The Life and Adventures of Kit Carson, the Nestor of the Rocky Mountains, from Facts Narrated by HimselfPeters, De Witt C. (De Witt Clinton)
History
The Life and Adventures of Kit Carson, the Nestor of the Rocky Mountains, from Facts Narrated by Himself
Peters, De Witt C. (De Witt Clinton)
Carson Kit, 1809-1868; Frontier and pioneer life -- West (U.S.)
before this terrible display of savage enmity and ferocity. This
dance, to men so well skilled in the ways of the Indian warrior, was
a sure signal that the next day would be certain to have a fearful
history for one party or the other and doubtless for both. The odds,
most assuredly, were apparently greatly in favor of the savage host
and against the little band of hardy mountaineers.
The following day the expectations of the trappers were realized. The
Indians, at the first dawn of day, approached the breastwork,
eager for the battle. They were, evidently, very much astonished at
beholding the invincibility of the trappers' position. It was what
they had not calculated upon and seemed to cast a perfect damper upon
their courage. After firing a few shots which did no harm, and seeing
that nothing could be accomplished except by a charge, they commenced
a retreat. The trappers, though only sixty strong, were filled with
disappointment and chagrin at the course taken by their wary foes.
They began to shout to their enemies in derisive terms, hoping
the taunts would exasperate and draw them into an attack. Nothing,
however, would tempt them to face the danger, for they withdrew to a
spot about one mile from the little fort and sat down in council. The
speeches appeared to be generally opposed to risking an assault; for,
after the council was dissolved, the Indians divided into two nearly
equal parties and immediately marched off. One band took the direction
of the Crow country and the other shaped their course in the direction
from whence they came.
The trappers remained at their little fort during the winter and were
not again disturbed by the Indians. Early in the following spring,
they set their traps on one of the tributaries of the Missouri River
and finished the hunt on the head of Lewis' Fork. They then departed
for the rendezvous which was held on Green River near the mouth of
Horse Creek, remaining there until the month of August and until the
meeting was dissolved.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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