dle blankets around them, they bore the intense
cold as best they could.

The sufferings of Carson were great. His wounds continued bleeding and
froze upon the dressings, which were of the most primitive character.
And yet not once through those hours of anguish did he utter a word of
complaint. Many a strong man would have cried out in his agony, but one
might have sat within arm's length of the mountaineer without knowing he
was hurt at all.

More than that, Carson took his part in the council which was held in
the cold and darkness. The conclusion reached was that the party of
trappers were not strong enough to pursue the Blackfeet, and the proper
course to pursue was to rejoin the main body and report what had been
done. It would then be time enough to decide upon their future action.

When this programme was carried out, a larger party of hunters under
the lead of an experienced mountaineer resumed the pursuit; but nothing
could be found of the savages. They had utilized the grace allowed
them so well that it was impossible to overtake or trace them, and the
indignant trappers were obliged to submit to their loss.

The severe cold moderated, and, as spring was close at hand the hunters
pushed their trapping operations along the Green and Snake Rivers,
meeting with unbounded success. They gathered more peltries than they
had dared to hope for, and when warm weather approached, went into
quarters where they remained until the following fall, a party of
traders having brought them all the supplies they needed.

The rugged constitution of Carson and his temperate habits caused him
speedily to recover from his severe wound. He again became the active,
vigilant, keen witted guide and hunter who was looked up to by all as
the most consummate master of woodcraft that had ever been known in the
west.

Such a large party as were gathered at the summer rendezvous was certain
to include many varieties of people. The frank, brave and open hearted,
the sly and treacherous, the considerate and courteous, the quarrelsome
and overbearing--indeed the temperaments of the individuals composing
the company were as varied as it is possible to imagine.

Among them was a powerful Frenchman known as Captain Shunan. He had won
his title by hard fighting, possessed a magnificent physique, was brave
and skilled in the use of arms, and was the most quarrelsome individual
in camp. It is impossible to picture a more irascible and disagree