The Life of Kit Carson

the Recovered Prop

ping Expedition with T

ture with Two

entered camp with the statement that a large body of hunters were on Snake River, a fortnight's journey distant. Captain Lee at once set out with his men and found the company who gave them a warm welcome. They purchased all the supplies Captain Lee had for sale, and then, as Carson's engagement with the Captain was ended, he attached himself to the other body. He remained, however, only a few weeks, for he saw there we

eam and its tributaries until cold weather set in. They met with far greater success than could have come to them had they stayed with the principal company

ant and Carson was obliged to go a long ways before he caught sight of some elk grazing on the side of a hill. Well aware of the difficulty of getting within gunshot of the timid animals, the hunter advanced by a circuitous course toward a clump of trees, which would

turning his head, he saw two enormous grizzly bears making for him at full speed. They were infuriated at this invas

short work of one of the brutes at least, but as it was, he was deprived of e

the frontiersmen call him, always seems eager to attack him. His tenacity of life is extraordinary. Unless pierced in the head or heart, he will continue his struggles after a dozen or score of rifle balls have been buried in his body. So

hat if either of the animals once got his claws upon him, there would not be the

depended. Like the blockade runner, closely pursued by the man of war, he threw overboard all the cargo that could impede his speed. His long, hea

lect the tree, else he would have chosen a different one, but making a flying leap, he grasped the lowermost limb and swung upward, at the moment the foremost grizzly was benea

fles should stop them. They were able to climb the tree which supported Carson, and he did not lose sight of the fact. Whipping out his hunting knife,

shoulders brought it down with all his might upon the nose of the foremost. The brute sniffed with pain, threw up his head and drew back a few inches-just enough

ly returned, so that Carson was kept busy pounding the noses as

eyond their reach, he climbed to the topmost bough, where he crouched into the smallest possible space. It was

brought down upon them, brought tears of pain to their eyes. But while they suffered, they were roused to fury by the rep

man nor animal to find themselves repeatedly baffled by a miserable being whom they could ren

, growl and push upward, more eager than ever to clutch the poor fellow, who was compressing hi

to regain their tone. The bulky creatures looked at each other and seemed to say, "Tha

am engine. The grizzlies found it more than they could stand, and tumbling back to solid earth they gave up the contract in disgust. Carson tarried where he was until