of the
Cheyennes and punish them for what they had done.

The cunning Indians, before accepting the statement of the leader, said
they would examine the prairie for the trail of the messenger. Carson
assisted them in the search, and it did not take long to find the
moccasin tracks. A brief scrutiny also satisfied the warriors he had
started so many hours before, that it was useless to try to overtake
him.

The result was the attack and massacre were not made, and, though the
assistance which was asked was sent, yet it was not needed. One of
the two experienced mountaineers with Carson on that eventful journey,
declared afterward, that had any other living man than he been at the
head of the party not one would have escaped. The achievement certainly
ranks among the most extraordinary of the many performed by a most
extraordinary man.

It would be thought that after such an experience, Carson would be
content to settle down and give his entire attention to his ranche.
While it cannot be said that he neglected his duties as a farmer, yet
he loved the mountains and prairies too well ever to abandon them
altogether.

He and Maxwell, his old friend, determined on having one more old
fashioned beaver hunt, such as they were accustomed to a score of years
before. They did not mean it should be child's play and they admitted no
amateur hunters and trappers: all were veterans of years' standing, and,
when the party was fully made up, they numbered about a score.

The expedition was a memorable one. They fixed upon one of the longest
and most dangerous routes, which included many Rocky Mountain streams
and involved every possible kind of danger.

In one respect, the party were pleasantly disappointed. Years before the
beavers had been so effectively cleaned out that they expected to find
very few if any; but because the business had been so little followed
for so long a time, the animals had increased very fast and therefore
the trappers met with great success.

They began operation on the South Fork of the Platte and finally ended
on the Arkansas. They were gone many weeks and when they returned to
their homes, nearly if not all felt that they had engaged on their last
trapping expedition.

Carson had not wrought very long on his ranche, when he learned of the
scarcity and high prices of sheep in California. He at once set about
collecting several thousand, hired a number of men and drove the herd
to Fort Laramie: th