ormed over their
early adventures. On quitting each favorite river, the trappers felt
that they were shaking hands with the streams and bidding them, one by
one, a final good bye.

Kit Carson, after disposing of his beaver, occupied himself in
attending to his ranche, and was thus employed when news was brought
to New Mexico of the exorbitant prices which sheep were bringing in
California. He made up his mind to embark in a speculation in those
animals by collecting a herd and driving it to that territory. He set
out for the valley of Rio Abajo, which lies to the south of Santa Fe,
and there, to his satisfaction, made his purchases. In company with
two friends, after employing a suitable number of shepherds, he
commenced his journey and traveled northward to Fort Laramie, where
he came to and followed the emigrant road that leads direct into
California via Salt Lake, etc. In the month of August, 1853, after
meeting with very trifling losses, as he traveled very slowly and
understood thoroughly the business he was employed in, Kit Carson
with his flock of sixty-five hundred sheep reached the point of his
destination in California, where he found no difficulty in disposing
of them at the rate of five dollars and fifty cents per head.

The making of these long journeys with such large herds of sheep, over
a diversified country, sometimes abounding in water and grass, while
on the other hand, and not unfrequently, for many miles, the earth is
barren, is a difficult task. When broad, deep and swift rivers are
to be forded, it requires dexterity and management to prevent heavy
losses.

The trail which Kit Carson followed to Fort Laramie is now a
well-beaten path. It runs almost due north from Taos, and abounds, in
the proper season, in good grass and water. For about one hundred
and twenty miles, it passes through a broken country, but when that
distance is accomplished, the traveler is ushered on to the plains and
keeps on them for most of the way close under the Rocky Mountains.
The scenery on this route is most magnificent, and at times as grand
perhaps as can be seen in any part of the world. The distance from
Taos, Kit Carson's starting-point, to Laramie River, is counted by
hundreds of miles; and in this great tract of country, there live
several of the largest and most troublesome tribes of Indians in
the far West. The names of these tribes are the Utahs, Apaches,
Arrapahoes, Cheyennes and Sioux. A man with a large