Scouting with Kit Carson

by Everett T. Tomlinson

“We didn’t get as many as we ought to,” said Kit Carson quietly when the men approached the place where the fallen deer were lying. “I shall be surprised if we do not find that some of these deer are pretty well filled with lead. We ought to have arranged for no two men to fire at the same animal.” The trapper’s suggestion was found to be correct, for six bullets were found in one of the bodies.

In response to the directions of the scout, the men at once took their knives and skinned the creatures, and then, while part of them sewed the skins into water-bags, the others prepared to smoke the meat which had been secured.

Haunches of venison were dried on the branches of trees above the reach of prowling wolves, and fires were kindled beneath them which it was believed would last throughout the coming night. The smoke from the flames soon hid the suspended bodies, and, satisfied that their work for the day had been completed, the hunters turned and departed for the camp in the defiles of the mountains.

To Reuben Benton these experiences were all so novel that he had ceased to think often of the missing Jean, and he was thoroughly enjoying his adventures. Such a life was wholly new to the eager-hearted boy. In the vicinity of his home he often had trapped and hunted, but nothing had occurred like the exciting incidents of his hunting with the great scout. Perhaps the honour of being associated with Kit Carson, whose name was already familiar in all the West, provided the greatest enjoyment of all. More and more Reuben was impressed by the quiet self-control of Carson and the respect which was paid him by all the men in the company.

Reuben, who was a strong and rugged boy, had found no difficulty thus far in keeping up with the men. Indeed, his spirit of eagerness several times had led him far in advance of his companions. Kit Carson, however, occasionally had rebuked him for his foolhardiness and told him that his safety depended almost entirely upon his remaining in the company of his fellow trappers. There was slight question in his mind that the Indians had followed them all through the defiles of the mountains. Whether or not the pursuit would be maintained was a question which could be solved only by the events which might occur when once the party had entered on its way across the pathless desert.

On the day after the shooting of the three deer Reuben and Jack, together with two other trappers, were sent to obtain the carcasses, which had been left hanging from the boughs of the tree under which the fires had been kindled. For the meat to be thoroughly cured a longer time would be required, but as the horses were now rested, the men were eager to push forward.

Just before the departure from the camp was made three Indians were seen approaching, leading a poor old horse that was soon found to be blind as well as lame. By the use of signs the Indians finally agreed to sell the poor old creature and then departed with the money which they received. After they were gone the horse itself was killed and roasted, and the trappers that night enjoyed a feast of tough horse-meat and water from the mountain springs.

The following morning the entire band set forth on their long and difficult journey across the plains. When three days had elapsed, the riders, wearied by their journey and nearly parched with thirst, were well-nigh exhausted. The supply of water which they had brought with them had proved to be inadequate.

All the efforts of Kit Carson were required to keep up the courage of his followers. The heat had been intense, and the brief rest which had been given the horses and mules had not been sufficient to restore their full strength. Even the animals were dejected as they lifted their feet from the heated sands and slowly moved forward.

Not a word of complaint, however, had escaped the lips of Reuben. Fearful that the objection which had been made at St. Louis against his joining a party of trappers would be repeated here, the boy had done his utmost to bear the hardships that he was compelled to endure. His lips were swollen and cracked, and the intense feeling of hunger which he had the preceding day had given place to a dull ache. His manner was thoroughly dispirited as he slowly followed his companions. The mule which he was riding had lagged behind the other animals, until Reuben was several yards in the rear of the little company.