camp,
Kit found a spot where, undoubtedly, the man had fallen from his horse
wounded, as, about the place, there were pools of coagulated blood.
It was now believed that their companion was dead. Kit immediately
ordered the party to search for his body, but they could not find it.
They then followed the trail of the Canadian's horse, which it was
very evident he had caught and mounted before being shot. It led to
where the animal had crossed the river. There, all signs disappeared.
After a faithful search for the trail, Kit returned to camp, and
informed his commander of the result of his day's work. The next
morning the search was renewed by all of the company. They discovered
Indian signs, yet could not trace them to where the body was. After
looking in every conceivable hiding-place in the neighborhood of the
signs, they gave up the hunt. Kit Carson was much affected by the loss
of this man. He had been his friend. They had been associated in many
trapping expeditions, and knew each other most intimately. He felt
assured that, if the Canadian had not been surprised by any enemy in
ambuscade, he would have killed one or two Indians before he himself
fell; for, besides being a very brave man, he was well versed in
Indian mode of warfare, and was considered a fine marksman.

The party now proceeded on their journey, returning to and keeping on
the Spanish Trail, which was not left until they reached the "Vega
of Santa Clara." There they struck out across the country to the Utah
lake, which, after crossing, they left, and went to the Wintry River,
and thence to Green River, Brown's Hole, Little Snake River, and so on
to the mouth of St. Vrain's Fork. It was here that they traversed
the mountains and came upon Laramie River below the New Park. They
journeyed through this into the Old Park, and thence traveled to the
head waters of the south fork of the Platte. On quitting it, they bent
their way to the Arkansas River, coming on to it at a point just below
the place where it leaves the Rocky Mountains; and, by keeping on
down it, they arrived at Bent's Fort on the 2d of July, 1844. On the
following fourth of July Mr. Bent gave a dinner in commemoration of
the occasion to Fremont and his party. Although hundreds of miles
separated from their countrymen, yet they sat down to as sumptuous a
repast as could be furnished in many towns of the States.

The exploring party considered their labors finished at this post,
as, in ac