bsolutely to
rain down upon them. The season having passed, they went into summer
rendezvous on the banks of the Green River. This was brought about
by the arrival of the traders with their supplies. The whole force of
trappers, therefore, again rested until the first week of September;
when, they again broke up their camp for the fall hunt.

Some time previous to this last named event Kit Carson, having
recovered from the effects of his wounds, was very reluctantly drawn
into an "affair of honor." The circumstances of this occurrence we
give in detail for two reasons. It was an event in Carson's life,
and therefore is required at our hands; but, it serves to exhibit the
manner of the duello among these western mountaineers which throws
around the circumstance the importance of an example in their manners
and customs. By itself, so far as Kit Carson was concerned, it was of
very little importance, serving but little, in his opinion, to adorn
the story of his life.

Among the men congregated at the rendezvous, there was a Captain
Shunan, a powerful Frenchman. The Captain was exceedingly overbearing
in his intercourse with all around him. Upon the slightest pretext, he
was sure to endeavor to involve some of the trappers in a quarrel.
The result was that he was heartily despised by all, although, for the
sake of peace, he was allowed to go unmolested. One day his conduct
was particularly offensive to the entire command; for, after having
had two fist fights with a couple of weak and inoffensive men,
he commenced boasting that he could easily flog all the Frenchmen
present; and, as to the Americans, he said that "he could cut a stick
and switch them." Such actions and manners, at last, attracted Kit
Carson's notice and caused him to be greatly annoyed. He thought the
matter over and concluded that if Captain Shunan was allowed to gather
many more such detestable laurels, he would soon become even more bold
and troublesome. As no other member of the company seemed disposed to
put a check upon such unmanly behavior, he quietly determined to make
the affair his own.

An opportunity soon presented itself. A number of the company had
congregated together and were engaged in conversation, when Captain
Shunan began anew his bullying language; this time a little more
boisterous than usual. Kit Carson advancing into the centre of the
company and placing himself in front of the Captain thus addressed
him:

"Shunan, before you