n camp. When the overthrow of the wretches
was complete, the gentlemen were told the story. They were speechless
for a moment and could not believe it; but the proof was complete, and
they turned pale at the thought of the fate they had escaped.

Their gratitude was unbounded. Taking the hand of Carson they begged him
to name some reward he would accept, but the mountaineer shook his head.

"I am more than repaid in being able to help frustrate such a crime as
was contemplated; I cannot think of accepting anything of the kind you
name."

The gentlemen, however, could not forget that under heaven, they owed
their lives to Kit Carson. The following spring a couple of splendid
revolvers arrived at the mountaineer's ranche addressed to him.
Beautifully engraved on them were a few sentences expressive of the
feelings of the donors and the special occasion which called forth the
gift.

It is easy to understand how much more acceptable such an
acknowledgement was to Kit Carson than any sum of money could have been.

Fox was lodged in jail, but though there was no doubt of his guilt in
the minds of every one, yet the meditated crime was so difficult to
establish that ultimately he was set free.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

Carson Visits St. Louis on Business--Encounter with Cheyenne on
his Return--His Sagacity Does not Fail Him--Carson's Last Beaver
Expedition--His California Speculation.

Maxwell, the mountaineer and intimate friend of Carson, was quite
wealthy and was of great assistance in several schemes which they
undertook in partnership. One of their enterprises was that of sending a
train of wagons belonging to the two to the States. Carson took charge,
and, jogging along at a comfortable rate, they reached in due time the
Missouri, where he went by steamboat to St. Louis. There he purchased
a large amount of merchandise which was taken up stream on the boat,
transferred to his wagon train, and the faces of all were then turned
toward New Mexico.

Everything went well until they approached the fording of the Arkansas,
when they came upon a large village of Cheyenne Indians. Unfortunately
some days before, a company of recruits had shown such cruelty toward
several warriors belonging to that tribe, that they were roused to the
highest point of fury, and were only waiting an opportunity to visit
punishment on the first whites that came in their way.

Carson knew nothing of the occurrence nor did he know of the b