfeet Indians; that several of his party had been wounded, and one, by the name of Richard Owens, was at first thought to be mortally so; but, eventually, he had begun to recover and now was doing well.

Kit and his men remained one night with Gale.  On the following day his party commenced setting their traps, intending to proceed up the river at a slow pace in order to allow the main party to overtake them.  The men sent out to set their traps had not gone from the camp over two miles before they were fired upon by a party of Blackfeet Indians and compelled to retreat.  They did so, succeeding in joining their comrades without the loss of a single man.  The pursuit had been close and well sustained by the savages;