re he spent the
winter in a very quiet manner. We use the term quiet manner: it should
be qualified with the phrase, quiet manner for him. He found plenty
of employment in looking after his animals, besides spending a large
share of his time in hunting. This, however, although always attended
with paying practical results, he did as much for pleasure as from
necessity. He always found a large number of hungry mouths ready to
relieve him from any superabundance of game; and, as his hospitality
to all classes is unbounded, he took especial delight in feeding and
liberally bestowing his bounties upon his poor Mexican neighbors, to
whom powder and lead were more of a desideratum than to himself,
and with whom his experience and skill as a hunter, were a source of
support which they could only wish for.

Early the next summer Kit Carson, in charge of a train of wagons
belonging to himself and his friend Maxwell, set out for the United
States. After an unusually pleasant journey, he reached the Missouri
River, and proceeded down it, in a steamboat, to St. Louis. Here he
purchased a large stock of goods. With this freight, he returned to
Kansas, where he had left his caravan, into which, on his arrival, he
transferred his merchandise. He then started on his return trip to
New Mexico. In order that his animals might take advantage of the fine
grass to be found there, he chose the route, known to all traders on
the plains, as well as to the reader, as the road by Bent's Fort. He
was progressing on his journey quite happily, when unfortunately, at
a point that is located about fifteen miles above the fording of the
Arkansas, he fell in with a village of Cheyenne Indians who were just
at that time violently hostile towards the whites and were waiting an
opportunity to wreak their vengeance on them. This state of feeling
had been brought about only a few days previous, and was due to an
officer who was attached to a command of recruits that some ten days
before Kit Carson's arrival had passed by. He had flogged a warrior
for some liberty which the fellow had taken while he was in the camp
of the soldiers. These Cheyennes are very fond of dress and show; but,
as a body, they are as noble and athletic looking men as tread this
earth. Singular though the contrast may appear, a greater set of
rascals never went unhung; yet, they are Indians, and, as such, they
ought to command sympathy and forbearance.

The young men who belong to th