ut the
plucky scout was awaiting them, and his club whizzed through the air
like the piston rod of a steam engine. The grizzlies found it more than
they could stand, and tumbling back to solid earth they gave up the
contract in disgust. Carson tarried where he was until they were beyond
sight, when he descended and hastily caught up and reloaded his rifle,
having escaped, as he always declared, by the narrowest chance of all
his life.

CHAPTER XI.

On the Green River--In the Blackfoot Country--The Blackfeet--An
Unwelcome Visit--The Pursuit and Parley--Dissolution of the Peace
Congress.

The day was drawing to a close when Carson set out for camp, which was
not reached until after dark. His companions did not feel any special
alarm over his continued absence, for the good reason that they were
confident he could take care of himself no matter in what labyrinth of
peril he might become involved.

It was too late to send for the carcass of the elk and more than likely
it had already been devoured by wolves. So the trappers made their
breakfast on one of the beavers found in their traps, and went into
camp to await the arrival of the main body of trappers, which Carson
was confident would come that way. Some days later they put in an
appearance, and the company proceeded to the general rendezvous on Green
River, where were found assembled the principal trappers of the Rocky
Mountains. There were fully two hundred divided into two camps. What a
history could have been written from the thrilling experiences of such a
body of men!

They had gathered at the rendezvous to buy what supplies they needed
and to dispose of their peltries. It was several weeks before the
negotiations were over, when the assemblage broke up into smaller
companies which started for their destinations hundreds of miles apart.

Carson joined a party numbering about fifty who intended to trap near
the headwaters of the Missouri. Hundreds of beavers had been taken in
that section, but poor success went with the large band of which Carson
was a member. That was bad enough, but they were in a neighborhood
which, it may be said, was the very heart of the Blackfoot country,
and those hostiles were never more active and vigilant in their warfare
against the invaders.

The Blackfeet or Satsika today, are the most westerly tribe of the
Algonquin family of Indians, extending from the Hudson Bay to the
Missouri and Yellowstone. They number over 1