long and dangerous journey to a good market, he had looked for rest
and retirement; but instead, he was everywhere sought out and made
conspicuous.

And here we pause to speak of the noble qualities of moral character
and good judgment evinced by Kit Carson on this occasion of his
eventful life. He found himself surrounded with the choice spirits of
the new El Dorado; his name a prestige of strength and position, and
his society courted by everybody. The siren voice of pleasure
failed not to speak in his ear her most flattering invitations.
Good-fellowship took him incessantly by the hand, desiring to lead
him into the paths of dissipation. But the gay vortex, with all
its brilliancy, had no attractions for him; the wine cup, with its
sparkling arguments, failed to convince his calm earnestness of
character, that his simple habits of life needed remodeling. To the
storm, however, he was exposed; but, like a good ship during the gale,
he weathered the fierce blast, and finally took his departure from the
new city of a day, with his character untarnished, but nevertheless
leaving behind him many golden opinions. With a hurried farewell and
many kind remembrances of the good people of California, he left their
great city to return to a home where he was certain to find a life
better suited to his tastes. Money-getting had no charms for him.
Had he chosen to accept some of the offers made him while then in San
Francisco, he could easily have amassed an immense fortune. But his
home had now the greater allurements, and a legitimate business gave
him the certainty of comfort. The power merely which wealth assumes,
Kit Carson never has desired to grasp.

The time had nearly arrived for the appearance of Maxwell. He finally
joined Kit Carson, when the two immediately engaged in the very