parties
separated. Mr. Ogden, with his party, set out for the Columbia River,
while Mr. Young's party encamped where they were, for the remainder of
the summer. As the season for trapping had passed, they employed their
time in hunting and preparing meat for future necessity.

It was here that Kit Carson soon distinguished himself as a superior
hunter, which reputation he has maintained ever since, no matter who
have been his antagonists. Not but that Kit may have had his equals;
but that it is next to an impossibility to find his superior. At all
events, the world has given Kit Carson the title of "Nestor of the
Rocky Mountains," for his reputation as a hunter alone; and as his
biographer, we take pleasure in recording the facts by which the title
has been earned and maintained. Let the reader possess himself of the
facts, as they shall appear divested of any and every picture which
fancy or partiality may accidentally cause us to paint, and even then
Kit Carson will not lose the title. On the contrary, it will become
the more indelibly stamped upon his brow.

During the sojourn of the trappers on the Sacramento, an event
occurred which exhibited the readiness with which these men responded
to calls upon them for aid in a just cause. A few of the Indians
belonging to the Mission of the San Rafael, after committing some
excesses, deserted from those to whom they had pretended friendship.
The priest having charge of the Mission sent a strong force to search
for the fugitives. They were found secreted in an Indian village,
the inhabitants of which were not on friendly terms with the priest's
party. A demand was made that the deserters should be given up, which
being refused, a fight ensued, and the priest's party was defeated.
Assistance was now asked from the trappers. The request was complied
with by Carson and eleven of his companions, who volunteered for the
occasion. Thus reinforced, the vanquished party returned and resumed
the fight, but with a far different result. The Indian village was
captured and one third of its inhabitants killed. The day following
a second demand to deliver up the deserters was complied with. Carson
and his companions then left the priest's party and rejoined their
camp. A short time after this affair had happened, Mr. Young carried
the furs he had on hand to the Mission of San Rafael, where he was
so fortunate as to find a captain of a trading schooner to whom he
succeeded in disposing