n no
employment. His expectations in this respect, as well as his earnest
efforts, received so little encouragement that he began, finally,
to despond. Extreme poverty is a wet damper on the fires of the best
genius; but, as was the case with Kit, it does not effectually put
it out. Kit saw with sorrow that he must retrace his steps. To obtain
means to carry out his ardent desires, in the spring of 1827 he
started on a backward trip to Missouri. Every step he took in this
direction was accompanied with such displeasure, that had it not been
his best and surest policy, he would have mastered any difficulties
of another and better course, had such offered. Four hundred and fifty
miles from Santa Fe, being about one half the distance across the
prairies, had been accomplished by the party Kit had joined for this
homeward trip. The fording of the Arkansas River had been reached.
Here Kit's party met with some traders bound for New Mexico. They
offered him employment, which he gladly accepted; and, in their
company, retraced his steps back to Santa Fe But when arrived at
Santa Fe, Kit found himself again without money. He was afforded
an opportunity to obtain a wardrobe, but to the mountaineer, such
property would be entirely a superfluity. He feels nearly independent
on the score of clothing, as he considers that he needs but little
raiment, and that little he is always proud to owe to his beloved
rifle. This brings to his hand buckskins in plenty, and his own
ingenuity is the fashion-plate by which they are manufactured into
wearable and comfortable vesture. There is one article of clothing,
however, for which the frontiersman feels an ardent predilection. It
is a woollen shirt. This article, Kit really needed; and, in equal
pace with his necessity, ran his anxiety that something should offer
by which to obtain one. The reader may smile at this; and, so does Kit
at this day, as he recounts the fact in his own inimitable style. But
Kit says that to obtain a woollen shirt then, was, to him, no laughing
matter. At a moment when he almost despaired of gaining employment, he
received an offer to go as a teamster with an expedition bound to El
Paso. This opportunity was a chance for success not to be lost, and
he closed with the proposition. After faithfully performing his
engagement, he, however, returned to Santa Fe, where he made a short
stay, and then proceeded to Taos. In this town Kit entered into the
service of Mr. Ewing