ring, he was
once more ordered to carry despatches to Washington, an escort being
furnished him as in the previous instance.

In crossing Grand River, one of the rafts became unmanageable, upset,
losing considerable valuable property and endangering the lives of a
number of the company. A large force of Utah and Apache Indians were
encountered, but Carson managed them with the same skill he had shown
them so many times before.

On arriving at Taos, he spent several days with his family and friends,
after which he proceeded to Santa Fe. There he learned that the United
States Senate had refused to confirm his nomination as lieutenant in
the army. Many of his friends were so angered over this slight that they
urged him to refuse to carry the despatches further; but his reply, as
given by Dr. Peters, is so admirable that we quote it:

"I was entrusted with these despatches, having been chosen in
California, from whence I come, as the most competent person to take
them through safely. I would try to fulfill this duty even if I knew it
would cost me my life. It matters not to me, while I am performing this
service for my country, whether I hold the rank of lieutenant in the
United States Army or am known merely as an experienced mountaineer. I
have gained some little honor and credit for the manner in which I
have always conducted myself when detailed on any special and important
business, and I would on no account now wish to forfeit the good opinion
formed of me by a majority of my countrymen because the United States
Senate did not deem it proper to confer on me an appointment which I
never solicited, and one which, had it been confirmed, I would have
resigned at the termination of the war."

Having determined to perform his duty, he made careful inquiries as to
the state of feeling among the Indians through whose country the trail
led. The reports were of the most alarming character: the Comanches were
on the war path with a vengeance. They were swarming all along the old
Santa Fe Trail, on the watch for parties whom they could overwhelm and
destroy.

Such being the case, Carson resorted to the bold artifice of making a
trail of his own. He reduced his escort to ten experienced mountaineers
and then struck out upon his new route. He rode northward from Taos
until within a region rarely visited by hostiles, when he changed his
course by the compass several times. By this means, he reached Fort
Kearney on the Platte