ly light when the imposing array advanced upon the
mountaineers, who coolly awaited their approach. When the Blackfeet came
close enough to see the fortifications thrown up by the whites, they
were astonished. They knew from previous experience the strength of such
means of defence and suddenly lost their eagerness to make the attack.

After a full survey of the work before them, they concluded the task
was beyond accomplishment. The magnificent force, therefore, began
withdrawing. It was the turn of the trappers to feel disappointed. They
had not thought of any such issue and were enraged. They shouted and
made tantalizing gestures to the Blackfeet, in the hope of goading them
to stand their ground, but they were too wise to do so. They retreated
to a safe point where a council of war was held. It was not to be
expected that after such an abrupt withdrawal, they could summon enough
courage to make the assault.

When the conference was over, the Indian army, as it may be called,
broke into two divisions, one of which went back toward their own
village while the other set their faces toward the Crow country.
Uncertain whether they would not reappear when they believed there
was hope of surprising the mountaineers, the latter maintained their
vigilance day and night.

It may have been that the red men made several reconnaissances, but, if
so, they concluded it would be imprudent to attack the mountaineers
who held their position and continued trapping as opportunity presented
through the winter.

After trapping in various localities, Kit Carson and several friends
visited Fort Hall, where they joined a party in the employ of the
Northwest Fur Company. They trapped around the head of Salmon River and
other streams, and finally returned to Fort Hall, where the peltries
were sold for a fair valuation. Then Carson and a few others set out to
join a party which he knew was trapping in the Blackfoot country.
Upon coming up with them, he was told that they had had several sharp
skirmishes with the Indians, in one of which a trapper was severely
wounded. The following morning, Carson and his comrades parted from the
rest and were trapping slowly up stream, when they were fired upon by
Blackfeet and compelled to retreat. They hurried back and succeeded
in escaping a serious danger; but the pursuit was so close that Carson
hastily stationed his men in ambush. A hot fire dropped several of the
warriors and caused the others to h