The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1896-03-26
THE OLD SPANISH TRAIL.
STORIES OF KIT Carson N 1922 and 1874
BY ". THOMPSON.

time by the famous Kit Carson, wht
besides accompanying Fremont's 1S4.
and 1914 expeditions. had frequently
before and since those years. explored
the country. which ne now knew like
a book.
1T It's time Carson was IN the prime
of life a man rather under the me
dunn size, low-spoken and Of gentle
unobtrusive manner, showing. Ordin
arilv, no outward sign Of that indom
liable energy and daring courage
which had caused him TO be respected
and feared by the red men Of the
Western wilds.
Ours was q large, strong ana well
armed party, consisting Of more than
thirty men; and our ample outfit com
prised six wagons, twelve mules and
sixteen horses. The latter adapted tC
either draft or saddle With the ex-
ceptiCn of Carson each one Of us car
ried muzzle le-loading rifle and a
heavy revolver; while besides pair
of exquisitely finished revolvers. he
was armed with one of those ten
chambered, percUssion-pill repeating
rifles, invented, | think, by Colonel
Colt, before his celebrated pistol was
put upon the market.
This beautiful weapon, as well as
the revOlvers, had been presented to
the gallant scout by a wealthy gentle
man whose life he had saved. and all
were highly priced by him Hence
he had always twenty-five shots in
hand without reloading, and seldom
indeed did bnllet fired by Kit Car
son miss its intended mark. | have
seen him start on a full gallop $50
yards from a tree, no more than nine
inches in diameter, and before he
reached it plant every ole Of his ten
rife balls in its trunk.
Such man aside from the prestige
Of his name. was a little army in him
self, and we were extremely glad Of
his company, as in the country where
he last joined Us we were every mo
ment in danger from predatory In
dams, two smell bands of which we
had. several days before, beaten off
without loss to ourselves and now we
might look for reprisals.
Among our crowd were two espec
tally fine young fellows, one an Eng
hshman named John MoultOn. and the
other d fiery Eirginian called Gerald
Woodyille. These two, though singu-
larly alike III disposition, or perhaps
for that very reason, could never agree
Both were toUchy as hornets and as
prone to sting on the slightest provo
cation from each other, though always
forbearing toward Indifferent parties.
Several times they had hardly been
prevented from coming to blows. and
lately there had been such bad blood
between them that neither would speak
TO the other Which was most in fault
[ don't know, for in their alterations
each apparently tried to be as provok
ing as possible.
One afternoon, after striking the old
Spanish trail, we We're going slowly
down the Pacific slope of the Windy
Mountains when a large elk broke
cover somewhat out Of rifle shot and
trotted liesurely away. Having been
for some time trayersing gameless
region, we were quite out of fresh
meat, and this indication Of coming
plenty was a welcome sight,
MoultOn, an ardent sportsman was
riding his own horse, an extremely
valuable animal. and now, without
consulting any one, he set off in pllr-
suit of the elk. Just as he was leav-
ing Carson said: Remember we're
in a hostile country, young man. Don't
go fan away, even Ii you have 10 come
back without meat
III take care of myself" laughing
ly replied Moulton. You folks can
go ahead and connt on elk steaks for
supper"
"Confound the fellow" muttered
Woodville. 1T would take a sledge
hammer to knock the conceit out Of
that head of his"
We went on for about two miles and
finally made camp on a small stream
among the foothills. where was abun-
dance of good grass, while the stream
itself, Carson informed Us. was well
stocked with tront-a statement quick
ly verified by our fy-fishing Nirginian,
who, before sundown, caught fully fifty
pounds weight Of these delectable
fishes.
After we had corralled the wagons,
picEeted the animals ont to Craze. and
put everything in shape to repel any
possible attack, We delayed supper for
a while in the hope that Moulton
would como in, as we had heard one
report from his rifle and had no doubt
that he had killed the elk. But he
did not appear, and, just at dark, we
ate the meal without him, the fresh
trout making it one to be long remem
bered
Two hours more passed away with,
out bringing a sign Of the young hun
ter, though cloudless sky and half
moon might have enabled even one SO
inexperienced as he to find his way 10
the trail from so short distance.
We now began to feel seriously
alarmed, but very strangely, no one
appeared so much distressed as did
Gerald Woodville
"Nhat do you think Of it. Mr.. Car
son?' he anxiously inquired. Do
you suppose that Jack has lost him
self?"
We glanced significantly at eacl
other, for this was the first time We
had ever heard the Nirginian use the
familiar name by which we usually
addressed John Moulton.
Il hardly know what to think Of il, :
replied Carson. The young man la:
either becomes lost among those puzzl
ing ravines-" and the scout relapseC
into an Ominous silence.
My Godw feelingly exclaimed
Gerald, surely you don't think th'
Indians have got him; poor jack
It's hard TO say" reioined Kit. '.bu
there are lots of the Digger tribe wan
dering through the mountains jus
now. These are foot Indians. vel
armed with bows and arrows ant
spears. They are all murderers ant
| fIIayac and jaaIlv fpoc of tl,o NH;