76 ELDORADO 



their feast. Not apprehending- clanger near, they had 

 ^arelessly laid aside their arms. At a given signal 

 fr ^m Kit, with savage yells and a rapid discharge of 

 then ^nms they rushed upon them, when "Lo, the poor 

 Indian," fell over himself and each other in making his 

 escape, and those who were not killed or wounded 

 disappeared in the darkness. The animals were 

 quickly loosened and rushed in the direction of the 

 emigrant camp, where they arrived at daylight. All 

 the stock returned, save one, to the great joy of the 

 owners, enabled them to pursue their journey. The 

 services of Carson had been rendered many times ir 

 similar cases. The Indians in this instance would not 

 have known whether they were attacked by four men 

 or 400, most likely they imagined the latter. 



We traveled and camped together along the alkal' 

 plains bordering the Humboldt, across the sandy 45- 

 mile desert to Carson river and valley (both named ir 

 honor of Kit), until reaching a delightful spot about 

 30 miles up the eastern slope of the Sierras, with 

 plenty of grass and cold mountain water. Here we 

 remained three weeks, recruiting our animals. During 

 our stay in this little Eden, one of Carson's Spaniards 

 and myself crossed the mountains to Hangtown (now 

 Placerville), about 75 miles, for a supply of provisions. 



The December following I met Carson for the 

 last time, he having disposed of his sheep at $12 

 per head. I bade him good-by, as he started on the 

 return trip to his home in New Mexico by way of Los 

 Angeles and Yuma. Carson was as companionable 

 and honorable as he was brave, and of a modest and re- 

 tiring disposition. 



At the breaking out of the Civil War he was com- 



