Scouting with Kit Carson

by Everett T. Tomlinson

Both men knelt and aimed at the animals, which already had turned to flee from the place where they were feeding. Together the reports of the two guns rang out and a moment later one of the running elk fell to the ground.

“I missed him,” said Reuben dolefully.

“You don’t know whether you did or not,” laughed Kit Carson. “Only one was hit, that’s plain, but whether it was by your gun or mine no one can say. Come on, we’ll get this one anyway.”

Advancing rapidly, the two hunters ran toward the place where the body of the elk was lying. They had approached within a few yards of the body when both young hunters were startled by the sound of branches snapping in the bushes nearby. As they looked up they saw two immense grizzly bears advancing upon them. It was instantly clear that the bears were as hungry as the men and that they, too, had been doing their utmost to obtain fresh meat. Perhaps also the huge bears were angry that unexpected rivals had appeared in the hunt. At all events, the only safety for the two young hunters was to seek flight instantly.

Neither had stopped to reload his rifle, so eager had both been to make sure that the elk which had fallen was killed.

Without a word to his companion Kit Carson instantly ran for a nearby tree, leaving Reuben to use his own devices. And Reuben was not slow in following the example of his friend. In spite of his fear he recalled the conversation which he had had with the scout not long before this time. Kit Carson at that time had declared that it was much better when a man was hunting for him to go alone. In response to the protests of Reuben he had said: “If two go together and something comes up that makes it absolutely necessary for quick action, if there are two hunters they will stop and talk before they decide what to do. The result will be not only that much valuable time will be lost, but the plan they will follow will probably be neither that of one nor of the other, but a sort of compromise. The only way is for a man not to stop to discuss things when he must make up his mind in a hurry. If he’s alone, there won’t be any trouble, and he will not only do what he wants to, but probably will do what was the best thing for him to do under the circumstances.”

Recollections of this conversation were in Reuben’s mind as he ran at his utmost speed toward a sapling he saw not far before him. Fortunately the boy was able to gain the shelter up which he was confident the bears would not attempt to climb. It is true they were able to climb almost any tree which a man could use, but the one in which Reuben had sought shelter was so small that he did not believe the lumbering bears would attempt to climb it. He was satisfied, when at last he rested in a crotch of the tree, that he was twelve feet from the ground and beyond the swing of the paws of the angry beasts.

Assured of his safety, Reuben excitedly turned to see what had befallen his companion. His own gun he had dropped at the base of the tree when he had made his ascent. He was therefore without any means of defense or of aiding his comrade.

Not far away he saw the scout just as he arrived at the base of a tree. Without hesitating a moment Kit Carson nimbly seized a branch and swung himself up into the tree, while the two bears—for both had started in the pursuit of the fleeing scout—were several yards behind him.

Excitedly Reuben watched the grizzlies as they bounded forward. The steady swing from side to side which marked their course while they were running had disappeared. Reuben’s heart almost stopped beating while he gazed at the awkward and yet swift animals. Would they be able to reach the tree before the scout could climb higher among the branches? Reuben speedily was aware that the bears had by no means abandoned the chase. As soon as they arrived at the base of the tree one of them quickly began its ascent.