Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-07-17


came within long rifle range-a fatal
mistake on his part. Never slacken-
ling speed, Carson half turned in bis
saddle, threw up his rifle with one
hand, and seemingly without taking
aim, brought the warrior to the
ground. This somewhat checked the
ardor of pursuit, but still the redskins
followed us mile after mile, until they
and we caught sight of long emf
grant train coming slowly over the
eastern plain. Then the whole crew
fed precipitately. We gained the
train and were safe.
"Wasn't that a close call, Kit? =
asked.
"Nothing to speak Of" he coolly re.
piled. "With our repeating rifles and
four revolvers we could have kept
those hounds off all day; and help
was sure to come before night, as we're
on the main line of emigrant travel"
1t was by such deeds that Kit Car
son won the hearts of all worthy per-
sons who knew him. No thought of
|self, no consideration of personal peril,
ever had feathers weight with him
when distress was to be relieved, or en-
dangered captives were to be rescued.
Within easy reach of Carson's home
there abounded great quantities OF
game, from bufaloes to jack rabbits,
and we passed the greater part of each
day in hunting. On these occasions I
had ample opportunity of observing,
not only his thorough knowledge of
woodcraft, but also his wonderful skill
with rifle and revolver. had thought
myself an expert in the use of these
weapons, but soon found that, COM
pared with Carson, I was a tyro. At
this time he had among his retainers a
green young Irishman, Barney O'Brien.
AS we killed a good deal of. heavy
game and supplied many Taos families
with fresh meat, we generally took
Barney and one or two pack mules
with us on our more distant hunts,
much to bis qualification and our own
entertainment, for the fellow was chuck
full of fun, though in the way of shoot
ing he could hardly have hit barn at
ten yards.
One night a valuable thoroughbred
colt kept in a small pasture near Car
sons house was killed, but not de-
voured, the killers probably having
been scared away by the barking of
the kennel dogs. On investigation
early next morning, Carson declared
that the deed had been done by pair
of mountain lions or cougars, which
were known to haunt the distant foot
hills. So, without saying word to
any of the neighbors, he and l, follow
ed by Barney and old Jack, an uncom-
monty wise mule, set off on horseback
directly after breakfast to find the
brutes. Although on the short grass
of the plain and among the rocks and
boulders I could see no signs of trail,
the old trapper followed it with such
ease and certainty that O'Brien was
moved to exclaim: "Bedad, thin, the
masters got the oiye av a hawk, an
the nose av fox. Shure it's himself
can shmell out a thrack whin there's
niver a wan at all, at all J"
After penetrating some distance into
the foothills, Carson declared that the
lions must be concealed in a great
gorge, lying Immediately in front of
US, and 30 densely overgrown. with
scrubwood that its exploration on
horseback was impossible. We dis.
mounted and prepared to proceed on
foot.
"Now, Barney" said Carson, stick,
close to the cattle until we come back,
and don't get scared out of your wits
if you happen to see a lion or two.
They're nothing but big cats, and hard
lily ever attack man in daylight"
"Arrah, be aisy, sor; it's a rale
O'Brien Oh am, wan av the ould stock,
an no mortal basthe can freight me,
let alone such thrifles as cats. Faix,
Old blow dozen ave thin Until smith
Greens if they KEN forninst me gun"
i "Well, watch the mule. He'll give
you warning of danger" cautioned
Carson and we plunged into the
thicket, which was interlined by so
many narrow, well-trodden paths that
it seemed utterly impossible to select
any one as that followed by the cou.
gars. Carson, however, was not led
a moment astray. He at once fixed
upon an almost blind, sinuous trail
which led close along the side wall of
the canyon, through to me its slightly
dusty surface seemed merely a blurred
threat of hopelessly mixed tracks of
many different kinds of animals.
On some parts of this parth we
could walk upright, but on other parts
the overarching bushes Obliged us,
Through the necessity of making no
rustling, to creep forward on hands
and knees, thus not only rendering
our progress very slow, but placing US
lin a rather awkward position for de.
fence in case any wild beast should
take a notion to attack US. But this
consideration did not trouble us, as we