Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-12-23
CARSON'S NIGHT WATCH.
THE OLD HUNTERS ENCOUN-
TER WITH A GRIZZLY
Lieutenant Lazelle's Scare and Lucky
shot-Io Was Greenhorn, But
Number One Fighter
Caught Mapping.

Kit Carson was at one time engaged
in scouting and prosp Getting for the
military and often secuted in company
with single companion. being furn-
ished by the government with horse.
arms and provisions. 1t was while
on one of his trips across the desolate
and trackless solitudes along the east
ern breaks OF the Rocky mountains in
company with second lieutenant by
the name of Lazelle. fresh recruit
from West Point that he experienced
one OF the most perilou3 adventures
OF his whole frontier life
They had provided themselves with
sufficient supplies for weeks scout
for the purpose of locating the rem
devious of n rowing band of Apache
marauders. After being out three days
they had reached a point probably
100 miles from Santa Fe and in one of
/ the most desoate and inhospitable
parts OF that uninviting wilderness.
About two hours before shutdown
they discovered small spring. the
stream which soon lost itself in
small pool twenty stops away. They
came suddenly upon small band of
antelope among the cacti near the
spring and killing they soon pre-
pared a sumptuous supper off the
broiled steaks and having secured
their horses by their strong forty foot
stake ropes they turned in quite
comfortably for the night
Lieutenant Lazelle being wholly
Inexperienced in such life and unac-
quainted with the nature and habits
of wild beasts seemed TO feel quite at
ease and unconcerned about the night
disturbances. Many OF the most fe-
rocious animals of the wilderness do.
not venture out for water till dark.
Carson, well acquainted with the dan
/ gers of their position proposed that
one should stand guard while the
other slept each two hours alter
nately and informed | azelle that
they would probably witness the
most stirring scene OF their lives
! toward the middle OF the night as
that seemed TO be great resort for
ferocious beasts for water and prey.
Lazelle readily consented to stand
sentinel on the first watch. and not
realizing the true nature of the dan
| ger Of the situation he was anxious.
and in fact eager for something to.
'turn up to drive away the monot-
ony OF the dull tramp they had so far.
But the arduous ride of twelve
hours without water or food was too
m UGH for his untutored nerves he
had unconsciously fallen asleep soon
/ after entering upon his watch. and
was harder to arouse than the in
! domitable Carson. who had been so
accustomed to sleep with one eye open
| that the unusual sound which soon
broke in on their slumbers aroused
him to full realization of their peril.
The full moon was just peering over
the opposite wall OF the canyon and
lit up the whole valley. Kits prac-
ticed eye was quick to take in the
situation. and as forewarned is fore
armed he was always ready at q mo-
ments warning to enter upon the most
deadly fray. The horses were in
, perfect state OF frenzy. snorting and
plunging in the greatest desperation
10 free themselves from their fasten-
ings and the hungry laguars which
bad beset them in force Kit charged
upon the tigers with such desperate
energy discharging his carbins the
report of which sounded down the
valley like small cannon. that he
scared the beasts away for time.
On looking around for his com.
panion he was nowhere to be seen.
and he was beginning to feel some
alarm when to his surprise. the
lieutenant called out from the top of a
large cactus Kit did you kill any
thingp"
Carson told him no. but he would
soon be compelled to kill something
or be killed as he heard the roar of
an approaching grizzly and the safest
place for him was on the ground. as
the bear would break that cactus
stalk with one desperate grasp.
Lazele was soon at his side. per-
forming the nimrod act in grand
style.
The approach of the grizzly seemed
TO be the signal for the departure OF
all other beasts and the field was
soon cleared OF all other dangers and
left to the monster OF the canyon. He
was not long in putting in an appear
ance 10 the great CONSERVATION OF
the lieutenant and Kit said he felt.
crowded to the wall closer than ever
before. 1t so happened that they
had placed themselves between their
horses and the approaching beast
which somewhat quieted the poor
beasts approximations and they be-
came less restive-
The lieutenant seemed thoroughly
panic stricken. but seeing no. chance
OF escape he suddenly braced up to-
the inevitable contest and actually
advanced to meet the monstor Ibis
maneuver had the effeet of stopping
the advance OF tho bear and he
seemed about to change his tactics.
when rather hasty shot from Lazelle-
brought on an immediate engagement
The shot took effect in the forearm
OF the bear shivering the bone and
Gripping him in such manner that
Carson was quick TO perceive the adj