rough side of it at that.

It requires no small amount of courage and determination to start out
with but a handful of men to perform the difficult and dangerous task
of threading the American continent from tide to tide, even at the
present epoch; but, eleven years ago, there were few men living who
had ever performed, or were able to perform the feat at all; much less
with the certainty and speed which lay within the power and experience
possessed by Kit Carson. In describing these trips, he now speaks of
them as lightly as a man would after making a journey of a few hundred
miles in a railroad car. He seems to have acted with the idea that
this duty was expected of him, and it required but the official orders
to send him bounding over the country, without regard to obstacles or
dangers. His final object was his destination; which, on reaching, he
was ready to quit at a moment's warning, with as much _sang froid_ as
a Russian courier possesses when doing his master's bidding. Yet so
cautious is he when traveling, that, at first, to a new companion, he
often appears to be wanting in courage. Not a bush, a tree, a rock,
or any other hiding-place on his path, escapes his notice. Towards the
heavens, in search of smoke ascending from, or crows, as they hover
about Indian encampments which are deserted, or for ravens, and back
again to the earth, on the look-out for moccasin or horse tracks, his
eyes are continually turning. There is a nervous action about the man
that shows he is ever alive to meet and be ready for any emergency.
These traits are sure to instill confidence in his followers.

On starting from Los Angelos, Kit Carson took but a few rations of
provisions with him, as he could not burden the few animals he had,
too heavily; hence, he was compelled to depend on the rifle and the
chances of meeting with game. This, of course, is always an uncertain