ort during the winter and were
not again disturbed by the Indians. Early in the following spring,
they set their traps on one of the tributaries of the Missouri River
and finished the hunt on the head of Lewis' Fork. They then departed
for the rendezvous which was held on Green River near the mouth of
Horse Creek, remaining there until the month of August and until the
meeting was dissolved.

Kit Carson, on the breaking up of the camp at the rendezvous,
accompanied by five other trappers, went to Fort Hall and joined
a party attached to the "Northwest Fur Company." With this band he
trapped to the head of Salmon River. Thence they went to Malade River,
trapping down it to where it empties into the Big Snake River. They
continued on up this latter river, and then, after trapping on Goose
Creek and Raft River, returned to Fort Hall. Their stock of fur was
quite extensive on their arrival here and, an opportunity offering
to dispose of it, they sold out at a fair valuation. After recruiting
their strength at the Fort for one month, Kit Carson, accompanied by
most of the trappers, set out to join Bridger, who was still in the
country of the Blackfeet Indians. Upon striking the Missouri River,
signs of trappers were discovered, indicating that, whoever the party,
or parties might be, they were now above the place where Kit and his
party then were. With fourteen companions Kit started in advance of
the main party to overtake, and report who these men were. Towards
evening of the same day, the advance party came up with the trappers
and found that they were under the charge of Joseph Gale and in the
employ of Captain Wyatt.

Gale informed Carson that his command had recently been engaged in a
closely contested fight with the Blackfeet Indians; that several of
his party had been wounded, and one, by the name of Richard Owens, was
at first thought to be mortally so; but, eventually, he had begun to
recover and now was doing well.

Kit and his men remained one night with Gale. On the following day his
party commenced setting their traps, intending to proceed up the river
at a slow pace in order to allow the main party to overtake them. The
men sent out to set their traps had not gone from the camp over two
miles before they were fired upon by a party of Blackfeet Indians
and compelled to retreat. They did so, succeeding in joining their
comrades without the loss of a single man. The pursuit had been close
and well sustained b