The Life and Adventures of Kit Carson, the Nestor of the Rocky Mountains, from Facts Narrated | Page 3

in the writer's hands, with instructions to add to them such information as had fallen under his observation, during quite extensive travels over a large part of the wide expanse of country, which has been Christopher Carson's theatre for action.
The book is a book of solid truth; therefore, the faults in the style, arrangement and composition, become affairs of minor consideration. For this reason, the writer makes no apologies to embarrass the critics.
Christopher Carson, physically, is small in stature, but of compact frame-work. He has a large and finely developed head, a twinkling grey eye, and hair of a sandy color, which he wears combed back _à la Franklin mode_. His education having been much neglected in his youth, he is deficient in theoretical learning. By natural abilities, however, he has greatly compensated for this defect. He speaks the French and Spanish languages fluently, besides being a perfect master of several Indian dialects. In Indian customs, their manners, habits and the groundwork of their conduct, no man on the American continent is better skilled.
The writer, while on a foreign tour, once had the opportunity and pleasure of hearing Gordon Cumming and other hunters of less note, discourse on their hunting exploits; furthermore, in our own country, while seated around camp-fires and in log houses, he has listened to the adventures of ancient and modern Nimrods in the chase; besides these facts, he has both seen and read much of hunting exploits; but, no hunter ever filled his fancy so perfectly, as does Christopher Carson, a man who acts and never boasts.
Without further comment, the reader is presented with the work, while the writer cherishes the hope, that the facts, which for the first time are given to the world, will prove to be both interesting and important as jottings of history.
The author begs leave to return to his friend, C. HATCH SMITH, A.M., of Brooklyn, New York, his acknowledgment for valuable assistance in revising, correcting and arranging his manuscript.
196 Twenty-third street, New York.

CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Carson's Birthplace--His Emigration to Missouri--Early Prospects--Is an Apprentice--Stories of the Rocky Mountains--He Enlists to go there--Adventures on the Prairies--Broaders is Wounded--Carson's Nerve put to the Test--Rude Amputation--Safe Arrival at Santa Fé--Goes to Taos and learns the Spanish Language--Early Vicissitudes--Disappointment and Attempt to return to Missouri--Is employed as an Interpreter, Teamster, etc., 13
CHAPTER II.
The news of the Defeat of Mr. Young's Trapping Party by the Indians reaches Taos--Young raises a Party to chastise the Indians--Kit Carson becomes a Conspicuous Member of the Expedition--The Indians are found on Salt River--The Fight--Trapping Exploits--A new Country--Trials and Vicissitudes--Sacramento Valley--California and its Roman Catholic Missions in 1829--Another Indian Fight--Sale of Furs--Indian Depredations--Kit Carson and Twelve Trappers engage with the Indians in a Battle--Return to the Camp with recovered Property, 30
CHAPTER III.
The Return from California to New Mexico--San Fernando and the Peublo of Los Angelos--Description of these Peublos--Passports demanded at Los Angelos--Trouble with the Mexican Authorities--Kit Carson sent on with the Pack Animals--One Trapper shoots another--The Mexicans become frightened--Indians come into Camp with their Weapons concealed--Cool Reception, by Kit Carson--Arrival at Santa Fé and Taos--Money realized soon parted with--Carson joins another Expedition--The Rivers trapped on--Four Men Killed by Blackfeet Indians--Kit Carson joins Gaunt's Party--The Parks--Winter Quarters--Crow Indian Depredations--Kit Carson and his Party in Pursuit--the Fight--Winter on the Arkansas--Another Expedition--Two Deserters--Kit Carson sent in Pursuit--The Fate of the Runaways--Adventures with Indians--Hair-breadth Escape made by Kit Carson, 42
CHAPTER IV.
Kit Carson and two Companions plan a Hunt for themselves--The Great Success met with--Return to Taos--Sale of the Beaver Fur--Kit Carson joins Captain Lee and goes on a Trading Expedition--Winter Quarters--Kit Carson is sent in Pursuit of a Thief--Overtakes and is obliged to shoot the Runaway--Property recovered--The Return to Camp--The Sale of Goods--Kit Carson joins Fitzpatrick and Party--Kit Carson organizes a Hunting Party--His Encounter with two Grizzly Bears--The Summer Rendezvous--Kit Carson joins fifty Trappers and goes to the Country of the Blackfeet Indians--Annoyances received from these Indians--Winter Quarters in 1832--Horses Stolen--Kit Carson and eleven Men in Pursuit--A Parley--A Fight--Kit Carson severely wounded--His great Sufferings and Fortitude--His Convalescence--The Retreat--A New Expedition--A Braggadocio--Kit Carson Fights a Duel and Wounds his man--Duels in the Rocky Mountains in Olden Times, 68
CHAPTER V.
The Fall Hunt--McCoy of the Hudson's Bay Company organizes a Trapping Party which Kit Carson joins--The Hunt--Scarcity of Beaver on Humboldt River--The Party is divided--Kit Carson with a majority of the Men goes to Fort Hall--Hardships and Privations met with--Buffalo Hunt--All their Animals stolen in the Night by a Party of Blackfeet Indians--Arrival of McCoy from Fort Walla Walla--The Rendezvous--Kit Carson joins a strong Band--The Small Pox among the Blackfeet Indians--The Crow Indians on good terms with the Whites--Intense Cold--Immense Herds of Buffalo--Danger of their goring to death the Horses--The Spring Hunt--The Blackfeet Indian Village overtaken--A desperate Fight with these Indians--The Rendezvous--Sir William Stuart and a favorite Missionary--Kit Carson goes