ing on the fortunes of Kit Carson,
for it was proof of an unpleasant truth that had been forcing itself
for a number of months upon him: the days of remunerative trapping were
ended.

For years, the demand had been growing steadily less both in Europe and
America. The ingenuity of the manufacturer showed itself in the make
of cheaper substitutes, while the beavers that had been hunted so
persistently were becoming scarce: there were few regions in which
trapping could be pursued with any success.

Nothing could be plainer, therefore, to Carson than the fact that he
must soon give up the business and engage in something else to gain a
livelihood. What should it be?

Carson and several veteran trappers started for Bent's Fort, located on
the Arkansas, near an immense forest of cottonwoods, known as the Big
Timbers. Messrs. Bent and St. Vrain, the proprietors, no sooner learned
that Carson contemplated a change of occupation, than they offered
him the position of hunter for the fort, his duties being to keep it
supplied with all the game that was required.

Carson was more willing to accept the offer than he would have been
under other circumstances. He agreed that the large number of men should
never want for animal food, and, having given his promise, he kept it
most faithfully for a period of eight years.

This statement includes a great deal, for it means that his wonderful
rifle brought down thousands of deer, antelope, elk and bisons; that he
tramped over hundreds of leagues of wilderness; that his splendid
health never failed him, and that his knowledge of the woods and its
inhabitants was as full and complete as it could be.

Furthermore, it is stated by Dr. Peters, that during that entire period,
not a single impatient word passed between Carson and his employers. He
attended to his duties with such regularity, promptness and skill that
the only comments they could make on his work were in the nature of
strong compliments.

Inasmuch as we have claimed that Carson was the superior in every
respect of those with whom he was associated, we must dwell for a moment
on this fact. Let the reader ask himself how many cases he knows where
the term of service has been so long, in which not a single unkind word
has passed between employer and employee.

His occupation as hunter was not monotonous, for where there were so
many to provide for, difficult and dangerous work was required and the
journeys which he often