CHAPTER X.
Carson Returns with the Recovered Property--Journey to Snake River--Starts on a Trapping Expedition with Three Companions--Carson's Stirring Adventure with Two Grizzly Bears.
Carson gathered the horses together and set out on his return. Thedistance was considerable and he was compelled to encamp more than onceon the road, while he was continually exposed to attack from Indians,but with that remarkable skill and foresight which distinguished himwhen a boy, he reached home without the slightest mishap and turned overthe recovered animals to their owner. Some days later, several trappersentered camp with the statement that a large body of hunters were onSnake River, a fortnight's journey distant. Captain Lee at once set outwith his men and found the company who gave them a warm welcome. Theypurchased all the supplies Captain Lee had for sale, and then, asCarson's engagement with the Captain was ended, he attached himself tothe other body. He remained, however, only a few weeks, for he saw therewere so many that they could never take enough peltries to bringmuch money to the individual members. He decided to do as he had donebefore--arrange an expedition of his own. He had but to make knownhis intentions, when he had more applicants than he could accept. Heselected three, who it is needless to say had no superiors in the wholeparty. The little company then turned the heads of their horses towardLaramie River.
At that day, the section abounded with beaver, and although the summeris not the time when their fur is in the best condition, the partytrapped on the stream and its tributaries until cold weather set in.They met with far greater success than could have come to them had theystayed with the principal company of trappers. But they had no wishto spend the winter alone in the mountains and gathering their stocktogether, they set out to rejoin their old companions.
One day, after they had gone into camp, Carson, leaving his horse incharge of his friends, set out on foot to hunt some game for theirevening meal. They had seen no signs of Indians, though they neverforgot to be on their guard against them. Game was not very abundant andCarson was obliged to go a long ways before he caught sight of some elkgrazing on the side of a hill. Well aware of the difficulty of gettingwithin gunshot of the timid animals, the hunter advanced by a circuitouscourse toward a clump of trees, which would give him the needed shelter;but while creeping toward the point he had fixed upon as the one fromwhich to fire, the creatures scented danger and began moving off. Thiscompelled him to fire at long range, but he was successful and broughtdown the finest of the group.
The smoke was curling upward from the rifle of Carson, when he wasstartled by a tremendous crashing beside him, and, turning his head, hesaw two enormous grizzly bears making for him at full speed. They wereinfuriated at this invasion of their home, and were evidently resolvedon teaching the hunter better manners by making their supper upon him.
Carson had no time to reload his gun: had it been given him he wouldhave made short work of one of the brutes at least, but as it was, hewas deprived of even that privilege. Fortunate indeed would he be if hecould escape their fury.
The grizzly bear is the most dreaded animal found on this continent.He does not seem to feel the slightest fear of the hunter, no matterwhether armed or not, and, while other beasts are disposed to give mana wide berth, old "Ephraim," as the frontiersmen call him, always seemseager to attack him. His tenacity of life is extraordinary. Unlesspierced in the head or heart, he will continue his struggles after adozen or score of rifle balls have been buried in his body. So terribleis the grizzly bear, that an Indian can be given no higher honorthan the privilege of wearing a necklace made from his claws--thatdistinction being permitted only to those who have slain one of theanimals in single handed combat.
No one understood the nature of these beasts better than Kit Carson andhe knew that if either of the animals once got his claws upon him, therewould not be the faintest chance of escape. The only thing thereforethat could be done was to run.
There were not wanting men who were fleeter of foot than Carson, butfew could have overtaken him when he made for the trees on which all hishopes depended. Like the blockade runner, closely pursued by the man ofwar, he threw overboard all the cargo that could impede his speed. Hislong, heavy rifle was flung aside, and the short legs of the trapperdoubled under him with amazing quickness as he strove as never before toreach the grove.
Fortunately the latter was not far off, and, though the fierce beastsgained rapidly upon him, Carson arrived among the timber a few stepsin advance. He had no time even to select the tree, else he wouldhave chosen a different one, but making a flying leap, he grasped thelowermost limb and swung upward, at the moment the foremost grizzlywas beneath him. So close in truth was his pursuer that the hunterdistinctly felt the sweeping blow of his paw aimed at the leg whichwhisked beyond his reach just in the nick of time.
But the danger was not over by any means. The enthusiastic style inwhich the bears entered into the proceedings proved they did not meanthat any trifles should stop them. They were able to climb the treewhich supported Carson, and he did not lose sight of the fact. Whippingout his hunting knife, he hurriedly cut off a short thick branch andtrimmed it into a shape that would have made a most excellent shillelaghfor a native of the Green Isle.
He had hardly done so, when the heads of the bruins were thrust upwardalmost against his feet. Carson grasped the club with both hands andraising it above his shoulders brought it down with all his might uponthe nose of the foremost. The brute sniffed with pain, threw up hishead and drew back a few inches--just enough to place the other nose infront. At that instant, a resounding whack landed on the rubber snoutand the second bear must have felt a twinge all through his body.
Though each blow caused the recipient to recoil, yet he instantlyreturned, so that Carson was kept busy pounding the noses as if he wasan old fashioned farmer threshing wheat with a flail.
It was a question with Carson which would last the longer--the club orthe snouts, but in the hope of getting beyond their reach, he climbed tothe topmost bough, where he crouched into the smallest possible space.It was idle, however, to hope they would overlook him, for they pushedon up the tree which swayed with their weight.
The nose of the grizzly bear is one of the most sensitive portions ofhis body, and the vigorous thumps which the hunter brought down uponthem, brought tears of pain to their eyes. But while they suffered, theywere roused to fury by the repeated rebuffs, and seemed all the moreset on crunching the flesh and bones of the insignificant creature whodefied them.
It must have been exasperating beyond imagination to the giganticbeasts, who feared neither man nor animal to find themselves repeatedlybaffled by a miserable being whom they could rend to pieces with oneblow of their paws, provided they could approach nigh enough to reachhim.
They came up again and again; they would draw back so as to avoid thosestinging strokes, sniff, growl and push upward, more eager than ever toclutch the poor fellow, who was compressing himself between the limb andthe trunk, and raining his blows with the persistency of a pugilist.
They were finally forced to desist for a few minutes in order to givetheir snouts time to regain their tone. The bulky creatures looked ateach other and seemed to say, "That's a mighty queer customer up there;he doesn't fight fairly, but we'll fetch him yet."
Once more and for the last time, they returned to the charge, but theplucky scout was awaiting them, and his club whizzed through the airlike the piston rod of a steam engine. The grizzlies found it more thanthey could stand, and tumbling back to solid earth they gave up thecontract in disgust. Carson tarried where he was until they were beyondsight, when he descended and hastily caught up and reloaded his rifle,having escaped, as he always declared, by the narrowest chance of allhis life.