The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-10-11
Il PERILOUS RIDE.
One of Kit Carson's Adrcntures.

Some thirty odd years ago, Kit Carson
was at the head of a party who were
trapping near the upper waters of Ar
kansas. Before the season was over
they had collected such quantity of
peltries that they were incommoded in
carrying them from place to place, and.
as matter of convenience, they resolved
to cache them. This is done by digging
large, deep hole in the ground, plac-
ing the furs therein, and then covering
them up SO securely that there is no
danger of their being discovered by any
other hunters or Indians. A careful
look at the Immediate surroundings is
alwas sufficient to guide the rightful
owners to their cache.
Having concealed their furs in this
manner, the party changed their course,
and visited some streams about hun
dred miles to the west. Here they were
engaged about a week, when one morning
it was found that two of the party had
deserted, taking three of the best
horses.
At the time this discovery was made
Kit Carson was absent from camp, and
did not return until near the middle of
the day. Supposing the deserters had
taken this method of avoiding the rough
work of trapping through the winter,
the hunters thought nothing of it until
it was mentioned to Kit, who immedi-
ately demanded their names.
"Whelan and Gubbins."
"Both couple of villains - added
the hunter "You ought to have sig
nailed me to return to camp the minute
you found it out
"Are we not lucky in getting rid of
them ?" inquired one of the hunters.
"But not lucky in getting rid of our
furs. Those two men have gone back
for the purpose of breaking open the
| cache and stealing our furs."
No one had thought of this, but Kit
was positive on the point, and, selecting
one of his best mounted men, the two
started at once in pursuit of the thieves.
"They're nearly a day ahead of us, -
remarked Carson, as they started away,
"and they'll reach the cache before us,
but we may overtake them before they
getfar away"
Their intimate knowledge of the coun-
try enabled them to take the shortest
route, and they put their horses to their
best speed They rode until far into the
night, and then only paused because
their hard-ridden animals absolutely de-
manded it. At earliest dawn they were
in saddle again, and galloping at the
same furious rate, their eyes constantly
On the strain. sweeping the field of vision
in front, in the vain hope of catching
some sign of the deserters.
It was near the middle of the afternoon
of the second day that the cache was
reached, and the suspicious of Carson
confirmed. 1t had been opened, and
about 500 pounds of the choicest furs re-
moved.
The hunters made a careful examina.
ton of the place, and concluded that the
thieves had left the spot early that morn
ing, so that they were still half day
ahead of them.
"They've got load to carry now, and
can't travel so FAST" said Kit. I" ]
think there is a good chance of over
hauling them"
The first duty, however, was to restore
the cache to its former condition. The
remaining furs were carefully covered
and the ground smoothed over and the
sod replaced, SO that none who had no
witnessed the work, or helped in per
forming it, could be able to find The
place,
Time was of the utmost importance
and, although the hunters worked will
might and main, yet several precious
hours were consumed before the worl
was finished. When, at last, it wa
completed, darkness had begun settling
over the prairie.
The trail, or rather the route-fo
there was no regular trail-which LEI
into New Mexico, and which it was sup
posed the thieves would take, followed I
direction nearly due south from th'
cache. An examination, however, re
vealed the rather curious fact that th'
deserters had gone to the northeast.
"That has been done to throw us OF
the track" said Kit Carson The,
lave changed their course after going
short distance, and think we can heat
them off.
Instead of following the trail, there
fore, the pursuers headed to the south
east, calculating that they would inter
cept the thieves near pass leadin
through the Chevenure hills. The ndg
ran nearly due east and west, and, bein