Rocky Mountains and Alps compared--Other Trapping
Expeditions--Beaver becoming scarce--Prices of Fur
reduced--Kit Carson and the Trappers give up their
Vocation--The Journey to Bent's Fort--Mitchell the
Mountaineer--His Eccentricities.

In the spring, Kit Carson joined Bridger. With four companions they
went to the Black Hills to hunt. In the streams adjacent to that
country, the beaver existed in large numbers and their success in
trapping was excellent.

Soon after arriving, however, the party broke up. Kit Carson and a
trapper named Owens made a hunt by themselves and were very fortunate
in obtaining a large stock of the fur. After which they joined the
main camp of the trappers on Green River. When the summer was pretty
well advanced, the camp was broken up and all of its occupants started
for the Rendezvous, this year held on the Popoayhi, a branch of the
Wind River.

In the fall, most of the trappers went to the country which lies in
the immediate neighborhood of the Yellow Stone River. Having trapped
all the streams there, they went into winter quarters on that stream.

Nothing was heard of their sworn enemies, the Blackfeet Indians until
about the middle of the winter. A party who were out hunting suddenly
came upon some signs which, looking suspicious, attracted their
attention. To these signs they gave a close investigation, and fully
made up their minds that they were close to the stronghold of their
foes. Without waiting to follow up the signs they immediately retraced
their steps and informed their party in camp of their conviction that
trouble was brewing. A command of forty men was instantly detailed to
seek out the Indians and give them battle. Kit Carson was once
more called upon to lead the brave trappers in this expedition, and
everything was left to his direction and good judgment. Soon after
commencing their march, the company fell in with a scouting party of
the enemy in the vicinity of the spot where the fresh signs had been
discovered. To this party the trappers gave chase, wisely concluding
they would run for their main body. The result satisfied their
anticipations. In a short time they found themselves opposed to
a strong band of the Indians, when, a regular fight was instantly
commenced. After quite a spirited contest, the Indians gave way and
retreated, but in good order, to an island in the Yellow Stone River
where they had previously erected strong barricades. N