ence he made his way by the old emigrant trail to
California where he disposed of the sheep at prices which brought him a
profit of several thousand dollars.

While in San Francisco, he visited a prominent restaurant where he
ordered a good substantial dinner for six persons. When it was ready he
surveyed it for a moment with satisfaction, and, seating himself at the
table, disposed of it all. His journey across the plains had given him a
somewhat vigorous appetite.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

In San Francisco--The Return Homeward--The Mormon Delegate Gives Carson
Some Interesting Information--Carson's First Stirring Duties as Indian
Agent--The Affection of the Red Men for Father Kit.

Kit Carson's old friend, Maxwell, who had been his companion in so
many stirring adventures, joined him in San Francisco, whose marvellous
growth even at that remote day was a continual surprise and delight. As
the two veteran mountaineers made their way through the streets, where
but a few years before all was a wild, untrodden wilderness, they paused
and indulged in many wondering exclamations as though they were a couple
of countrymen visiting the metropolis for the first time in their lives.

The couple concluded to make their way home by the southern route,
passing in the neighborhood of the Gila; but the distance could be
shortened so much by taking the steamer to Los Angeles that Maxwell
decided to adopt that course. When he asked Carson to join him the
mountaineer shook his head.

"I got enough of that in 1846," he said, alluding to his brief voyage,
when serving under Fremont in California, at the beginning of the
Mexican war; "I never was so sick in all my life."

"You ain't likely to be sick again," plead Maxwell; "and, if you are,
it don't last long. You'll save two or three weeks in time and enjoy
yourself much more."

But it was no use: Carson said he never would venture upon salt water
again, and he would rather ride a thousand miles on the back of a mule
than to sail a hundred in a ship. Accordingly, the party separated for
the time and Maxwell took steamer to Los Angeles, where he arrived fully
two weeks in advance of Carson, who rode into the quaint old town on the
back of a somewhat antiquated mule.

They were soon ready for their long ride, when they struck a leisurely
pace and all went well until they reached the Gila. There they entered
a region which had been visited by one of those droughts which continue